The Revolutionary War that was to decisively sever the relationship between the American colonies and their British rulers was provoked by increasing British infringement on the rights of the colonists in the 1760s. 
The Revolutionary War that would mark a new era in global politics was not without internal struggle. Although an impetus for change was irreversible, about 20 to 30 percent of the colonists remained loyal to the British crown during the War, becoming known as Loyalists or ‘Tories’ or ‘King’s men.’ Furthermore, the colonies were still in conflict with some of their Native American neighbors and the later intercession of foreign European forces, such as the Hessians, French, and Spanish, made the lines of war and boundaries of conflict less clear.
By the end of the 18th century, the French Revolution had made representatives of the British Empire ill at ease. In 1798, English viceroy Marquess Cornwallis reported to the Duke of Portland of attempts “to revolutionize Ireland on the principles of France.” At the same time, Irish nationalist Theobald Wolfe Tone was making waves with his public proclamations of an oncoming rebellion against English rule – one that would be supported by French military forces.
According to Cornwallis, Tone and his ilk were turning “the passions and prejudices of the different sects to the advancement of their horrible plot for the introduction of that most dreadful of all evil, a Jacobin revolution.” In the view of the English overlords, the worst of those offenders was Lord Edward FitzGerald, the younger brother of Ireland’s only Duke. Oft described as a “mischief maker” with grand romantic ideals of bloodless revolution, he had spent time fighting for the British in the American War for Independence and, inspired by a reading of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions, set out for Paris at onset of the French Revolution.
Drunk on the notions becoming a populist renegade, he there married an illegitimate daughter of Phillipe Egalite, a former duc d’Orleans, and settled in to revolutionary circles - seemingly oblivious to the multitude of his fellow aristocrats being sacrificed to the guillotine daily. In 1792, FitzGerald was even said to have discussed the establishment of an independent Irish state with Common Sense pamphleteer and radical intellectual, Thomas Paine.
By 1798, he had returned to Ireland, the land of his birth, and, alongside Wolfe Tone, became one of the de facto heads of the Society of United Irishmen – a liberal political party that soon evolved into the guerilla-style revolutionary campaign that Cornallis had been anticipating. Standing 28,000 members strong, the United Irish, uprisings against the British soon spread from Dublin to far outlying counties – but FitzGerald was soon forced to the sidelines by a fever that left him bedridden and in hiding.
Despite his ambitions to go down in history as populist renegade – and a successful one at that – FitzGerald was discovered at his farmhouse hideout and transported to the prison at Newgate Gaol. There he would be fatally wounded after stabbing two of his captors – who had just offered him amnesty based on his aristocratic lineage. Fellow United Irishman Wolfe Tone would be less fortunate; following his capture month’s later, he cut his own his throat rather than meet the hangman’s noose.
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The latter’s prediction of French backup for the Irish insurgency came true – but far too late. Two months after the suppression of United Irish forces, 1,000 French solidiers landed on the beach at Kilcummin in the northwest of the island. Though joined by 5,000 supportive locals, the British soon laid waste to the French forces, with many choosing to surrender rather than continue the fight. The sole benefit of the failed Irish Rebellion of 1798? The French prisoners of wars were traded back to France for British prisoners of war. In the end, hundreds of supporters of the United Irish, mostly peasants, were hung for their involvement in the affair. | |||||||||||
Tags: 1792, 1798, Brown Bess Rifle with bayonet, Bunker Hill Sword, Common Sense, Confessions, Duke of Portland, French Revolution, French Revolution Sword, Irish Rebellion 1798, Jacobin revolution, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, Marquess Cornwallis, Revolution in the British Empire, Society of United Irishmen, The French Revolution CD-ROM Lesson Plan Set with DVD, Theobald Wolfe Tone, Thomas Paine, United Irish Patriots
A good cup of tea has always been a British favorite. At one time it was extremely popular among the royal colonies in America. Perhaps that is why it became a weapon, a symbol of power, control and rebellion culminating on December 16, 1773 at a harbor in Boston.
The colonists were unhappy with all the new taxes as they meant paying the debts of another country which not actually representing the people of the American colonies. The phrase ‘no taxation without representation’ stems from this time. By making the imported tea cheaper than it had ever been and simultaneously placing an import tax on the cargo, the British government, namely King George III, tried to bribe the colonists into accepting British rule. Paying the tax would admit the crown had authority.
A sort of stalemate ensued, until a cool night in December when approximately 116 Bostonians, frustrated by failed meetings and apathetic customs officers, descended on three ships docked at Boston harbor. Dressed in Native American costume and donned with war paint, the men illegally boarded the ships and dumped the tea chests into the harbor.
The ring leaders of this historic act of rebellion had been planning the sedition since the end of November when news of the ships arrival was proclaimed. The ships sat in harbor at Griffin’s Wharf for two weeks where they were guarded by a volunteer force of sentries. Their job was enforcing the resolutions made at meetings of the Boston Sons of Liberty group which stated that the tea would not touch land.
Every year we cook the turkey, gather friends and family and share stories. But where does the tradition of Thanksgiving come from? How does the feast of today figure into American history and how distorted have the stories of pilgrims, corn and pumpkins become?
A native guide and interpreter known as Massasoit was informed by fellow tribesman that the English were shooting and using their guns. Although the translator could not be certain whether the colonists were shooting game for dinner or starting a war, he arrived back at the colony with approximately 90-armed men. It seemed a cautious approach to the recent arrivals.
It wasn’t until 1777 that the first official nationwide Thanksgiving celebration took place. In fact, the feast that year was to celebrate the defeat of the British during the battle of Saratoga. Early 19th century historians mistakenly labeled the Plymouth sit down (rather than possible standoff) as the first Thanksgiving.
