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- Jul 4, 7:55am
- History, perhaps, does not furnish a greater instance of this downfall of ambition, and the vanity of human project than Britain experienced in the revolt of America
Or so reported The Times in 1785. Two centuries later, we're getting over the pain but, in honour of the glorious fourth, we invite you to take a trip down memory lane.
Our fantastic Archive brings you all the news on the King who lost America, the original report on the Constitution and the benefits that Britain hoped they might receive from their former colony.
Take a look. And a very happy Fourth of July!
Posted by Daniel Finkelstein on July 4, 2008 in American Politics | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0) | Email this post
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We Americans greatly appreciate the long term friendship of our British cousins. But we are concerned about the creeping inroads by the Muslims who threaten to adversely change the innate character of your wonderful country. We hope you will keep Britain British. And for those who can't accept that, send them home. God bless!
Posted by: Frank Hawkins | 4 Jul 2008 13:15:25
As an American who is the grandson of a Brit (war bride) and who lived in the UK for four years (PhD, University of Durham, 2002), I can honeslty say I love the UK as much as I do the USA. In spite of our past differences, we still have a strong bond between our countries. Many thanks for the holiday wishes!
Posted by: John Byron | 4 Jul 2008 13:36:54
You can help make America happy by using the correct name for today. It is officially "Independence Day".
Just like Christmas (another national day of observance) using unambiguous monikers takes away from the reason we are celebrating the day.
Why is it that during December Christmas is referred to as the Holidays but we have "Christmas in July" sales... emmmm???
So may you have a safe and happy "Independence Day". And come this December 25th I wish all a Very Merry "Christmas".
Posted by: Danny Eller | 4 Jul 2008 14:05:19
I object to Frank Hawkins speaking for all Americans, and in fact I find his comment offensive. Not all of us have a fear or hatred of Muslims.
On this day it seems appropriate for Americans to consider what makes our country great. Many citizens are willing to allow constitutional rights to be taken away by those who claim to be protecting the American way of life. In fact, those very rights are the essence of what makes America great. We should, when necessary, go to war to preserve them. We must not reject them when they become inconvenient.
Posted by: kh | 4 Jul 2008 14:08:26
The incomparable Doctor Johnson had it right when he called patriotism the last refuge of scoundrels and scoffed at what he called the "drivers of negroes" yelping about liberty.
Few Americans even understand that Johnson's first reference was to their sacred Founding Fathers (aka Patriots). I have seen a well known American columnist who attributed the pronouncement to Ben Franklin, a man who was otherwise admirable but nevertheless dabbled a few times in slave trading himself.
Johnson especially had in mind history's supreme hypocrite, Jefferson, with his second reference. Again, few Americans know that Jefferson kept his better than two hundred slaves to his dying day. I know a well educated American who sincerely believed Jefferson had freed his slaves. Such is the power of the myths of the American Civic Religion.
Jefferson was incapable of supporting himself, living the life of a prince and being a ridiculous spendthrift who died bankrupt and still owing money to others, the man of honor being a trifle less than honorable in paying back the money he often borrowed. When a new silk frock or set of shoes with silver buckles was to be had, Jefferson never hesitated to buy them rather than pay his debts.
The date we now celebrate, July 4, is based on the Continental Congress's approval of the Declaration of Independence, but in fact the date is incorrect, the document was approved on July 2.
Jefferson wrote the first draft of the declaration, but it was edited by the redoubtable Benjamin Franklin, and later was heavily amended by the Continental Congress. Jefferson suffered great humiliation of his pride and anger at the editing and changes.
Despite the document's stirring opening words, if you actually read the whole thing, you will be highly disappointed.
The bulk of it has a whining tone in piling on complaint after complaint against the Crown, going on and on about things like Britain's slave trade.
The 'slave trade' business was particularly hypocritical, trying to sound elevated while in fact reflecting something else altogether. At the time there was a surplus of human flesh in Virginia, and prices were soft.
The cause of
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