'The first people leaving Britain for America were the Puritans who were not escaping tyranny - they were the tyrannical ones and thought Britain was not strict enough on religion.

Americas greatest historical victory is nothing but a mere footnote in British history 😅

As I say to my American son, the British can't be expected to take seriously a people who tried to make tea with cold water.

The unspoken truth is that the revolution was engineered by powerful businessmen who saw the writing on the wall as the UK Parliament was moving inexorably towards outlawing slavery. Taxation without representation was just a useful slogan to rile up the populace.

We were busy fighting the French at the time and we consider that more important, its our favourite hobby fighting the French 😂 so we expect a thanks for getting you New Orleons 😅

One of the reasons to tax the US colonists was the fact that the UK had spent rather a lot of time, blood and money on the French and Indian War... The lack of representation was no worse than that enjoyed by the _vast majority_ of citizens in Britain at the time. So it could be regarded as a hissy fit by a bunch of ingrates who didn't want to pay their fair share for colonial defence (albeit dressed up as a noble cause). Other opinions are available.

A lovely old American friend of mine who fought and was wounded in the Korean War was completely unaware that thousands of servicemen from the British Commonwealth also fought there too.

They were not bartering with the King. The King was really not "ruling". The British Prime Minister was. The British Parliament ran the country and set policies. But for some reason, many Americans talking about their history believe that it was the King they were fighting. Great Britain was already a constitutional monarchy at the time of the US War for Independence.

If people weren't taught it in School it doesn't mean we don't know anything about it, we know all about it, The UK knows a lot more about America than a lot of Americans do.

The taxes the 13 colonies were asked to pay, were owed to pay for the war against the French forces trying to take over the 13 colonies. Before the US independence only the rich paid tax and now only the rich don't pay tax. All men are born equal (some more equal than others it seems).

I always tell Americans, for you the American Revolution was the defining point in your country's history. For the British? It was just Tuesday. ~ Bison

Kinda funny, to some of us the founding fathers, the pilgrims etc. left Europe because they were no longer allowed or able to prosecute and persecute others because of religious freedoms here in Europe. They left to a new land, where they could persecute those who believed otherwise. Not because they were themselves persecuted.. They just did an Amber Heard on it when they retold the story.

USA History was a super short chapter ..maybe 2 weeks? Romans Vikings/Scandi history UK history French Revolution Russian Revolution UK/Belgium/French/German/Italian Imperialism in Africa & Asia The 1st. & 2nd World Wars took a lot more time to go through and the Socio/Political consequences for the world, as a whole hello from Denmark 🌸

In England we learn about our entire history, going back as far as the romans. The American revolution is a footnote on that.

Yer as he says it's only taught extremely minimally in the UK. In all of UK history from the UK's point of view it was not a significant event, both at the time and afterwards. The 13 colonies and the later wider USA was not particularly important or profitable to the British Empire compared to other British colonies. It was its islands in the Caribbean that were by far the most profitable and important to the British Empire at the time due to the then extremely valuable (white gold) sugar they provided. At the time of the American War of Independence, Britain was also engaged in a major international colonial war with France and Spain, who were both also heavily aiding the 13 colonies. Due to Britain's resources being divided and stretched between both simultaneous conflicts, Britain was in serious danger of losing its international colonial war with France and Spain and, crucially, losing too many of its absolutely vital and profitable Caribean islands. Britain had to make a choice. Either concentrate on securing the mostly insignificant and unprofitable 13 colonies, which didn't pose any current or future international threat to Britain or the rest of its empire. Or concentrate on winning against the major current and future international threat to its empire of France and Spain and secure its extremely significant and profitable Caribbean Islands. The choice was obvious. It was the right choice. Britain went on to win that international war against France and Spain and managed to secure and maintain its position in the Caribbean, despite Spain successfully managing to increase and strengthen their position in the Caribbean. That victory allowed Britain over time to further increase its empire all over the world and establish itself as a new dominant super wealthy superpower above France and Spain, for only the minor loss of what were then insignificant and unprofitable 13 American colonies.

This video explains a lot about the history and geography taught in American high schools, as you see videos on youtube where college students don't know the difference between a country and a continent, they think Europe is a country, and have no Idea where certain countries or continents are in the world map, which I think is shocking.

I did years of History at school and a History degree at University and we didn't do any American history at all ..... and the American Revolution and Independance would just be a footnote. What you have to remember is that we had 50 other colonies we were looking after and were constantly at war around the world and in Europe .....

We were taught about the American Revolution in History when I was at school. We were also taught the Russian Revolution, the French Revolution, The Agrarian Revolution and the Industrial Revolution.

American history must be great as its only a couple of weeks old🤣🤣🤣

The American couple refer to Boadicea, the 100 years war, the Tudors being a "footnote in American history". All these things happened centuries before America as a country, or even a group of colonies even existed

He puts it very well. Here in NZ the American Revolution is barely if at all touched on unless at a higher level of education where it gets incorporated into the war between Britain, France and Spain, in which the revolution in the American colonies was something of a sideshow, much more importance being given to the retention of the sugar islands of the Caribbean, America at that time not being of great economic value as a colony. The fact that we, along with dozens of other colonies became independent from Britain is only of general interest. I am pretty confident that most Kiwis would be hard pressed to name the year of our independence, let alone the date as it came about through a gradual, evolutionary process. We tend to focus on our founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi signed between Britain and Maori in the mid 19th century as being our beginning.

Poor King George. Remembered for losing New England, not for gaining Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, Malaysia, Gibraltar, and Planet Uranus.

It’s been a while since I was at school but I remember history lessons spending time on: Ancient Egypt, Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Norman invasion and associated battles, Tudors, Stuarts, English Civil War, Georgian era, French revolution, Victorian era, WW1 and WW2.

I'll think you'll find we're more concerned with the French😂

I had family that arrived in the 1680s New york area by the time of the revolution they were a successful farming family having had lands given for this reason by the crown. Come the revolution they expressed as did many the desire to stay loyal to the crown, they were burned out and attacked, forcing their journey to upper Canada. That's how I tend to view the American War of Independence.

The taxation was to pay for your defense during the 7 years war. The French Revolution was caused by the economic depression brought on by the help given to the Americans during the Revolutionary War which was never recompensed. That's why the Brits aren't overly upset about loosing America when it ended up destroying the French And we were already making vastly more out of India and elsewhere whilst America just cost us money.

As far as some British people are concerned getting rid of the rabble in the American colonies was a good thing. 🤣🤣

In Britain at the time the American revolution was a 2nd rate battle. When the country was at war with France, Spain and the Netherlands at the same time America was a minor annoyance.

I don't remember being taught anything about America in history classes. In geography, we learned about North American mountain ranges though, that's all. The first time I learned about the War of Independence was aged 16 in Minnesota on the way to a 4th July party! I asked "so who were you guys getting independence from?" and there followed a few seconds of silence lol.

I think because the UK has such a long history anything we were taught about US history was quite brief. I can remember learning about the Romans, the Middle Ages, the wars of the roses, the wars with France etc and then going on to learn about the British Empire, Industrial Revolution, French Revolution and Napoleon. By the time we were coming up to school leaving exams we learned 20th century European history and about the world wars. The only thing I remember learning about US history was the Boston Tea Party and the Civil War. I also once did a history project on the Alamo, mostly because I liked the movie.

The Pilgrim Fathers didn't leave to escape tyranny. They left because we wouldn't let them press witches and burn them.

One thing American's don't seem to understand about the revolutionary war is that even back then the king's powers were limited by the constitution. The crown had had no direct ability to levy taxes since the English civil war. Most of the colonists issues were with Parliament not the crown in fact many of the founding fathers considered themselves loyal subjects. It was only the King's arrogant rejection of their appeals for justice which led to outright rebellion. If the King hadn't been plagued with debilitating physical and mental illness he may well have backed the colonists against the greedy corrupt politicians in Westminster leading to an even stronger future Empire with a less centralized Federal style government incorporating more than a fifth of the world's people. Now imagine where we would be now under that system?

When I was at school in the UK, we did a whole semester of Native American history.

We were taught the Russian and French Revolution etc in school . Nothing about America . However learning doesn’t end when you leave school , and like a lot of people we’ve read all about American history and know a fair bit . 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

France's role in the war of Independence aggravating our usual antipathy to the French.

Well, when you have a history as long an varied as British history you kinda struggle to fit it all in. 😁

We did not learn anything about the third English civil war when I was at school, but the UK has a lot of history, as does USA, Canada, Europe etc. Hi from the English midlands.

What the US fails to undertand is that Britain only gave the US revolt its partial attention as Britain at the time had a lot going on all round the world; multiple wars in europe & Middle east, wars/colonisation of the Indian subcontinent(which britain viewed as a lot more valuable than the US), multiple wars & colonisations in Africa, wars & colonisations in south east asia, the colonisation of all of Oceania(australia, new zealand, papua new guinea & multiple pacific islands inc Hawaii). In addition to which its also strongly believed that powerful business men in Britain were pushing the british government to let the US have its independence, its well known that at the time that British govt was looking at banning slavery in all colonies and that powerful business men wanted the highly lucrative slave trade to continue in the americas which would require the US's independence from Britain.

One of the things that American should remember is that British history till 1776 is there history too.

The Great Britain vs Britain vs UK is great fun to talk about! I live in Shetland which is a group of remote islands in Scotland (we're the ones in the box or just cut off completely because we're so north). So Shetland is part of Scotland so is part of the UK. Shetland is also British, as that term refers to England, Wales and Scotland in their entirety (basically just not NI). Shetland isn't part of Great Britain however as we are a separate island and Great Britain refers to the land mass.

We get taught about the British Empire so it does tend to come under part of that.

G'day Guys! Here in Australia during the first 4 years of high school we had a general coverage of most European (especially British) from 1066 forwards...So we did the Hundred Years wars, Louis XIV etc in France 7 Years war Napoleonic wars as well as the War of Independence/1812 War and through the colonising periods etc up to WWII so no "in depth" study of any particular time/event as that would be covered in the final 2 years of high school when we chose either "Ancient History" or Modern History (from the French Revolution until the present day) Cheers!

I remember renaming Independance Day to Treason Day, but that was just to wind up my American colleagues.

"The Americans consider the American Revolution a 'win' against Britain, we consider it a lucky ffrikin' escape!" (Or words to that effect!) Hat Tip to Al Murray/the Pub Landlord...... 😊

The thing to remember is it was a small event for us. The question is why did the largest super power in the world let the US go. It's because more important things were happening like the fight against Napoleon. The reality is we put comparatively little effort into keeping the US. I understand why it is taught the way it is in the US and it's importance to you. But for us it doesn't really pass the 'so what test". Sorry but it's true.

Never learned about the American war of independence. British have so much history, no offence it's not really a big moment for us.

We used to be taught all about America from Christopher Columbus, early colonies, the Pilgrim Fathers, 7 Years War, American Revolution, War of 1812, slavery, Civil War, in the 1970s and before for GCE O Level and A Level exams. After the National Curriculum introduction in the mid 1980s it seems to have severly declined in favour of maths and science subjects. For all the accusations of tyranny there was no actual actions like in Spanish or French colonies. The taxes were to repay the costs of keeping you from being ruled by France during the 7 Years War, which if Britain had lost you really would have known what tyranny was, look at any French colony for how that turns out like Haiti amongst many more. The internal politics of the colony were much more complex than is normally discussed and the interesting bits that are much more awkward to the tyranny story are now hidden but easily found when you go looking.

Don't remember being taught about the American Revolution at school. As it had little impact on the world at the time. As we tend to teach history by themes over time. I don't think that the American Revolution would be included, except possibly for bankrupting France and triggering the French Revolution. I think that trade between the US and UK got back to normal pretty quickly, with the bonus that the US now had to pay for it's own defence.

My teacher in primary 5 was Mrs Grimes,she came over for a year and my teacher went to America,she brought the scratch n sniff stickers for good and bad behaviour haha,really liked her,she also brought with her bags of volcanic rock from Mount Etna,think she must have taught in Italy the year before or just took a holiday before she started in Dundee Scotland

I was taught about it at my school - this was back in the 70s so things may have changed. I was taught about the Boston Tea Party, Battle of Lexington and the first continental congress... we actually have a café chain here called Boston Tea Party. 😄

I studied a British history curriculum here at school for 7 years between 1965 and 72. Here is what we studied: Year 1 was the ancient world (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome), Year 2 was Roman Britain, the Dark Ages, then the Saxon, Danish and Viking invasions. Year 3 was Norman Conquest Norman England and the Middle Ages Year 4 was about the Tudor and Stuart Britain up to the Civil War. Year 5 took us up to 1850 looking at the Glorious Revolution, British political changes, the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions, and some stuff on Empire building, looking at personalities like Clive of India and Wolfe in Canada. Not much about the American War of Independence, though. Years 6 and 7 (Advanced Level) looked in more detail at advanced topics such as Britain between 1750 and 1918, The French and Russian Revolutions and Roman Britain.

Hello Both. In 1994 I spent 6 months working on Staten Island (NY). So I got a rare day off on July 4th. Near where I was renting an apartment near the Staten Island Ferry. In the evening I went into my local bar, the Cargo Cafe and it was fairly busy. I sat by myself at a small table. A couple of the locals came in and said “Why are you on your own? It’s Independence Day”. My reply, jokingly was “Why should I be happy. We lost.”

I’m in my fifties in the UK, I didn’t get taught it at school but you pick it up via History documentaries that mention it as a foot note. It’s not really important to us at all, but the general consensus is well done we don’t blame you, you did the right thing! Just a shame people died on both sides.

I remember being taught a little bit about the American revolution (specifically the Boston tea party), but not in great detail. I seem to remember being taught more about James Wolfe in Canada. We mainly concentrated on British & European history through the ages as it was so interlinked - we were either at war with a nation, or in an `alliance with another one! When it came to my final exam year at 16, we were taught in great depth about the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars and the industrial revolution. By the way, hope you managed to see footage of the Coronation and Eurovision?

The taxes asked for at the time - to pay for security - were much less than what those in the UK had to pay so the "no taxes without representation" was a complete charade. The primary reason the colonists wanted to break away from the UK was to facilitate a land grab from the natives - the UK has signed treaties with various tribes respecting their rights to their own land. But the colonists were greedy.

What surprised me a bit was that the Briton who was citing the whole thing suddenly got at 7.00 a picture of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, together with his cavalry commanders. This is remarkable because (which is largely unknown) the Prussian king is one of the midwives of the USA. The British, because of French interference, wanted to stage a trade blockade in Europe using their fleet. The Royal Navy could have done it. The problem of the British, however, was that the Prussians absolutely did not agree. Now Prussia had almost no fleet. But the British had something on the mainland that was perfectly within reach of Prussia. The British royal family was also the ruling house in Hanover. And Hanover, is only a stone's throw away from the Prussian border and at this time also still has Prussian troops on its south-west flank and not only on the east where Berlin is only 300 km away. And because England could not afford to also wage a war on the European mainland and in such a case with Prussia and France as opponents, the trade blockade was omitted. And that kept the French in the war and the Yankees on the field...

51st state would be Puerto Rico, while not technically America yet it's legally America you can use an American ID in Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans can use Puerto Rican IDs in America and traverse between the two as if it was domestic air travel.

The American War of Independence really is an historical sideshow, and it isn't taught in schools. Conceivably it might crop up if it is specified as an optional specialist topic of study in a GCSE or A-level syllabus, as once “The Wild West” was, which, I remember, along with “The Tudors and Stuarts”, was studied by those who had opted to do GCSE History at the school I taught at around 1990.

According to William Dalrymple in his book The Anarchy, which is an account of the British East India Company’s rise to power in India, one factor in the Revolution was a fear that they would use the same tactics in North America. He quotes a Patriot writer as saying they were now “casting their eyes on America as a new theatre whereon to exercise their talents of rapine, oppression and cruelty”. This wasn’t a British government they were fearing, but a British company that had effectively set up its own government in India without active consent of its British board of directors or the British government.

When I moved to the UK 37 years ago, I quickly learned that the version of US history I’d been taught in school was not the same as the UK version. The most interesting difference was on the Life in the UK test (the UK citizenship test) where, in essence, the American Revolution snippet was along the lines of “ungrateful colonists violently overthrow the helpful and loving government that was trying to protect them from an invasion by those awful French people”. I paraphrase of course, but you get the idea.

While the American Revolution may not be covered in great depth in the education system in general, my own home town has it's own connection to it. On 22nd April 1778 Whitehaven (my home town) had the dubious honour of being the site of the only American raid on British shores. Despite the destruction of a guard tower and much of the harbour front, the attack was ultimately thwarted. Far from feeling any animosity, the gentleman leading the raid, one Commander John Paul Jones is commemorated with a bust in the local library, a sculpture on the harbour and even has a pub named after him.

Essentially we're taught that we tightened the nut too far due to other factors taking precedence, so you rebelled. We were fighting in Europe and elsewhere so couldn't respond sufficiently with troops and ships to stop you getting independence. Especially when you were getting help from the foreign powers we were already fighting. Its taught that at the end of the war, most of the loyalists and allied tribes moved to Canada. You tried invading Canada later on but were knocked back and we (mostly Canada) won the war of 1812. If anyone had a gripe I assume it would be the Canadians, but that doesn't seem to be their attitude. You'd probably be better seeing how Canada teaches the US war of Independence and 1812.

WOW. Great that you said that. thats the 1st time ive heard an american admit they wouldnt have won without the french.

When working for an American Bank whose managers were pretty much form the USA, they had problems understanding why to the UK staff, 4th July was a complete non event. We (of course) went and partook of the special buffet lunch provided and then went back to our desks and got on with our day as normal, while avoiding the Rah Rah Rah as much as possible.

A perhaps relevant bit of information is that the American Revolution had a lot of support in Britain at the time. Many people thought that they had a very good point.

I didn't learn about the US history at all at school. At my school, We started in "pre-history" and progressed chronologically. We'd got to the Tudors and Stuarts by the time it came for us all to choose our "Options", and I dropped history when I picked my O levels. (O levels and CSEs are what we did before the GCSE exam reform of 1984-86. I've got a great mix of exam types, I'm in the cross over years where they did both systems) I was not at all interested in "modern" history. I'd wanted to learn more about the Ancient world, but we didn't get that option.

An interesting view that is often repeated is that Americans did not like what the King was doing. George III did not make laws, he was a constitutional monarch. The British Parliament made unpopular laws. The lack of representation for their taxes was not representation to the King, but the colonies wanted members in the British Parliament.

Always thought it odd that The Somerset case was won in 1772 and the American war of independence started in 1775 the link maybe was slavery

its funny how many yanks love the british family, and yet go on and on about the war of independance,

Its great to see you both back. I love the look new backdrop. Cheers 😀👍👍

I think it’s important to keep in mind that the War of Independence and the Declaration can been the key focus of the origin of the USA (although that does ignore a great deal of history prior and the early history of other settlers and explorers from Asia, central and South America). Conversely, the origin of the UK does not have a key point in the same way. We grew and developed over hundreds (nay thousands of years) and did so both in conflict and collaboration with our neighbours in Europe and farther afield. The UK is rather like a piece of clay that has been moulded and remoulded numerous times by different allegiances and hence our language, culture and diet is a complex mix from all around. Another factor in the teaching of history in UK is that we encourage students to direct and question the order of history (for example was this wife of Henry VIII really adulterous?) rather than accepting things as “fact” because that’s what the books have always told us (although some politicians definitely want to control the “facts” of history). All of these things combined mean that the American Civil war is neither a big part of our history or a period that has a great deal to be analysed (may be the American historians should start that process and really ask who, what and why is really behind the revolution and who really were the beneficiaries (I think a lot of ordinary Americans might like to have some of the freedoms and benefits that are commonplace in most European countries.

Good point, Ethan - the 13 colonies were nothing like the US today.

In general, Brits don't get taught about the revolution apart from one or two lessons when learning about Nepolianic history as we were fighting the French, amongst others, at the same time. We don't really know much about the war of independence other than what we glean from people like yourselves.

having met a number of americans it always amuses me when they say how THEY beat the British in the usa .and then you find out they are of polish or italian or some other late arrival to america descent , also that they do not now that the declaration of independence that they are so proud of is based on the English Magna Carta

For my school's HISTORY O LEVEL we did The History of the British Empire and a part of this was, of course, The American War of Independence. And we studied it in some detail: The battles, the generals, life at the time on both sides of the conflict, consequences, etc. This included "the shot heard around the world', Bunker Hill in Boston, Saratoga Springs in NY and Yorktown. We also looked and analysed documents circulating at the time in order to support the history, e.g. revolutionary pamphlets, parliamentary speeches, punishments and those punished, etc. The course also included our struggles against the French in the USA and in Canada, India, Australia and New Zealand and South Africa. The O LEVELS (Ordinary) used to represent our first choices in our education (ages 14-16) and not all classes study the same subjects. Following these, for the academically minded, are the A Levels (Advanced Levels) where specialization is very prevalent and most pupils study 3-4 subjects at this level prior to Uni. I, for example limited my studies to FRENCH, GEOGRAPHY, LATIN and GENERAL STUDIES.

There you go again on about American freedom, what freedom would that be , is it different than the freedom we have in Europe , UK , and most parts of the world 😊

In my day (boomer), we learned in the UK about the invaders (Celts, Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Normans), the early middle ages (Crecy, Agincourt, Calais, Aquitaine, etc.) and then, in extraordinary depth, the social and economic history of the UK 1750 - 1930. We learned nothing about the history of Europe, let alone the US - a huge gap in our learning and understanding of the world and a great shame IMO as history is the shared narrative of the nations. I have spent a lot of time since then filling in the gaps and understanding the common threads.

The siege of Gibraltar was more important than America, it received more troops and supplies. We also fighting the three major powers at the time. Spain, France and Holland.

I studied history for GCSE and A Level and the only thing I learnt relating to the USA was the civil rights movement in the 60's and USA's role in WW2.

Short anaswer they didn't when i was at school.

Sorry America but your reveloution was a bilp in world history and for Brits we learn about Napolion which ihappened at the same time. It was not mentioned while i was at school at all, vikings were big in history lessons.

The puritans were religious talaban like fanatics, they left as the bulk of the British didn't want to live without music, theatre, dancing, CHRISTMAS, wearing nice clothes and colours. They actually got into power here after we chopped off the kings head, then eventually we brought the monarchy back with golden handcuffs, so when the American revolution took place the king didn't have much power, but we had more fun because of him taking the lead in society! LOL

Despite some economic implications. Historically, politically, socially, it is a footnote in British history!

The American revolution was just a footnote in my history class too. We was taught about the 7 years war, which lead into the American war for independence, which lead into the French Revolution If it wasnt for France losing the 7 years war, assisting the States with their independence and getting nothing in return during their revolution, the Nepolionic wars would have never happened

I wonder how many Americans are aware of the role the British and particularly The Royal Navy played in the global struggle to abolish slavery in the nineteenth century?

No taxation without representation was already a fundamental premise in English law; the English Civil War had been triggered by demands by the king to raise taxes without the approval of Parliament. So in that sense, the American colonies saw themselves as being denied the same rights as had been already won in England. But the real underlying cause of it all was the British insistence that the colonies should only producer raw materials and that manufacture should be done in England. The colonies served as a source of materials and a market for finished goods. But this obviously choked development in the colonies. The taxes being rebelled against where the ones that penalised the production of finished goods in the colonies.

1776 there were only 13 states. The majority of North America was under the control of French, Spanish, and native Americans.

American history… what history? lol

oh my point was there was a program called "How we used to Live" which did different eras and sometimes included some of the still existing buildings like those in chester and york etc.

I was taught about it when I was at school in the 1960s and 1970s.

Puritans wanted more intolerance (or at least a different form of intolerance) so left on the Mayflour and Seedwell from Southampton. The speedwell took on water so they had to put into port at Plymouth to switch to one ship. Next key event would be the Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere’s famous ride then it all kicked right off! Coincidentally I just heard my daughter ask what thanksgiving is, his answer was ‘the native Americans saved the starving settlers, so the settlers part d them back by killing them with small pox.” Oversimplified, but not wrong.

That was interesting. Little known fact about American independence was that it paved the way for the colonisation of Australia. After the revolution England had no place to send her ever growing convict population and the prisons were over crowding very quickly. The authorities were housing them on old ships called hulks in the Thames river. It was decided to send a group to Botany Bay, which was mapped along with the east coast of Australia by Lieutenant James Cook, circa 1770. The English government needed a penal colony to send their petty criminals to after they could no longer send them to their American colonies. Most notably Maryland and Virginia.

I’ve been teaching U.S. History for 18 years. The American colonies were established by a series of groups, for a variety of reasons. They were left unattended, free to do as they wished, with no taxes and no regulations. A freer - civilized - people never existed. This unofficial policy has been called “salutary neglect”. NEGLECT. Individual colonists were free to own as much land as they wished. Land prices were dirt cheap compared to Europe. They were free to make as much money as they could - tax free - and they were free to enslave human beings in order to do so. This is a very good example of a people enjoying - literally - TOO much freedom. That Americans say “we were living under tyranny” is evidence that Americans prefer to view themselves as victims. Not only were they the freest people in the history of the world, but they established governments based on the democratic Republican government of Parliament - minus the whole Royal sovereign thing. In other words : we did not set up a king, but we DID have elections. In addition to all of this, Americans enjoyed the protection of the greatest Army and Navy the world had ever seen, without having to pay one single Shilling in exchange. Free. This played out during The 7 Years War - which was truly the worlds First World War. A global catastrophe that the Colonists neatly avoided, and, in fact, greatly benefitted from more so than anyone else on Earth. Americans were already free. By 1776, Great Britain had made a few feeble attempts at getting the fully adult teenager to go back to being a depended child, but it was too late.

I enjoy your pride in your nation, and long may it reign , but you are us, and, we are you .

It's worth remembering that the British kept hold of the upper half of North America for another 150 years, and the King is still head of state there, although Canada is an independent country now. So essentially Britain lost a thin strip of land down about half the east coast. Britain is not responsible for all the territory the 13 colonies gained subsequently. None of our business.

To be honest, American history is just a tiny part of the history taught in the UK. IF it's taught at all. I've actually learned a lot more outside school (or at least in more detail), and even now I'm still doing that..

We in England are taught more about 14th July.

In 1776 while the 13 colonies were becoming an independent country, the UK began running a horse race, the St Leger, which is still run annually. In the UK other more important historical events are taught, these being events like 1066 (Battle of Hastings), 1215 (Magna Carta), 1666 (Great fire of London) and 1966

I could be wrong but I don't think Simon writes his own scripts , he just presents someone else's work. I've seen him flip on screen and cry out " How do you expect me to read this stuff? " which doesn't sound like he actually wrote it.

Heres a fun factoid for you, Berwick upon Tweed was technically still at war with Russia well into the 1990s due to a weird quirk of international diplomacy dating back to the Crimean War. Basically when war was declared there was a specific mention of Berwick just as there was to Guernsey, Jersey, etc. However by the time of the peace treaty signing Berwick had been incorporated into England (though its footie team plays in Scottish league) and no mention was made of Berwick separately, hence it still technically being at war with Russia….yup…