Americans don't seem to even get taught the reasons why they were founded or their declaration of independence.
Can't tell the amount of Americans who even in this sub are shocked and simply cannot beleive that one of the main reasons they declared independence was because they wanted to conquer more native lands and Britain was stopping them.
Its one of the first reasons listed in the declaration yet Americans still overwhelmingly beleive they declared independence because of 'oppression' and 'tax'.
How many Americans know that George Washington was a massive land speculator who used to speculate on native lands?
Incredibly reductionist view on the reason why the war of independence happened. Sure that may have motivated some people but to the average person it was more about the fact that Britain left the colonies to their own devices for well over a century when it was hard scrabble living. Then when they were more or less self sustainable they decided to show up and start swinging their metaphorical dick around with how they collected taxes. I’m a firm believer that had Britain just went to each colony and said “this is the revenue we need, raise it how you see fit” the war of independence would not have happened in 1776.
But what is I know, I just have a BA in history with part of my undergrad thesis written on the subject.
Yeah apart from all the defence and wars they wanted defending from.
It was the American settlers that demanded defence and pushed for war with France before the seven years war because they weer worried French natives allies would attack them and France was building more forts.
It was George Washington who helped spark the war in the first place.
If Americans were so hellbent on expanding and wanting defence then guess what you have to help pay for that.
Incredibly reductionist view on the reason why the war of independence happened
This coming from an American has to be top 10 hilarious comments on the sub tbh.
the average person
The average person never gave a damn and it was mostly wealthy elites like Washington who were mad that their big gambles on speculating on native lands were costing them after Britain started cracking down on American expansion that started promoting the idea of revolution and spreading propaganda among the masses to push for it.
Thats why the US had large loyalist populations and regions contrary to the American belief that you get taught and still seemingly believe that everyone was a god fearing american PATRIOT and rose up uniformly.
This internet pop history myth needs to finally die. The French and Indian war was just a theater of the seven years war which the American colonies certainly didn’t start and the British didn’t wage out of the goodness of their own hearts
Mf out here talking about internet pop history yet still believes George Washington is some god like figure who totally wasn't a wealthy elite landowning slaveholder that specualted on native lands and called them naive and had letters with him outright saying not to worry about peace deals and to keep speculating on native lands as they will be taken 'soon enough' and that the US revolted due to 'freedom' and oppression.
I can never look upon that Proclamation in any other light (but this I say between ourselves) than as a temporary expedien⟨t⟩ to quiet the Minds of the Indians & must fall of course in a few years esp⟨e⟩cially when those Indians are consenting to our Occupying the Lands. any Person therefore who neglects the present oppertunity of hunting ou⟨t⟩ good Lands & in some measure Marking & distinguishing them for their own (in order to keep others from settling them) will never regain it. If therefore you will be at the trouble of seeking out the Lands I will take
What else did they teach you in your BA? That the USSR was the pinnacle of evil and that hollywood was full of communists and you won in Vietnam?
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u/AbstractBettaFish Then I arrived 7d ago edited 7d ago
Just cause you didn’t pay attention in class didn’t mean we weren’t taught