You fail to mention that most American demands of Parliament were unreasonable and impossible to meet. I'm an American myself, and proud of it, but even I see that the colonists were in the wrong as well.
@KingsandGenerals are you guys planning to cover all the battles and diplomatic situation of the American revolution in the future i think a lot of people would like it.
14:40 The most interesting fact from the Boston Massacre's criminal trial is the identity of the lawyer defending the British soldiers. After weeks of trying to find someone willing to represent the soldiers, only a single lawyer volunteered despite the risk to his reputation the job might pose. His name was John Adams. Despite his colonial political leanings, his unwavering belief that all men deserved fair counsel and trial compelled him to represent them. Five years later, these convictions would see him join in open rebellion against Britain.
If you haven't already, watch the great HBO miniseries John Adams. It goes through that event in the show and much more. One of the best historical mini-series ever.
Isn't this the first trial to sequester? And cross examine? I may have some of that wrong, but I've heard its still taught in law school today. 😮 Our Founding Fathers really put forth some incredible ideas.
Everyone should be paying extremely close attention to the time span of these events. The situation spiraled out of control on all sides. Most of these colonists saw themselves as Englishmen but still had to leave, violently.
@@PannkakaizeI think he was being sarcastic. Ultimate general -american revolution is coming out and Kings and generals do like to set the scene for the beginning of new games
This is going to be awesome! As an American and a history buff, I can attest that this video was extremely well done. It filled in details I didn't know. I'm looking forward to seeing the whole Revolution play out. I hope you cover the Illinois and trans-Mississippi theaters, they're more important than they seem.
MikeModugno5879 I completely agree with you on this going be awesome and I am also looking forward to seeing the war play out since I am also an American and a history buff but also because two of my ancestors my 6th and 5th great grandfathers played a tiny role in the war and the role that they played was guarding British, Scottish and Canadian soldiers at Camp Security which was located outside of York Pennsylvania. And this camp is the last remaining undeveloped prisoner of war camp from the revolutionary war and its one of only a handful to ever be established and it housed over one thousand British and Canadian prisoners of war between the summer of 1781 and the spring of 1783 and these prisoners were the British troops that were surrendered by general Burgoyne at Saratoga and also some of the prisoners who surrendered at Yorktown and the camp also housed the soldiers families and the camp was a nice camp compared to the prisoner of war camps of the civil war as some of the prisoners were allowed to work for local residents and when the war ended some of them may have been given lands in Canada in exchange for their service. Others stayed in the United States but most returned to Britain.
@@pf6797 It's not a case of 'empire did nothing wrong' but there are always two sides to every story. The telling of the American Revolution has almost become a mythology of 'good vs evil' which is understandable given it's the origin of the United States as a country and does make for a better story. The actual history though is much more complicated
Thomas Gage was among the young officers in the battle of the Monogahela in July 1755 who carried the fatally wounded general Braddock from the field to safety as the battle turned into a slaughter. The other was his future revolutionary war opponent George Washington. That battle was the first major clash in that war that made North America.
A few others of Revolutionary fame served at the Monongahela too, including: Horatio Gates, who served as a Captain, and led American forces at Saratoga and Camden. Charles Lee, a Captain in Halkett's 44th Foot, who became a Major General in the Continental Army and was disgraced at Monmouth. James Craik, who became Washington's surgeon. William Mercer, a Captain, who became a Major General in the Continental Army. Daniel Morgan, who commanded American forces at Cowpens, served as a civilian teamster. Morgan was sentenced to 500 lashes for attacking a British officer during the retreat, giving him a disdain of British authorities. When he was granted a command, he banned flogging. Daniel Boone, famed for his settlement of Kentucky, served with Morgan as a teamster.
I'm Mexican but this video helps me understand why Americans are the way they are. Americans simply would not tolerate being bullied by a distant tyrant trying to exploit them. Valuable lesson for us all.
This is the most understandable and educational break down I've ever seen of this story. I love these videos, Long time fan. Keep up the great work K&G!
Stoked for this series! Currently listening to the Revolutions Podcast and the American revolution was one of the first that was covered. I recommend that podcast highly!
@@nicknmm09yeah, eventually Mike says the Revolutions podcast only truly begins with the French Revolution, with the American Revolution being a prologue to it. It also seems like he isn't proud at all of the English Revolution episodes
Yes I agree the English and American ones kinda fly by. I just finished Haiti and it was well done. Same with the monster of the French revolution. @@dominicguye8058
"New England rum distillers", sounds like he's talking about my home state Rhode Island. I remember in a high school history class the teacher mentioning there were several hundred rum distilleries in the colony which had less then ten thousand people. Most often the focus on events in Boston but down here in Rhode Island there was the Gaspee Affair in 1772 where colonists stormed and burned the HMS Gaspee, a royal customs schooner, after it had grounded while pursuing a Providence "merchant" ship. It was the third customs ship to "disappear" in Narragansett Bay. Royal.
As a sidenote, I'm surprised you didn't mention that the defense attorney for the British soldiers in the trial for the Boston Massacre was one other than John Adams, who took the trial because he wanted to ensure that it was a fair trial and not a kangaroo court despite the fact that he was starting to become a prominent figure among the Patriots. His defense of these soldiers would later lead to the inclusion of an accused's right to an attorney in the Bill of Rights.
Montrealer here! Not that it’s too important and beside the video’s point, but Montreal is located on the island in the river, not to the left of it. Otherwise, great video and great start to a new series! Merci!
Cambridge and Concord was also placed a bit weird too. It would've been fine if they swap these points on the map. Again, just nitpicking and not the point of the video.
As Andrew Roberts echoes in his superb biography of George III, the American Revolution fundamentally happens because the Atlantic Ocean prevents meaningful redress or communication between colonial assemblies and the King’s ministry, who are constantly reacting to last month’s news-and reacting in ways which do stamp out revolt but encourage it; consider, had this happened in ANY other colonial empire or ANY other European regime, this revolt would have been utterly crushed with brutal severity. Coupled with the distance factor, is the abysmal record of mismanagement by royal governors who consistently under-inform the ministry and badly contextualize events to London. In many crucial ways, the American Revolution was the natural result of Americans “growing up” as Englishmen. That bond remains and cannot be severed, it is indelible.
Sounds like a little bit of missing the forest for the trees towards the end there. The WASP culture certainly played a part, but so did the fact that most of the "13 Colonies" were conquered territory with some of those populations remaining, as well as the impact of the other populations of the empire that migrated to the Americas. The Founding Fathers represented the Protestant Anglo elite and middle class, but many of the constituents that empowered them were also non-Anglo Protestants - including freedmen and indentures in port cities - as well as those remaining Catholics and Indigenous peoples. All of these communities had an impact on the growing secessionism
@@kongming66 Those populations were negligible and are only brought up to diminish the English origins of the American people. To this very day the English are the largest ethnicity in the United States.
@@masada2828 So that’s why the House of Representatives and the Senate mirrored EXACTLY the English parliament? And that’s why Americans are governed under a legal system shared with the entirety of the Anglophonic world (Common Law)? The House of Representatives’ administrative officer is the Serjeant of Arms… now where else was that office found? Precisely zero about the American Revolution was modeled on France, to think otherwise is to simply be blind. The United States is an English government, the American Revolution was English-that’s why it worked; it was a half-revolution. Consider since 1789, France has had five republics, two monarchies, two empires, and a collaborative Nazi regime. Nothing remotely useful there. Since the same period, the US Constitution has stood firm-even through the Civil War, and more astoundingly the English settlement of 1689 has held as well. The US Constitution worked because Americans were already “free” , at least far more so than anyone in Europe (name me one insurrectionist locked up without trial or one seditious colonial newspaper which was closed before 1776). That individual freedom and the art of parliamentary government that attended it was demonstrably and manifestly English. which England, frankly, taught the world. As I said earlier, the Revolution was Americans “growing up” as Englishmen in a political sense.
The distance factor is kinda a very loose excuse, it is definetly a huge bad sign of managment, taking in consideration that other empires like Spain were managing their overseas territories waaay further than that and were running continuously as early as 300 years prior those events, and on top of that they were doing it without the luxury of XVIII century technology.
I found it interesting that colonial economic considerations made it into “The Wealth of Nations” by Adam Smith. Adam Smith went from “we will lose the colonies because of….” At the start, to “We are losing the colonies because of….” in the middle & finally “We lost the colonies becouse of….” towards the end of the book
Very good video, I can't wait for this series to continue! 2 posts of note for this video though. 1. The British civilians living within the 13 colonies (the future American's) didn't think they should have to pay for British troops being stationed in the 13 colonies (in particular Massachusetts) because they didn't think they needed that protection. The colonies had by and large defended themselves with none or almost no British help in all conflicts within North America apart from the French and Indian War. And even in that war a very large amount of the people fighting on the British side were American militia troops. The only reason the colonies would need British troops was if Britain got into a fight with another European power and now that France was beaten there was no threat to the American colonies that the colonies couldn't handle themselves. So posting a British Army to the colonies now was seen more as a act from the Crown and Parliament to enact their will over the colonies through force of arms and to give Parliament an excuse to tax the colonies. The colonialists saw it that the only wars they would be getting into would be with Native Americans which they could handle on their own. So they saw no need for British troops to be stationed in the colonies to "defend" them. If it was seen that France of Spain were building an army to send to the America's to do whatever, the British could build up an army at the same time to counter such actions. And lastly, in reality, if France of Spain were wanting to build and army to send to take British colonial territory, they would not be sending that force to the 13 colonies of North America. They would be sending them to the money making islands in the Caribbean as this video pointed out, those were the money makes at this period of time. 2. A minor note/correction to make would be the borders of the 13 colonies and the Native American tribes of the pre revolutionary war period. Yes, those tribes existed within those areas you put on your map. But they in no way controlled all that territory. There were hundreds of little tribes within all that Indian territory that were all constantly fighting each other. For every individual "war" Europeans and Americans had with Native Americans from the first arrival of Europeans until the last war there were hundreds of between the Native Americans themselves. And those wars were going on non-stop even before the arrival of Europeans. People today like to think of all the people from both North and South American as peace loving people who didn't know what war or slavery was. Which is just the opposite of reality. And in regards to that map you posted, you named what looks like 5 or 6 Native American tribes when in reality they didn't control all of that territory at all. There were probably even more Europeans living within those territories as there were Native Americans already by this point and those territories would again have had hundreds of other smaller tribes living within the borders you posted. The tribes you posted would be the strongest of the tribes within those territories but that was only because they allied and traded the most with the Europeans to help them in their wars against the other Native American Tribes. And lastly, you listed Canada on one of your maps in this video. Canada did not exist yet and wouldn't for hundreds of years. That area was first either called French North America or Quebec and then after that British North America or Quebec (and then the other provinces they created after that such as Nova Scotia and so on).
@@DarDarBinks1986 Agreed. The wars Native Americans had between each other has really been not covered at all by historians it feels like. Or at least not covered in a major way by large media. Like when people call for territory to be given back to native Americans it makes no sense. Are you calling for the territory to be given back to the Native Americans who had the territory last before they lost it to Europeans/Americans? Or to the Native Americans who lost the territory to the Indians who took the territory from them. Or the Indians who lost the territory to the prior tribe? It is just an endless loop. The fact of the matter is, making maps of territory controlled by Native AMericans is imposable pretty much because the borders were constantly being changed around multiple times per year. Their borders would only start to get settled as Europeans approached. They would then lose that territory themselves in a war, that in most cases, when you actually look at it, was in almost all cases started by the Native American tribe. What tended to happen was the chief (who Europeans treated as a King) would make a deal with the Europeans for peace because they were generally old and wanted to live out their life in peace. Then the younger members of that tribe would disobey their Chief and do something to break the terms of the peace treaty. Often raiding and massacering a European settlement. The younger members of the tribe would then say they don't agree to the deal that their chief made which the Europeans and Americans would then say "to bad, that is what you get for having a chief(a king) be your leader". The Europeans and Americans looked at native America leadership in that way, that they were talking to a King and what that King said and signed was final. Just because some younger Indians would then overthrow the Chief didn't overturn the deal that Indian nation already agreed to.
@@detectiveharris8772 So you think we should shut up and allow you to romanticize tribal life? The past sucked ass! The precontact Amerindians, like past people anywhere else, would be amazed at our modern technology. Quit pushing the "noble savage" canard and learn facts for once.
While I agree that the Cherokee were shown with too much territory on the opening map, the Iroquois very much did control all the land shown. They instituted a a series of campaigns in the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century that brought most of the area under their control. When you have direct access to guns and your neighbors don't, this sort of thing tends to happen. Their control waned somewhat during the 1700s as the French were able to start arming their opponents, but they still controlled a lot outside of their upstate New York homeland. And, no, there was definitely *not* more European settlers in the lands shown than natives. By the time of the last map shown, 1775, in the area between the border of the Thirteen Colonies shown and the Mississippi, there were just a few hundred remaining French settlers in modern Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, a few hundred more American settlers in central Kentucky, and a handful of British garrisons scattered around (notably at Pittsburgh and Detroit). There were probably at least 100 - 1000 times more natives than that in the same area.
As an American from Massachusetts and a lover of history i find this very interesting that my state had such a big impact on the very start of our large nation.
Sería estupendo y contar la historia de Bernardo de Gálvez, ya lo pusieron en el congreso con el resto de los padres fundadores. Solo con su vida se podría hacer un video entero pues participó en muchos conflictos por todo el globo.
I love your videos. One point of constructive criticism: The additional info "notes" on this video were too small and fairly hard to read. I think it would be better if you made them bigger in future videos.
An ancestor of mine was supposedly a part of the Boston Tea party. I will drink iced tea, but will always prefer coffee in the name of rebellion from the crown.
Just a suggestion at places like 8:09, that note can’t be read because it’s so small, so look to make those notes larger, so we can see the info you’ve provided us.
Cool you are now covering american history, all the events happening between the revolution and 1899 war are often referred in american entertainment but I have only a basic knowledge of them. First note is that from being referred in this video I would like to know more about the French Indian war wich is teased to be very interesting
If you want to read about it, I'd recommend "Scratch of a Pen: 1763 and the Transformation of North America". Gives a good summation as to what ultimately laid the framework of the Revolution, and why the Crown didn't understand the Colonists complaints. Merry Christmas!
This version of the events that led to the Revolution, and their historical context, should be required viewing for every 9th grader in the U.S.: meaning this very K&G version. And every person presuming to seek elective office should be tested on these simple basics. This version nicely supports further study and understanding.
8:10 Can anyone make out what’s stated in this text box? If so, could you please tell me? I really liked this video, but the some of these text boxes were too small. I wish the channel would do these text boxes the way they do them in the Pacific War series.
"The unofficial reason was to keep the Canadians and Americans apart. They can’t fight if they can’t reach each other." That is a good point, we will improve!
@@KingsandGenerals Thank you so much for the quick reply🤩! I was able to read most of the text boxes, it was just that one that I couldn’t make out. Thanks again for the wonderful and informative video.
Thx for mentioning the importance of the Quebec Act. For some reason your the only large Edutainer YTber that talks about it. The French Canadians may not have liked the British but they absolutely despise the American Revolutionaries. And thjs was a reason for the general hostility and lack of support for the revolution in Canada.
What are you even talking about? There was actually a lot of sympathy for the American revolutionaries in French speaking Canada. The American Revolution even inspired uprisings in Canada such as the rebellion of 1837-1838. You don't even know your own history. lmao You're projecting your own antipathy for America onto historical people.
And therefore lost their only chance to become independent and every future attempt at independence fail. Its taken longer than expected, but French-Canadians will be Anglonized eventually. Less and less French speakers every decade.
Post war taxation is inevitable for any reconstruction or recovery to take place. This particular effort applied to both colony and British losses. America even naturally learnt to endure taxation of an even higher level post revolution too - it was just independent this time. Some even tried to somehow rebel against that too (at least they were consistent). It comes down to the lack of voice and militant attempts at quelling situations thus rising tensions. To assume that you can just impose rule and have them blindly accept without question is obviously foolhardy. Not the first time Britain has had this issue in it's history neither.
Not to mention the Colonies hadn't any Colonial representation in British Parliament, which was one of the things the Colonists tried to get to happen to help with negotiations.
Brilliant documentary. Another brilliant series coming. We know it takes a lot of time and hard work to make these videos. So we always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos. ❤
Excellent video. I appreciate the chronological and nuanced explanation of pre-revolutionary times. I am recommending this to friends. Keep up the good work!
Good job. Thanks very much. I got MA in US history and foreign policy in 1991. Studying history is always worthwhile, as is the natural sciences and Shakespeare.
As an American partially of East Indian origin, hearing that the Tea Act basically gave the East Indian Company favorable commercial status in the region (while they were exploiting India for tea) gives me a new level of appreciation for the Boston Tea Party
I'm excited to learn more about this going forward! This was an excellent start to the new series. Information and propaganda in war are powerful things. Thank you guys for all that you do. God be with you out there everybody, and Merry Christmas! ✝️ :)
This is so awesome. Thanks to all involved for making killer content like this! This used to be what the History channel was all about, glad I can still get this somewhere.
Ha ha no as an American this video exposes the amount of propaganda that is taught in schools the US definitely depicts itself as having had the desire to become liberated from Britain but the reality was they were salty. They couldn’t take more native American land.
Hey Kings and Generals! I am working on a paper for my macroeconomics class and I would love have your sources on North American reactions to the taxes placed on them. It would really help me out because the focus of my paper is embargos/boycotts and their effects on economy!
The writer here: I don't have a direct source on the impacts, everything in the video were mentioned in sources not focused on the effects of the boycotts. I do know that in at least one biography on John Hancock it mentions that the pre-Intolerable Act boycotts shut off the official trade between the colonies and Britain, but smuggling was so rampant (Hancock was a king among these smugglers) that the overall change in actual trade was minimal. If you're looking for any kind of data, I did go looking for exactly that and couldn't find any that was both easy to use and reliable. There are a lot of papers out there citing various trading company earnings reports without aggregating the data into something useful or were based on secondhand descriptions and/or circumstantial evidence of dubious quality. As a result, I went for a more general description than I originally planned.
I take great interest into economic and social structures throughout the history, and how it influences wars and such. I believe we can learn from how the American Revolution started... which is caused by a lack of social/religious tolerance, economic equity and a competent administrative systems. This was beautifully done. Folks, subscribing to this channel is a satisfactory-guaranteed choice.
Yes yes yes. I'd love to learn the international politics that was necessary for the success of this endeavor. Especially in the context of European Court masterpieces needed to convince kings of different nations' support I am looking forward to your future videos. 15/10 to all members of the team involved. I literally spend hours and hours watching and rewatching your videos.
You know what I would binge watch? A “History of the world” and then go year by year era by era in different regions. You can make it like History matters in short videos or looooong ass documentaries
The Bald Eagles are starting to breath heavily at this series! Love that you are covering it and maybe in the future you will cover the Texas Revolution.
@KingsandGenerals Thank you for making this video. This is a topic that is often swarmed with disinformation from all sides of the political spectrum. I hope that you see success in making your new video series. ~Mackyle Wotring
An important detail to remember , it was not the tax that created discontent , but rather the imposition of the tax without any representation or consideration of the veiws of the colonists. Over time many saw this exclusion as a conspiracy by Parliament to reduce the status of the colonists to 2nd class citizens without the rights of Englishmen.
@@Eagle-jj5qd I guess you could say that , but the point being the War for American Independence could have been avoided , and Taxes could have still been collected if the colonists had been able to tax themselves. Arrogance in the English Parliament , and it's unwillingness to share its authority is probably a better description of the " cause of ". I find this very relevant today.
Enjoy 10% off 6” and 8.5” MOVA Globes with code KINGSANDGENERALS. Shop now on bit.ly/kandgmova
Day 2 of asking for a tutorial on how you make your vidios 🙃
This is gonna be a tough one
Civil wars are always the worst.
You fail to mention that most American demands of Parliament were unreasonable and impossible to meet. I'm an American myself, and proud of it, but even I see that the colonists were in the wrong as well.
Surprised this video wasn't sponsored by _Ultimate General: American Revolution_ ... considering the topic and all.
@KingsandGenerals are you guys planning to cover all the battles and diplomatic situation of the American revolution in the future i think a lot of people would like it.
14:40
The most interesting fact from the Boston Massacre's criminal trial is the identity of the lawyer defending the British soldiers. After weeks of trying to find someone willing to represent the soldiers, only a single lawyer volunteered despite the risk to his reputation the job might pose. His name was John Adams. Despite his colonial political leanings, his unwavering belief that all men deserved fair counsel and trial compelled him to represent them.
Five years later, these convictions would see him join in open rebellion against Britain.
If you haven't already, watch the great HBO miniseries John Adams. It goes through that event in the show and much more. One of the best historical mini-series ever.
And he got 6 of them aquitted. That event right there proves our founders had deep convictions about laws and liberty.
@@JamesThomas-gg6il it'd be nice if more of our current politicians had similar convictions. 😉🤭
@@skyden24195 fear would also be helpful to them.
Isn't this the first trial to sequester?
And cross examine?
I may have some of that wrong, but I've heard its still taught in law school today. 😮
Our Founding Fathers really put forth some incredible ideas.
Everyone should be paying extremely close attention to the time span of these events. The situation spiraled out of control on all sides. Most of these colonists saw themselves as Englishmen but still had to leave, violently.
I mean it's not surprising when information takes months to get to you
The term 'American' wasn't a thing until the 1770's I believe when talks of secession and Independence from the Empire starting gaining weight.
@@marcksman7896 Wasn't really a thing until the mid 1800s either. Most people considered their state their country.
*British
@@loyalpiper Englishmen. I have my copy of Common Sense right in front of me.
How did I not know this series was coming? Looking forward to this.
Cuz your not the owner of the channel
@@PannkakaizeI think he was being sarcastic. Ultimate general -american revolution is coming out and Kings and generals do like to set the scene for the beginning of new games
Paul Revere didn’t warn you in time
Should you know *
@@arvindnandakumar4225 your not the maker of this channel, i cant trust you
This is going to be awesome! As an American and a history buff, I can attest that this video was extremely well done. It filled in details I didn't know. I'm looking forward to seeing the whole Revolution play out. I hope you cover the Illinois and trans-Mississippi theaters, they're more important than they seem.
I already detect a whiff of “empire did nothing wrong” 😑
MikeModugno5879 I completely agree with you on this going be awesome and I am also looking forward to seeing the war play out since I am also an American and a history buff but also because two of my ancestors my 6th and 5th great grandfathers played a tiny role in the war and the role that they played was guarding British, Scottish and Canadian soldiers at Camp Security which was located outside of York Pennsylvania. And this camp is the last remaining undeveloped prisoner of war camp from the revolutionary war and its one of only a handful to ever be established and it housed over one thousand British and Canadian prisoners of war between the summer of 1781 and the spring of 1783 and these prisoners were the British troops that were surrendered by general Burgoyne at Saratoga and also some of the prisoners who surrendered at Yorktown and the camp also housed the soldiers families and the camp was a nice camp compared to the prisoner of war camps of the civil war as some of the prisoners were allowed to work for local residents and when the war ended some of them may have been given lands in Canada in exchange for their service. Others stayed in the United States but most returned to Britain.
@@pf6797 It's not a case of 'empire did nothing wrong' but there are always two sides to every story. The telling of the American Revolution has almost become a mythology of 'good vs evil' which is understandable given it's the origin of the United States as a country and does make for a better story. The actual history though is much more complicated
Thomas Gage was among the young officers in the battle of the Monogahela in July 1755 who carried the fatally wounded general Braddock from the field to safety as the battle turned into a slaughter. The other was his future revolutionary war opponent George Washington. That battle was the first major clash in that war that made North America.
A few others of Revolutionary fame served at the Monongahela too, including:
Horatio Gates, who served as a Captain, and led American forces at Saratoga and Camden.
Charles Lee, a Captain in Halkett's 44th Foot, who became a Major General in the Continental Army and was disgraced at Monmouth.
James Craik, who became Washington's surgeon.
William Mercer, a Captain, who became a Major General in the Continental Army.
Daniel Morgan, who commanded American forces at Cowpens, served as a civilian teamster. Morgan was sentenced to 500 lashes for attacking a British officer during the retreat, giving him a disdain of British authorities. When he was granted a command, he banned flogging.
Daniel Boone, famed for his settlement of Kentucky, served with Morgan as a teamster.
As an American, thank you for producing this. I look forward to the rest of the series, hopefully followed by a series on the American Civil War.
I'm Mexican but this video helps me understand why Americans are the way they are. Americans simply would not tolerate being bullied by a distant tyrant trying to exploit them. Valuable lesson for us all.
@@R_Alexander029sadly it’s a lesson many of our countrymen seemed to have forgotten nowadays
@@R_Alexander029 narcotraficantes mexicanos estos
Americans will soon have to win their Republic back.
This is the most understandable and educational break down I've ever seen of this story. I love these videos, Long time fan. Keep up the great work K&G!
Stoked for this series! Currently listening to the Revolutions Podcast and the American revolution was one of the first that was covered. I recommend that podcast highly!
A masterpiece
An amazing podcast
Trust me it gets even better as you go down to more recent revolutions, mike really hones his craft and pacing better
@@nicknmm09yeah, eventually Mike says the Revolutions podcast only truly begins with the French Revolution, with the American Revolution being a prologue to it. It also seems like he isn't proud at all of the English Revolution episodes
Yes I agree the English and American ones kinda fly by. I just finished Haiti and it was well done. Same with the monster of the French revolution. @@dominicguye8058
"New England rum distillers", sounds like he's talking about my home state Rhode Island. I remember in a high school history class the teacher mentioning there were several hundred rum distilleries in the colony which had less then ten thousand people. Most often the focus on events in Boston but down here in Rhode Island there was the Gaspee Affair in 1772 where colonists stormed and burned the HMS Gaspee, a royal customs schooner, after it had grounded while pursuing a Providence "merchant" ship. It was the third customs ship to "disappear" in Narragansett Bay. Royal.
Thank you, Rhode Island, Nathaniel Greene was an absolute legend!
As a sidenote, I'm surprised you didn't mention that the defense attorney for the British soldiers in the trial for the Boston Massacre was one other than John Adams, who took the trial because he wanted to ensure that it was a fair trial and not a kangaroo court despite the fact that he was starting to become a prominent figure among the Patriots. His defense of these soldiers would later lead to the inclusion of an accused's right to an attorney in the Bill of Rights.
Montrealer here! Not that it’s too important and beside the video’s point, but Montreal is located on the island in the river, not to the left of it. Otherwise, great video and great start to a new series! Merci!
Cambridge and Concord was also placed a bit weird too. It would've been fine if they swap these points on the map. Again, just nitpicking and not the point of the video.
As Andrew Roberts echoes in his superb biography of George III, the American Revolution fundamentally happens because the Atlantic Ocean prevents meaningful redress or communication between colonial assemblies and the King’s ministry, who are constantly reacting to last month’s news-and reacting in ways which do stamp out revolt but encourage it; consider, had this happened in ANY other colonial empire or ANY other European regime, this revolt would have been utterly crushed with brutal severity. Coupled with the distance factor, is the abysmal record of mismanagement by royal governors who consistently under-inform the ministry and badly contextualize events to London. In many crucial ways, the American Revolution was the natural result of Americans “growing up” as Englishmen. That bond remains and cannot be severed, it is indelible.
Sounds like a little bit of missing the forest for the trees towards the end there. The WASP culture certainly played a part, but so did the fact that most of the "13 Colonies" were conquered territory with some of those populations remaining, as well as the impact of the other populations of the empire that migrated to the Americas. The Founding Fathers represented the Protestant Anglo elite and middle class, but many of the constituents that empowered them were also non-Anglo Protestants - including freedmen and indentures in port cities - as well as those remaining Catholics and Indigenous peoples. All of these communities had an impact on the growing secessionism
@@kongming66 Those populations were negligible and are only brought up to diminish the English origins of the American people. To this very day the English are the largest ethnicity in the United States.
But the Revolution Leaders chose a French method of government.
@@masada2828 So that’s why the House of Representatives and the Senate mirrored EXACTLY the English parliament? And that’s why Americans are governed under a legal system shared with the entirety of the Anglophonic world (Common Law)? The House of Representatives’ administrative officer is the Serjeant of Arms… now where else was that office found? Precisely zero about the American Revolution was modeled on France, to think otherwise is to simply be blind. The United States is an English government, the American Revolution was English-that’s why it worked; it was a half-revolution. Consider since 1789, France has had five republics, two monarchies, two empires, and a collaborative Nazi regime. Nothing remotely useful there. Since the same period, the US Constitution has stood firm-even through the Civil War, and more astoundingly the English settlement of 1689 has held as well. The US Constitution worked because Americans were already “free” , at least far more so than anyone in Europe (name me one insurrectionist locked up without trial or one seditious colonial newspaper which was closed before 1776). That individual freedom and the art of parliamentary government that attended it was demonstrably and manifestly English. which England, frankly, taught the world. As I said earlier, the Revolution was Americans “growing up” as Englishmen in a political sense.
The distance factor is kinda a very loose excuse, it is definetly a huge bad sign of managment, taking in consideration that other empires like Spain were managing their overseas territories waaay further than that and were running continuously as early as 300 years prior those events, and on top of that they were doing it without the luxury of XVIII century technology.
I found it interesting that colonial economic considerations made it into “The Wealth of Nations” by Adam Smith. Adam Smith went from “we will lose the colonies because of….” At the start, to “We are losing the colonies because of….” in the middle & finally “We lost the colonies becouse of….” towards the end of the book
* Lose, losing. Although "loose" is apropos as well, as the ties between the colonies and Britain were indeed becoming more loose by the year.
@@guydreamrfeel better for that?
@@allancarey2604We all do
Very good video, I can't wait for this series to continue!
2 posts of note for this video though.
1. The British civilians living within the 13 colonies (the future American's) didn't think they should have to pay for British troops being stationed in the 13 colonies (in particular Massachusetts) because they didn't think they needed that protection. The colonies had by and large defended themselves with none or almost no British help in all conflicts within North America apart from the French and Indian War. And even in that war a very large amount of the people fighting on the British side were American militia troops. The only reason the colonies would need British troops was if Britain got into a fight with another European power and now that France was beaten there was no threat to the American colonies that the colonies couldn't handle themselves. So posting a British Army to the colonies now was seen more as a act from the Crown and Parliament to enact their will over the colonies through force of arms and to give Parliament an excuse to tax the colonies. The colonialists saw it that the only wars they would be getting into would be with Native Americans which they could handle on their own. So they saw no need for British troops to be stationed in the colonies to "defend" them. If it was seen that France of Spain were building an army to send to the America's to do whatever, the British could build up an army at the same time to counter such actions. And lastly, in reality, if France of Spain were wanting to build and army to send to take British colonial territory, they would not be sending that force to the 13 colonies of North America. They would be sending them to the money making islands in the Caribbean as this video pointed out, those were the money makes at this period of time.
2. A minor note/correction to make would be the borders of the 13 colonies and the Native American tribes of the pre revolutionary war period. Yes, those tribes existed within those areas you put on your map. But they in no way controlled all that territory. There were hundreds of little tribes within all that Indian territory that were all constantly fighting each other. For every individual "war" Europeans and Americans had with Native Americans from the first arrival of Europeans until the last war there were hundreds of between the Native Americans themselves. And those wars were going on non-stop even before the arrival of Europeans. People today like to think of all the people from both North and South American as peace loving people who didn't know what war or slavery was. Which is just the opposite of reality. And in regards to that map you posted, you named what looks like 5 or 6 Native American tribes when in reality they didn't control all of that territory at all. There were probably even more Europeans living within those territories as there were Native Americans already by this point and those territories would again have had hundreds of other smaller tribes living within the borders you posted. The tribes you posted would be the strongest of the tribes within those territories but that was only because they allied and traded the most with the Europeans to help them in their wars against the other Native American Tribes. And lastly, you listed Canada on one of your maps in this video. Canada did not exist yet and wouldn't for hundreds of years. That area was first either called French North America or Quebec and then after that British North America or Quebec (and then the other provinces they created after that such as Nova Scotia and so on).
Anyone who thinks the precontact Amerindians were peaceniks clearly isn't aware of, say, the Crow Creek massacre of the Middle Ages.
@@DarDarBinks1986 Agreed. The wars Native Americans had between each other has really been not covered at all by historians it feels like. Or at least not covered in a major way by large media.
Like when people call for territory to be given back to native Americans it makes no sense. Are you calling for the territory to be given back to the Native Americans who had the territory last before they lost it to Europeans/Americans? Or to the Native Americans who lost the territory to the Indians who took the territory from them. Or the Indians who lost the territory to the prior tribe? It is just an endless loop.
The fact of the matter is, making maps of territory controlled by Native AMericans is imposable pretty much because the borders were constantly being changed around multiple times per year. Their borders would only start to get settled as Europeans approached. They would then lose that territory themselves in a war, that in most cases, when you actually look at it, was in almost all cases started by the Native American tribe. What tended to happen was the chief (who Europeans treated as a King) would make a deal with the Europeans for peace because they were generally old and wanted to live out their life in peace. Then the younger members of that tribe would disobey their Chief and do something to break the terms of the peace treaty. Often raiding and massacering a European settlement. The younger members of the tribe would then say they don't agree to the deal that their chief made which the Europeans and Americans would then say "to bad, that is what you get for having a chief(a king) be your leader". The Europeans and Americans looked at native America leadership in that way, that they were talking to a King and what that King said and signed was final. Just because some younger Indians would then overthrow the Chief didn't overturn the deal that Indian nation already agreed to.
Ahh yes justify the colonization with the “war amongst themselves”. Yawn
@@detectiveharris8772 So you think we should shut up and allow you to romanticize tribal life? The past sucked ass! The precontact Amerindians, like past people anywhere else, would be amazed at our modern technology. Quit pushing the "noble savage" canard and learn facts for once.
While I agree that the Cherokee were shown with too much territory on the opening map, the Iroquois very much did control all the land shown. They instituted a a series of campaigns in the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century that brought most of the area under their control. When you have direct access to guns and your neighbors don't, this sort of thing tends to happen. Their control waned somewhat during the 1700s as the French were able to start arming their opponents, but they still controlled a lot outside of their upstate New York homeland.
And, no, there was definitely *not* more European settlers in the lands shown than natives. By the time of the last map shown, 1775, in the area between the border of the Thirteen Colonies shown and the Mississippi, there were just a few hundred remaining French settlers in modern Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, a few hundred more American settlers in central Kentucky, and a handful of British garrisons scattered around (notably at Pittsburgh and Detroit). There were probably at least 100 - 1000 times more natives than that in the same area.
As an American from Massachusetts and a lover of history i find this very interesting that my state had such a big impact on the very start of our large nation.
Will you make a video covering the unknown but important Spanish participation in the conflict?
Sería estupendo y contar la historia de Bernardo de Gálvez, ya lo pusieron en el congreso con el resto de los padres fundadores. Solo con su vida se podría hacer un video entero pues participó en muchos conflictos por todo el globo.
Hold up I gotta look that one up now. Thanks.
Thanks!
I love your videos. One point of constructive criticism: The additional info "notes" on this video were too small and fairly hard to read. I think it would be better if you made them bigger in future videos.
An ancestor of mine was supposedly a part of the Boston Tea party. I will drink iced tea, but will always prefer coffee in the name of rebellion from the crown.
Just a suggestion at places like 8:09, that note can’t be read because it’s so small, so look to make those notes larger, so we can see the info you’ve provided us.
Love the early modern period content
Looooved your English Civil War series and soooooo thrilled you will be covering the period in history that really inspired my love for history!!!
John Witherspoon signer of the DOI is one of my Great Grandfathers, love learning more about American History. Amazing how this country came together.
Cool you are now covering american history, all the events happening between the revolution and 1899 war are often referred in american entertainment but I have only a basic knowledge of them.
First note is that from being referred in this video I would like to know more about the French Indian war wich is teased to be very interesting
If you want to read about it, I'd recommend "Scratch of a Pen: 1763 and the Transformation of North America". Gives a good summation as to what ultimately laid the framework of the Revolution, and why the Crown didn't understand the Colonists complaints. Merry Christmas!
Great to see another Kings and Generals Documentary of my own nation’s short history.
An Excellent video K&G! This was a great summary of both sides and can't wait to see more of this series!
This version of the events that led to the Revolution, and their historical context, should be required viewing for every 9th grader in the U.S.: meaning this very K&G version. And every person presuming to seek elective office should be tested on these simple basics. This version nicely supports further study and understanding.
8:10 Can anyone make out what’s stated in this text box? If so, could you please tell me? I really liked this video, but the some of these text boxes were too small. I wish the channel would do these text boxes the way they do them in the Pacific War series.
"The unofficial reason was to keep the Canadians and Americans apart. They can’t fight if they can’t reach each other." That is a good point, we will improve!
@@KingsandGenerals Thank you so much for the quick reply🤩! I was able to read most of the text boxes, it was just that one that I couldn’t make out. Thanks again for the wonderful and informative video.
IVE BEEN WAITING FOR A KINGS AND GENERALS SERIES ON THIS FOREVER! ❤❤❤❤❤
I have yet to hear someone let alone a channel make these opening points. Thank you for your work.
Im sure there is other people and channels making these statements but the point is that it's not common place and instead filled with cute stories.
Excellent video! Looking forward to the next one!
Every word carries a weight, which moved me . Instead of learning facts I was indulged in the story. Thank you bro.
I like this. you can really see why both sides did what they did, doesn't feel like anyone is being misrepresented.
This channel should also tell the wars and revolutions that gave rise to the independence of the countries of South and Central America.
Thx for mentioning the importance of the Quebec Act. For some reason your the only large Edutainer YTber that talks about it.
The French Canadians may not have liked the British but they absolutely despise the American Revolutionaries. And thjs was a reason for the general hostility and lack of support for the revolution in Canada.
Quebec is REALLY overshadowed over their implication in the dynamic of North America. FOR SURE.
What are you even talking about?
There was actually a lot of sympathy for the American revolutionaries in French speaking Canada. The American Revolution even inspired uprisings in Canada such as the rebellion of 1837-1838. You don't even know your own history.
lmao You're projecting your own antipathy for America onto historical people.
And therefore lost their only chance to become independent and every future attempt at independence fail. Its taken longer than expected, but French-Canadians will be Anglonized eventually. Less and less French speakers every decade.
This is pretty amazing, Love the work that you guys do!
Post war taxation is inevitable for any reconstruction or recovery to take place. This particular effort applied to both colony and British losses. America even naturally learnt to endure taxation of an even higher level post revolution too - it was just independent this time. Some even tried to somehow rebel against that too (at least they were consistent).
It comes down to the lack of voice and militant attempts at quelling situations thus rising tensions. To assume that you can just impose rule and have them blindly accept without question is obviously foolhardy. Not the first time Britain has had this issue in it's history neither.
What do you mean, can't taxes be levied whenever I, the king, say so?
-Charles the 1st
Not to mention the Colonies hadn't any Colonial representation in British Parliament, which was one of the things the Colonists tried to get to happen to help with negotiations.
I just watched The Patriot yesterday. Impeccable timing
My favorite historic time period! I'm looking forward to the rest of this series!😊
Brilliant documentary. Another brilliant series coming. We know it takes a lot of time and hard work to make these videos. So we always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos. ❤
Eu sou brasileiro com orgulho da minha pátria mas que história linda a sua!
Great video! This is probably the most objective look at the American Revolution I've seen to date.
Excellent video. I appreciate the chronological and nuanced explanation of pre-revolutionary times. I am recommending this to friends.
Keep up the good work!
Very good documentary. Reminds me of the channel History Vibes
Thank you for providing such great content. My kids love your summary and explanation of events...and their significance.
Good job. Thanks very much. I got MA in US history and foreign policy in 1991. Studying history is always worthwhile, as is the natural sciences and Shakespeare.
Just completed a course on this subject. I am very intrigued by this history. This should make for a great series !
As an American partially of East Indian origin, hearing that the Tea Act basically gave the East Indian Company favorable commercial status in the region (while they were exploiting India for tea) gives me a new level of appreciation for the Boston Tea Party
I was going to skip through the sponsor but as I was skipping through I saw that it was actually pretty cool and had to rewind.
Indeed, one of the most fun things I own.
"So anyway, I started blasting" - A Redcoat who couldn't imagined the storm he just helped to unleash.
I'm very excited for this Series on the Revolutionary war!
I had been hoping for an American Revolution series. Can't wait for the rest of it!
Nice I hope this is a series
We finally did it boys, this one’s for freedom
This video is incredible! Job very well done!
I'm excited to learn more about this going forward! This was an excellent start to the new series. Information and propaganda in war are powerful things. Thank you guys for all that you do.
God be with you out there everybody, and Merry Christmas! ✝️ :)
Hell yeah! I was wanting an American Revolution series. Thank you!
This is so awesome. Thanks to all involved for making killer content like this! This used to be what the History channel was all about, glad I can still get this somewhere.
No taxation without representation is becoming more relevant in this modern age again
Yeah, Washington DC and Puerto Rico are done dirty.
A perfect documentary ! Nothing else to say ! Great work kings and generals
This should be shown in every 6th grade classroom in the country. Perfectly laid out.
Love from America thanks for covering this!! :)
Sing it with me my fellow Americans. Ahem:
MERICA! FUCK YEAH!
Ha ha no as an American this video exposes the amount of propaganda that is taught in schools the US definitely depicts itself as having had the desire to become liberated from Britain but the reality was they were salty. They couldn’t take more native American land.
Nice video. Looking forward to the series
Really love this series thank you so much king's and generals❤
Hey Kings and Generals! I am working on a paper for my macroeconomics class and I would love have your sources on North American reactions to the taxes placed on them. It would really help me out because the focus of my paper is embargos/boycotts and their effects on economy!
The writer here: I don't have a direct source on the impacts, everything in the video were mentioned in sources not focused on the effects of the boycotts. I do know that in at least one biography on John Hancock it mentions that the pre-Intolerable Act boycotts shut off the official trade between the colonies and Britain, but smuggling was so rampant (Hancock was a king among these smugglers) that the overall change in actual trade was minimal. If you're looking for any kind of data, I did go looking for exactly that and couldn't find any that was both easy to use and reliable. There are a lot of papers out there citing various trading company earnings reports without aggregating the data into something useful or were based on secondhand descriptions and/or circumstantial evidence of dubious quality. As a result, I went for a more general description than I originally planned.
@@TheReaperEagle Welp it was worth a shot, but thanks anyway!
PS I absolutely love your work!
Babe wake up a masterpiece just dropped
I take great interest into economic and social structures throughout the history, and how it influences wars and such. I believe we can learn from how the American Revolution started... which is caused by a lack of social/religious tolerance, economic equity and a competent administrative systems. This was beautifully done. Folks, subscribing to this channel is a satisfactory-guaranteed choice.
I'll wait for the: "How it's going" -video
Yes yes yes.
I'd love to learn the international politics that was necessary for the success of this endeavor.
Especially in the context of European Court masterpieces needed to convince kings of different nations' support
I am looking forward to your future videos. 15/10 to all members of the team involved. I literally spend hours and hours watching and rewatching your videos.
You know what I would binge watch? A “History of the world” and then go year by year era by era in different regions. You can make it like History matters in short videos or looooong ass documentaries
Am excited for this series. Though I’m also curious to learn more about Pontiac’s War tbh
Awesome graphics, maps and narration. Spledid!
Beyond excited for this new series! K&G is the best
I was wishing for this after watching the War of the Ring video (on the other channel)!! Thank you!! 🥹🥹🥹
yuuuuuuuuuuussssss! Looking forward to the series!
I love your channel keep up the great stuff
Love the videos you make ! Keep up the great work !
I will be watching to see if this 'also' goes to members only half way through!
I'M ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT MAN!!!! Ya gotta keep this going!
The Bald Eagles are starting to breath heavily at this series! Love that you are covering it and maybe in the future you will cover the Texas Revolution.
Looking forward to this series!
If you want a good interpretation of the Revolution, I recommend HBO's John Adams miniseries and Liberty's Kids
Thank you for this amazing documentary
@KingsandGenerals
Thank you for making this video. This is a topic that is often swarmed with disinformation from all sides of the political spectrum. I hope that you see success in making your new video series.
~Mackyle Wotring
How so? Everyone in America agrees that the Founders were great men; Republicans and Democrats view Washington as the great American to live.
I love that you guys are covering this
I really hope they do a detailed episode of the Battle of Cowpens!
New subscriber here: would love to see a video about the Battle of Saratoga or the Battle of Lake Champlain.
Great videos here.
Pairs well with the new ultimate general game on the American War of independence
A new series from KnG! hell yeah!
Thank you for this sir. love your videos.
Very interesting. I love seeing the American Revolution told from a different perspective. This is going to be a great series.
@kingsandgenerals should make a complete documentary about the American revolution
Great video!
Finally a deep dive into maneuvers of American Revolution
An important detail to remember , it was not the tax that created discontent , but rather the imposition of the tax without any representation or consideration of the veiws of the colonists.
Over time many saw this exclusion as a conspiracy by Parliament to reduce the status of the colonists to 2nd class citizens without the rights of Englishmen.
...so either way the taxing caused the Revolution
@@Eagle-jj5qd I guess you could say that , but the point being the War for American Independence could have been avoided , and Taxes could have still been collected if the colonists had been able to tax themselves.
Arrogance in the English Parliament , and it's unwillingness to share its authority is probably a better description of the " cause of ".
I find this very relevant today.
13:57 and14:13 and 14:20 I’m not sure how to spell it a kajoul kajewl. What is that? What type of weapon?
Slight mistake with the positioning of Concord, I noticed. The Concord that is important for the Revolution is west of Boston; it is not Concord, NH.
A minor thing, but the town locations in MA are off. Cambridge directly borders Boston on the northwest and Concord is about where you have Cambridge.