This is true. We had one of the few revolutions where after it was over the revolutionary military leaders didn't immediately assume control. Actually, giving him the crown was suggested by very few people. Most were pretty horrified by the idea, and mos wanted basically for all thirteen colonies to be very loosely affiliated if at all. We could have been the Balkans, lots of little countries with lots of infighting and backbiting.
1812, it was more like nobody won, nobody lost, but because it was fought here, we had the most damage done to us. Like the revolution, we just made it miserable enough that the British said screw it.
But then they have things like the English Civil War which put Cromwell into power, the signing of the Magna Carta, which was more like a bunch of nobles kidnapping the king saying "You will give us more power and let us oppress the peasants more!" and the Glorious Revolution where not a shot was fired, the peasant revolt under Richard II which went home when the king gave them a stern telling off... I mean how did these things become glorified as great revolutions striving for human freedom against the forces of tyranny? Why is that myth so pervasive that the Brits would reshape the way they told history around it?
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branchandroot
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Date: 2011-09-04 10:41 pm (UTC)1812, it was more like nobody won, nobody lost, but because it was fought here, we had the most damage done to us. Like the revolution, we just made it miserable enough that the British said screw it.
But then they have things like the English Civil War which put Cromwell into power, the signing of the Magna Carta, which was more like a bunch of nobles kidnapping the king saying "You will give us more power and let us oppress the peasants more!" and the Glorious Revolution where not a shot was fired, the peasant revolt under Richard II which went home when the king gave them a stern telling off... I mean how did these things become glorified as great revolutions striving for human freedom against the forces of tyranny? Why is that myth so pervasive that the Brits would reshape the way they told history around it?