Conflict in the British Empire: The American Revolution, 1770-1800
Overview
The British empire of the late 18th century had expanded through political, economic, and military means. When the battle of Bunker Hill occurred in June of 1775, the “First British Empire” had unified Scotland (1707), Mediterranean naval bases at Gibraltar (1713) and Minorca (1763), secured influence in India through the East India Company (1757), mapped New Zealand (1769), established control of Bermuda (1707), Florida (1763) and Canada (1763), solidified Caribbean colonies in the Bahamas (1718), Barbados (1652), Jamaica (1670), Belize (1642) and the Leeward Islands (1671). The 13 British American colonies were developed with permanent settlements between 1607 (Virginia) and 1732 (Georgia).
In this global context, the British Empire’s colonies along the present day United Sates eastern seaboard were part of a larger established imperial system that would, after the Peace of Paris (1783) expand further and consolidate power in the 19th century. The uprising called the American revolution was, at the same time, a provincial civil war as well as a European Enlightenment era political action.
By exploring the imperial context of the American Revolution we complicate the national narrative that has been created and expand students’ understanding of international relations, global political structures, and the history of imperialism that extends into the 21st century.
Suggested Essential Questions
How does globalizing the narrative on the American Revolution impact your understanding of national history, identity, and nation building?
In what ways and to what extent did the American Revolution impact other empires?
What are the implications and new understandings that come from exploring the American Revolution from non-US perspectives?
How does exploring the British empire, international relations, and the American Revolution impact your understanding of globalization?
C3 Inquiries relevant to this module
Note: We suggest adding primary and secondary sources found in this module to the C3 Inquiries below. Doing so will add a dimension of "how to globalize U.S. history?" not found in the original design.
Secondary Resources
NPR Interview – Iron Tears and the British perspective (2005)
Boston Massacre Historical Society: Hardly a Massacre! article. (2008)
African Americans During the American Revolution. An overview from the NPS (2008)
Infographic – American Revolution Military Perspective (date unknown)
Gilder-Lehrman Institute (Requires Log In): Article –Two Revolutions in the Atlantic World: Connections between the American Revolution and the Haitian Revolution (2012?)
Foreign Policy – “How did the British Press cover the American Revolution (2012)
15 Minute History Podcast: The American Revolution in Global Context
Collection in Dutch Museum: Memory of the Netherlands – the Atlantic World
Gene Procknow, How the British Won the American Revolutionary War (2015)
Canadian Scholar to Offer Different View of American Revolution (2017)
Myths from History Class – The American Revolution (2017)
Bernardo de Galvez’s contribution to the American Revolution (2017)
Russia’s Role in the American Revolution – Catherine the Great (2017)
Overview of Native Americans during the American Revolution (2018)
New Smithsonian Exhibit Opens: The American Revolution: A World War (2018)
Primary Resources
Library of Congress Collection: British Political Cartoons and Prints. These can be searched by year.
Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation and formation of the “Ethiopian Regiment” (1775).
His Majesty’s Most Gracious Speech to Both Houses of Parliament (1776)
Mohawk Chief Joseph Brant letter to British Secretary of State Lord George Germain (1776)
Lafayette’s Testimonial about revolutionary spy James Armistead Lafayette (1784)
Treaty of Friendship between Morocco and the United States (1786)
Letter from President Washington to the Sultan of Morocco (1789)
“Boston King Chooses Freedom and the Loyalists during the War for Independence” (1798)
"Letter from Jamaica", Simon Bolivar (1815)
"Address at the Congress of Angostura", Simon Bolivar (1819)