Canadian and British Accounts of the American War for Independence

[Óttar]

Loyal Greetings from British North America in Exile, Massachusetts Bay Province,

I hear Canadian school history books present the 'Revolutionary War' as a rebellion of ungrateful and uncouth rabble-rousers. Could Canadian members tell me more about this and also I would like to know how the subject is treated in history classes in the UK.

:thumb001:

http://www.harvardsquare.com/Home/Restaurants/Tory-Row/Tory-Row.aspx

[Guapo]

Really? Canadians only learn about the war of 1812.

[Loddfafner]

When I was a schoolkid in France, I learned that America became independent in 1783. The teacher just went "ohlalalalala" when I attempted to correct the textbook with 1776. Later I found out that 1783 was when France recognized the US which was, from their point of view, what really mattered.

[Peasant]

The most I remember of any history I learnt about America is what WASP meant and slave trade stuff.

[anonymaus]

We were taught very little about it in the public school curriculum. American History class was the place for that sort of thing. I learned it from an American perspective in private school.

[Aemma]

Loyal Greetings from British North America in Exile, Massachusetts Bay Province,

I hear Canadian school history books present the 'Revolutionary War' as a rebellion of ungrateful and uncouth rabble-rousers. Could Canadian members tell me more about this and also I would like to know how the subject is treated in history classes in the UK.

:thumb001:

http://www.harvardsquare.com/Home/Restaurants/Tory-Row/Tory-Row.aspx

Well speaking as one who attended both the Ontario separate and public school systems, I don't recall anything being said in such unglowing terms. It was just presented as matter-of-factly as possible. This side of the 49th got the migration of those who were loyal to the Crown and well, those who weren't loyal stayed put. :)

But I echo what Anon stated though, we do tend to teach American History courses in the upper grades here in Ontario.


The most I remember of any history I learnt about America is what WASP meant and slave trade stuff.

You mean to say that the term WASP is not an English one but a(n) (North) American one? I had no idea.


Really? Canadians only learn about the war of 1812.

No we don't. :rolleyes:

Gah! What school did you attend anyway? :D

[Sol Invictus]

Naw we don't touch upon that subject much, more so with the United Empire Loyalists and their exile to the colonies at the outbreak of the revolutionary war, and not on the conflict itself per se nor did it go into detail the morality of the Founding Fathers. I've personally not heard any description like that regarding the rebels, and I loved history class it wasn't one of the subjects I slept through or skipped. I don't think you really could put a spin on it to such a degree to call them ungrateful etc etc, as no one could really out of good conscience defend the Empire and their behavior in the colonies in those days, except the instances involving acts of military bravery. I might venture to say that it's a bit of a shame on the dignity of Canadians that they did not also rebel so successfully as the Americans did, as we only had relatively small scale revolutionary movements that really couldn't go the distance.

[Treffie]

The American War for Independence wasn't taught when I was in school. The main subjects I remember were 1066 and the Bolshevik Revolution.

[Korbis]

Just how many americans hold such antipatriotic and pro-british views, aproximately? could you be judged for treason because of that? :O

[Electronic God-Man]

Just how many americans hold such antipatriotic and pro-british views, aproximately?

About 0%.

[Korbis]

Not surprising. Americans hate socialism, and today´s Britain is the epitome of that. They also hate soccer and the "effeminate" ways and manners of britons.

I wonder if Ottar is actually born british.

[Óttar]

I once saw a Grand Union flag (the one in my sig) waving on a pole at a house in Rhode Island, the Redwood Library in Newport, RI has a pre-1805 Union Jack hanging on the wall (as well as a bunch of slave owners. :D)

[Óttar]

http://www.redcoat.me.uk/#D

This site recalls the American War of Independence from a Loyalist perspective. I don't care for the site's URL as the term "redcoat" wasn't coined until the 1880s by Rudyard Kipling.

[Albion]

I hear Canadian school history books present the 'Revolutionary War' as a rebellion of ungrateful and uncouth rabble-rousers.

LMAO that is how I see it too! :p Me and Canada have much to discuss. :D


About 0%.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. :rolleyes:

[Loddfafner]

For Samuel Johnson's longwinded response to the Declaration of Independence, click here (http://www.samueljohnson.com/tnt.html).