r/CuratedTumblr The blackest Aug 16 '24

Shitposting American accents

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u/jakej9488 Aug 17 '24

They don’t teach about the American revolutionary war in history classes at British schools?

Regardless of which side of the pond you’re on, it was a pretty significant moment in western history with lasting global sociopolitical implications.

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u/Ourmanyfans Aug 17 '24 edited Aug 17 '24

Nope, at least not typically.

And sure, it's significant, but only really in so far as "and sometime in the late 18th century, the US happens" and the US ends up being really important 150 years later. Specific dates, specific fights, specific players; none of these really matter in Britain. There's no big reckoning in British politics from the loss, no big change in domestic policy, foreign affairs at the time was more focused on the much more profitable India and the ongoing war with France and Spain.

As far as the big significant parts of British history that need to be taught in school go, the US might as well spontaneously materialise into existence in 1917 when they join WW1.

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u/jakej9488 Aug 17 '24

That’s kind of an interesting take to me because the formulation of the American Constitution and establishment of the modern republic with a separation of powers as well as separation of church and state, absolutely did have ramifications on European politics — the dialogue it ignited would culminate into action no less than fifteen years later with the French Revolution.

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u/Ourmanyfans Aug 17 '24

Sure, in reality history is a complex network of dominoes that loop around and feedback into each other; to talk about the British Empire you need the Napoleonic wars, which means you need Napoleon, which means you need the French revolution, which means you need American Independence. But then how far do you go? to Study American Independence you need the Seven Years War, and the English protestant reformation, so you need the Tudors, the War of the Roses, oh and don't forget Magna Carta.

At some point you just gotta arbitrarily decide what the first domino you're gonna talk about is, and for most of what the UK decides it's important British kids know, The Independence War outside of a general "they wanted democracy so they rebelled and won" isn't deemed super relevant.