British Mum Reacts to The American Revolution - OverSimplified (Part 2)

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British Mum Reacts to The American Revolution - OverSimplified (Part 2)
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[@rp3569]

George Washington was technically British as he was born as a British subject in a British Colony, Martin Van Buren was actually the first “American born” president and ironically the president after him, William Henry Harrison, was the last “British born” president.

[@RealDiehl99]

That is something a lot of people fail to understand. The people living in America at the time were not technically Americans by nationality. They were British colonists / subjects. At least the ones who were of British descent. That's why it's called a revolutionary war. The colonists revolted to overthrow their own rulers... the crown.

[@ryansvendsen2309]

Technically 🙄

[@helifanodobezanozi7689]

​@@ryansvendsen2309Yes, they were British colonists who were (mostly) born in North America.

[@babs3241]

More to the point in the context of the video, he was an officer in the British army in the colonies.

[@muleb384]

Fair enough, but Washington was born in North America.

[@anantayanamandra3491]

Until they won the war technically everyone was British.

[@johnalden5821]

The idea that the Americans were British up until they won the war is debatable. Certainly, after the Declaration of Independence, there would have been people who did not consider themselves subject to the British king or government. They may have continued to think of themselves as ethnically English (or Scottish, etc.), but their allegiance would have been to their own communities and states. And this local orientation, politically, may have begun generations earlier than the Revolution. Most American colonists had never been to Britain by the 1770s -- and had no intention of going there. Many of their families had lived in their towns and colonies for many generations -- up to 150 years. Other than speaking the same language, they had little in common with residents of the British Isles at that time.

[@juneskywalker5847]

Technically no. What a dumb comment. No one that fled a filthy monarchy is not a part of it...especially a tyrannical empire that breeds with its own and lies to its people thinking they are kings and queens above all others. The "royal" family have been the ones starting many wars that forced Americans to fight in for their evil agendas and been helping to steal our elections. Don't forget the prince of England was best friends with Jeffery Epstein and went to his island many times.

[@LGBTQLegend]

By definition they were British as in part of the British Empire. People seem to forget British is a nationality that encompassed many places across the Empire.

[@johnalden5821]

@@LGBTQLegend North America is not the same as the rest of the former British Empire. What is now the United States exited the Empire fairly early. At that time, the idea of a "British" nationality would have been far less common than Scottish, English, Welsh, Irish, etc. So, even if people had considered the territory they lived in as part of the realm belonging to the British king, they may not have thought of themselves as "British." Most people here identified with their communities and colonies/states (say, Boston or Massachusetts) and knew they were of English or Scottish (or German) background. "Great Britain" was an unknown abstraction for most of them. When the U.S. became independent, they switched their loyalty away from the crown and to the federal union that included their own state.

[@LGBTQLegend]

@@johnalden5821 Were you not paying attention to the video? Even during the Revolution there were colonists who wanted to repair relations with Britain and remain their colonies.

[@jefferoni1984]

You’re both right. They were all British subjects and then they became American after they fought a war of independence and established a brand new country.

[@yashar6595]

I always find it funny how Brits generally dont realize American colonists were for the most part British. They often even served in the British Army as well like Washington. That is why many of the colonists originally didn't want independence. They wanted to repair the relationship. Even after the war many wanted to repair the relationship because it was the mother country.

[@billbliss1518]

Yeah, one thing this video could have done better was to explain that American colonists were very divided on the war. They do hint to it by mentioning the loyalists, but truth is about 30% of Americans supported rebellion, 30% supported loyalty to Britain, and the remaining 40% just wanted to get on with their lives and avoid conflict.

[@hanknichols6865]

The colonists thought of themselves as British and wanted Britain to treat them like other British citizens.

[@LGBTQLegend]

​@@billbliss1518That's like every conflict though. Majority in any country of any war just want to live their lives in peace.

[@SahajPatel-oh9hv]

I know but they were still born on American soil. America is diverse for a reason 🇺🇸🦅🦅

[@thegamerchef7220]

well when i was in high school we had two history classes, one was world history and the other was US history. calling someone a "Benedict Arnold" is basically calling them a trader.

[@stevedietrich8936]

Traitor.

[@kimkacer782]

Traitor. Trader tho it sounds similar, means one who is trading goods.

[@thegamerchef7220]

I'm aware I misspelled after I commented

[@duanevp]

@@kimkacer782 Ironically both are applicable to Arnold who was, among a lot of other jobs and schemes, a horse trader - which is what caused him to have seen Fort Ticonderoga before and know about it's really poor condition - and all the cannon that were there. He'd been there trading horses.

[@LGBTQLegend]

A khajiit trader or?

[@zaphod2505]

Milily had a puzzled look on her face at the kite reference. In addition to being a politician, diplomat, founder of University of Pennsylvania, writer and newspaper publisher he was also a scientist and inventor. He invented things like the lightning rod, bifocals and a more efficient stove but he also help prove that lightning is electricity. One of the ways he did that was by flying kites during thunderstorms with a key tied to the kite and the key would spark.

[@billfilios2677]

I'm pleased you recognized the Name Knox, even if it is for Fort Knox. The fort of course was named after General Henry Knox. He was a very interesting person. He was a book store owner in Boston. In order to assist in the war, he ordered all the books on artillery he could from England. He then read up on artillery and with the books supplied by the English became the American's foremost expert on artillery. He's a real local hero here in Boston.

[@lizd2943]

Knowing where to poop and where not to is very important for an army. Until quite recently the majority of military casualties were from disease.

[@brianburns7211]

My great-great Uncle Oliver died that way. He was stationed at Fort Ticonderoga. Uncle Oliver was medically discharged and was able to procure a horse to travel back to Connecticut. He only lived for about a fortnight before passing away.

[@omnigeek]

Any idea where I can find those statistics. How many people died because of people pooping in the wrong places is something I need to know.

[@ricgunn1439]

Ft Knox where James Bond saved the US gold supply. And the USA economy 😱🤯

[@MarkM58]

The first member of my family (4x great-grandfather) to come to America was a Hessian soldier that switched sides, as many did. Millie, Washington was born in Virginia but was a British citizen because the revolution had not occurred. That is why he was a British officer.

[@danz1182]

British subject. There is difference. Its at the root of the whole taxation without representation thing.

[@brandonflorida1092]

Adams misunderstood Franklin's strategy, having far less emotional intelligence than Franklin. Franklin had read the room and realized that his sole tool was to be personally liked. So, when he went to a party, he may or may not have enjoyed himself, but he was working, and in the end he succeeded.

[@lizd2943]

He probably enjoyed himself, and God bless him.

[@MarkM58]

Adams was the exact opposite and was pretty much looked upon as an asshole. He definitely had his positives, but Franklin knew what he was doing and generally was a pretty wise old owl.

[@kissmy_butt1302]

You are correct. Franklin knew the power was through the Royal court and the Salons. He also used his celebrity because he was known in Europe as the man who tamed electricity.

[@marquisdelafayette1929]

Franklin played into the “stereotypical rustic American frontiersman “ style that was all the rage. He even wore a raccoon hat. They ate it up. Adams wanted to go straight to Versailles and ask Louis XVI for money and support. Franklin tried explaining that behavior was a quick way to get rejected.

[@aaronburdon221]

@@marquisdelafayette1929 From everything i've read about those 2, they did NOT like each other at all.

[@StevePaur-hf4vy]

The Revolution is obviously taught in American schools. It usually starts around third grade where you are introduced to the American heroes of the Revolution as well as some of the well known British participants. As you progress thru school more complexities and tactics are introduced as well as the battles and the reasons for the war.

[@ErinStev64]

In Texas we are taught Texas history first. Then American. When I was in school we said the pledge of allegiance, then the pledge to Texas.

[@visasmom]

I think American schools could do a much better job of teaching our history. Now many people want to tear down the statues of our heroes and vilify the men who fought for our freedom and established our government. Those men were flawed, as are all men, but damn! they performed a miracle.

[@simondeep]

@@ErinStev64tenth amendment at its finest

[@Chancho707]

You can consider George Washington as an American of British descent. He began his military career as a member of a British provincial militia group. They fought alongside the British during French and Indian wars.

[@xjarhead1964]

At 2:09 into their first video confirms this.

[@marquisdelafayette1929]

Washington caused the 7 Years War that led to the taxation and later war between the countries. Talk about the butterfly effect.

[@briancallaway1690]

No one was American until after the war, except for the native Americans, of course.

[@ViolentKisses87]

You fought the wars now we will charge you for them!

[@johnalden5821]

@@briancallaway1690 It depends on what sense you give to the word "American." If you think of "American" solely as "citizen of the United States," then many of them ceased their allegiance to the crown as of July 1776, before the war was over. If you think of "American" in a cultural dimension, as somebody tied through common history to a certain geography, then the colonists were strongly rooted, over many generations, in America -- and you could no longer really think of them as British in that sense, any more than you would call a Canadian person "British" 100 years later. You could make the argument, in fact, that the American colonists' sense of NOT being British was elemental in leading them to revolt during the period between 1765 and 1775.

[@jeffreyphipps1507]

Millie, you have to keep in mind - nearly all people in the revolutionary war were English by birth. They switched sides because they felt that what would become the U.S. was being treated without representation in England. A good 2/3 of the colonists didn't want war, but the leaders felt they had no choice. Had England chosen to provide representation for the colonies in parliament, things might have looked very different.

[@GilaMonster971]

Washington was British but was elected as an American as president. After the Declaration of Independence he was an American.

[@eekus1494]

Benedict Arnold is synonymous with "traitor" in the United States. Most Americans do not know he was a genuine war hero before he turned traitor. He suffered a leg injury at the Battle of Saratoga. There is a memorial to him referred to as "The Boot Monument" that does not feature his likeness or mention his name. ________________ A boot and a two-star epaulet are draped over a howitzer barrel to symbolize an individual with the rank of Major General who suffered a wound during a battle in this location. The reverse of the monument is inscribed with the following quote: “In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental Army who was desperately wounded on this spot, the sally port of Burgoyne’s great [western] redoubt 7th October 1777 winning for his countrymen the decisive battle of the American Revolution and for himself the rank of Major General."

[@RogCBrand]

It is really sad. If politics hadn't led to losers like Gates being protected and competent men like Arnold being ignored, then very likely Benedict Arnold would be one of the most celebrated of the Founding Fathers!

[@kaipollard]

I love how he mentions Benedict Arnold like 6 times and they forget who he is every time

[@nancystanton955]

Henry Knox was the fellow that secured the cannons used to surround Boston at the very beginning of the war. He served as the first Secretary of War in Washington's cabinet. I grew up in Knox County, Ohio which was named in his honor. Funny enough the county seat is Mount Vernon named in honor of George Washington's home in Virginia. I lived there for almost 40 years.

[@thetapheonix]

Fun fact. Benedict Arnold is synonymous with a treason or a traitor in American English. If someone calls you that, it’s a term of abuse. Also synonymous with a turn coat because he literally was a turn coat.

[@scottydu81]

Benjamin Franklin was an absolute hedonist. He was alleged to have kept a rope by his bed where he would tie a knot for every new woman. When he died, the local brothel had to shut down because all of the girls were at his funeral.

[@williampilling2168]

There is a monument commemorating the Battle of Saratoga. It has 4 sides, and on three of them, there is a statue in honor of a leader in the battle. The south side is left intentionally blank, and represents Benedict Arnold.

[@BostonBobby1961]

Saturday was 250th anniversary of when the colonists dumped the tea here in the Boston Harbor. It was to protest the excessive tax on tea by King George III

[@mdhbh]

Not much has changed in America because we are taxed for everything because of our British cousins

[@BostonBobby1961]

@@mdhbh especially here in the commonwealth of Massachusetts where the tea party was held. The nice thing is if you don’t want to pay sales tax, you can take your business north to New Hampshire. No sales or income tax in that state.

[@mdhbh]

@@BostonBobby1961 Agreed...

[@heywoodjablowme8120]

​@@BostonBobby1961Yeah I heard a New Hampshire native refer to people that move NH from Mass as Mass-holes. I don't think they like you.

[@BostonBobby1961]

@@heywoodjablowme8120 they still stay massholes no matter where they move. You can tell the way they drive. Wait until you’re on top of your exit and cut across four lanes of traffic so you don’t miss your exit.

[@eTraxx]

if you notice the flag shown a lot is the Grand Union Flag .. 13 red and white stripes with the Union Jack as the canton. The Americans at first considered themselves British. I have read that approximately 1/3 of the Americans supported the Rebellion, 1/3 supported the British (Loyalists) and 1/3 could care less and just wanted to be left alone. The war was in effect a civil war.

[@johnalden5821]

Those numbers are what we today would call a "swag" (a "scientific wild-ass guess"). There was no way to know then, or now, how many people supported which side or the degree to which they supported them. It does fairly well capture the three possible stances of an American toward the war, though. And probably, peoples' support "evolved" according to who appeared to be winning in their close geographic proximity. But in the end, there were never enough Loyalists to hold large areas of the rural countryside. And unless you could control the countryside outside the cities, you could not win the war. The British held New York throughout almost the entire war. At various points, they captured Philadelphia, Charleston, Newport (and raided Richmond). In the end, it did them absolutely no good to pen themselves up in the cities.

[@danz1182]

Also conduct. British conduct during the war slowly shifted sentiment against the crown.

[@eTraxx]

I read that this was especially evident during the Southern Campaign .. the British went into South Carolina since there was much more Loyalists there .. but they screwed up by being ham-fisted that they turned the former Loyalists against them@@danz1182

[@kokomo9764]

At the time when Geo. Washington was a Lt. Col, he was British. He changed sides before the war. His family in England were close friends with the Spencers of Diana fame.

[@swiftfishin5680]

Fun fact, Morocco 🇲🇦 was the first country to recognize the US as a country

[@christineharrison7815]

Fat electrician gives that detail in his video

[@michelebossoletti]

If someone in your life has betrayed you in any way, they are called a Benedict Arnold.

[@hanknichols6865]

Benedict Arnold moved to England after the war. He was not particularly liked there because they also thought of him as a turncoat.

[@tylerjay_]

Even though George Washington was born in Virginia, he technically was British for 44 years of his life, and was a high ranking officer in the Seven Years War. So technically you both were right. It's hard for people to comprehend that the 13 colonies were British, hard stop, for a longgg time. Plus, they would have never said things like "the British are coming" or reference the "British" as who they were fighting because its a circular reference. It's noted they said things like the Red Coats, Regulars, or Tory’s if they were loyalists etc..

[@danz1182]

He was a colonel of colonial militia. Mid 18th century British generals are spinning in their graves at the suggestion that qualifies as a high ranking British officer.

[@tylerjay_]

@@danz1182 did I call him a general? A colonel, by definition, is a high ranking officer. One rank below brigadier (general). So not sure if see your point, unless it was just ignorance

[@shadownor]

November 16, 1778, to Le Ray de Chaumont stating, “I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm's way.” John Paul Jones, an epic Scottish founder of the US Navy.

[@patrickoconnor6893]

I actually live a 20 minute drive from valley Forge where the army was whipped up into shape.

[@Perfectly_Cromulent351]

There are some key bits of Americana that fly under the radar for non-Americans reacting to this such as Franklin saying to the French ladies “I’d like to fly you like a kite” and and the overall emphasis of including Benedict Arnold. In the scientific world, Benjamin Franklin is widely considered to be the modern discoverer of electricity. He achieved this by flying a kite with a key attached to it during a lightning storm. It’s also a major pierce of American culture that children learn in kindergarten. Also, while Benedict Arnold was an important part of the American Revolution, he wasn’t so important to be featured as prominently as he was. For Americans, the name “Benedict Arnold” is synonymous with “traitor” and it’s used by kids even before they learn who he was.

[@JPMadden]

Electricity was known to exist, although not understood. Franklin proved that lightning was electricity and invented the lightning rod to protect buildings from it.

[@williambranch4283]

Alexander Hamilton was the only Founder born outside the Colonies (he was born in the Carib).

[@user-ty5di3ku6o]

This is basically the story of a giant redhead doing crazy stuff that no one could predict. He was 6'2 in the 1700s. That's like being 7ft now 😂. I'm sure they were terrified 😂.

[@jefferoni1984]

It’s crazy. He was pretty much a living legend.

[@sld1776]

Very exciting! Now we get to know who won!

[@TheBeesleys99]

AHAHA!

[@RH-ug4nv]

I watch a lot of reaction videos from all over the world but I must say you two are my favorite. I also like the reaction with your mom, she seems like a very sweet person.

[@tye8876]

Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity by flying a kite with a key tied to it during a lightening storm. Hence the tongue in cheek reference where he is trying to pick up the two French women.

[@JPMadden]

Electricity was known to exist, although not understood. Franklin proved that lightning was electricity and invented the lightning rod to protect buildings from it.

[@marksmith4892]

I would just note that in America's inception, we were ALL British + German. Shortly thereafter, a lot more British migrated and a TON more Germans moved in. What's curious is that religious liberty united them all, and this is why the Germans, Irish, English, Welsh, Scottish, et. al. all intermarried and bred like jackrabbits. This is why to those of us in America it seemed strange that there would be so much animosity and war between all these nations along ethnic lines cause over here all these nationalities were part of the same churches and villages and communities takin' care of each other (to survive if nothing else) and having each other's babies. Like for instance the Irish hating the English or the Welsh and English remembering their long history of war, we have no concept of this. The history of the Welsh and the English or the Irish and the Germans is that they all went to church together and pooled their resources to survive attacks from American Indians and the harsh winters. The Germans will celebrate St. Patty's day, and the Irish will celebrate Oktoberfest. Everybody celebrates everything, and all parties WANT everybody to celebrate everything! I'm in the Cleveland, Ohio area and the Slavs and the Pols are disappointed if nobody shows up to their holidays hahahaah

[@lisab.9956]

Benjamin Franklin comment about a kite & "electrifying" is referring to June 10, 1752, when he flew a kite during a thunderstorm to collect ambient electrical charge in a Leyden jar, enabling him to demonstrate the connection between lightning & electricity.

[@davidpost428]

Thanks for watching this. The war lasted from 1776 to 1783 and was brutal. My American ancestors fought in it and I am grateful to them. I don't want another KIng in my country.

[@blanketstarry7725]

I'm surprised the British don't learn more about the America Revolution. This is British history too...pretty significant British history.

[@loura246]

I agree, but in all fairness, if the British curriculum had to go in depth on every time another country fought for independence from them, they wouldn't have time to cover anything else. That's what they get for colonizing the whole world

[@MW_Asura]

It really isn't. The Brits have more important pieces of their history to worry about than the break away of one of its colonies (that wasn't even the most important to begin with), which is little more than a footnote in their 1000+ year old history. As the saying goes: "The day you got independence from me was the most important day of your life. For me it was Tuesday"

[@blanketstarry7725]

@@MW_Asura Yeah, it is. I'm not saying it is the most important event in British/colony history, but it is significant. The event has helped shape the geo-political world today and the US relationship with Britain. We are important allies and the shared history is very relevant in how our relationship continues to move forward.

[@jishani1]

@@MW_Asura hilarious how far your country has fallen into irrelevance.

[@mikhailiagacesa3406]

@@jishani1 which one?

[@crimsonknight7011]

Not learning much about this war in Britain is kind of like how WW2 isn’t really taught in Japan.

[@ex-navyspook]

My great⁶-grandfather (yes, there's a six on that great) was Nathanael Green. Have a couple of tables made for him, and some silver spoons made by Paul Revere.

[@757optim]

I once asked my FIL how he knew so much about history. He said he was introduced to reading by "the smartest man in town" in the town he grew up in (who also happened to be, sadly, the town drunk) and read history books "the way other people read novels". I guess knowledge is directly proportional to our interest.

[@billbliss1518]

Oversimplified American Civil War is also a great one, hope you react to it! Great job!

[@jeffreystanley7884]

My ancestor was an officer under General Knox who was George Washington's friend and favorite military confidant. They both, my ancestor and Knox were from Maine as am I.

[@allensparks6885]

You've got to remember, before they won the revolutionary war, EVERYONE in the colonies was British! So, both of you were right.

[@drewpamon]

In American English calling someone Benedict Arnold is calling them a traitor.

[@duanevp]

So, EVERYONE in the colonies at the time were *British* subjects. That was actually the source of a lot of their anger at the king and parliament - they weren't being given the rights and considerations that British subjects were owed. When they started sending troops to Boston to keep them in line it only made everything worse. The video doesn't make it clear, but the 7 Years War that created all the debt was 1756-1763. The revolution didn't start until April 18-19 1775. So the lead-up to the actual shooting war took 20 years. Getting the colonies representation in parliament was utterly impractical due to the time and distance between America and Britain, and up to then the colonies pretty much just did what they wanted anyway - and were WILDLY successful at it. They had a better standard of living than people in Britain. Virtually everyone had their own farms and other property (which made the right to vote overwhelmingly common in the colonies and not exclusive to rich nobility as in Britain), and they smuggled a lot of stuff so they didn't pay duties and taxes on a lot of it in the first place. Take something like the tea. It was heavily smuggled and already really cheap. The reason the crown chose to tax tea was that they were also going to force everyone to buy ONLY the tea from the East India Company - a company controlled by the king and the rich folks in Britain - who were losing money on the EIC tea hand over fist because nobody anywhere would buy it, and not only would this pay for the war debt it would put money DIRECTLY into the pockets of the king and the investors in the EIC. So they decided to UNDERCUT the cost of even the smuggled tea, KILL anyone who was smuggling it, and tax it with a truly MINISCULE tax they thought nobody would then object to - but without letting the colonies have any say about any of it in parliament - taxation without representation. So it really was about the principles involved and not just in having to pay more for stuff. We even said that we'd pay for OUR portion of the war debt, but that we should just have OUR chosen colonial leaders (not the appointed Royal Governors of colonies) decide how to tax ourselves to pay it - again, because of the communication problems in getting representation. But they shot down every attempt at compromise and just kept treating the colonies as if they weren't entitled to the same rights as any other British citizen. Which ultimately led to war and independence. :)

[@lianabaddley8217]

I saw there is a big celebration going on this week in Boston. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of The Boston Tea Party. People from all over the world sent loose leaf including from England. They will be dressing up as Red coats and Colonists and will be tossing the tea into the ocean again. People can go and watch it for free all week I think. I'm in Utah so won't be able to make it. Sounds like a blast though!!

[@steveschaff4620]

ALL of our (I'm an American) founding fathers were British citizens, just like everyone else here (except perhaps the Natives), and if we had lost the war all of them would have been HUNG for TREASON! I'm so glad we got past that!🇺🇲❤🇬🇧

[@jimwynkoop51]

They were all British up until the point they weren't.

[@bobsylvester88]

Very few countries took on England at the zenith of its strength and world influence. At the height of its power, America is a rare example of defeat for England. Only 20 years after conquest in India and 15 years after defeating the French in N. America, the colonists decided it was their time to try. Canada never rebelled. It didn’t become completely independent until 1982.

[@floydiandreamscapes5145]

Benedict Arnolds ship the Spitfire was found laying at the bottom of Lake Champlain in 1997.

[@RevPeterTrabaris]

George Washington became an American Citizen on July 2, 1776. He was born in a British Colony on February 22, 1732. He came from the British Colony at the plantation that his family owned which in Westmoreland, County in Virginia.

[@crimsonknight7011]

There is a destroyer ship in the US Navy called the John Paul Jones. Also to this day they fly that version of the US flag.

[@kriswoods7051]

That's cool!

[@ralphvelthuis2359]

For some more fun, you might want to check out oversimplified 'the pig war'

[@karlgrimm3027]

George Washington was British he was born in America which was a British Colony at the time he served in the British army During the Seven Years war. Then a bunch of British people in the British colonies located in America decided that they didn't want to be British anymore and became Americans. George Washington was one of them, if you went back in time to early in his life and you asked him he would have said he was British, later in his like he would have said American.

[@maureencoyle666]

Being from Boston, The Dorchester neighborhood, in fact, I am really excited that you ladies are so interested in the beginning of the American Revolution. I have often eondered what Brits were taught in schoolabout it. 💚🙏🏻🌎☮️🇺🇸🇬🇧⚖️

[@judywelch1044]

Ladies. ALL Americans were originally British. America was a British colony before the revolutionary war created America. So... George Washington was a Brit. If you weren't British then you were either French or native.

[@frankscarborough1428]

Thanks enjoyed and as an American this was a good reminder of some things I'd forgotten. We studied American history and work history

[@johnlarue2248]

I loved you two's reaction when they wanted to address Washington as "Glorious Leader"...loved watching you crack up...Well done Millie, and I forgot to wish Merry Christmas to James...my bad. Take Care and Stay Safe!

[@BadAssSykO]

George Washington's grandfather was born in Britain, George Washington and his father were born on what is today American land and formally British Colony.

[@BoSmith7045]

Funny trivia from Gen Henry "The Ox" Knox's auto biography. When he was getting ready to cross the Delaware River Washington said to him "shift your fat ass over, Henry. But do it slowly so you don't swamp the damn boat." I always got a kick out of that little exchange. Puts Washington in a more human light.

[@PresentingGreatMusic]

George Washington was both British and American. Kinda makes sense considering the whole independence thing ya kno

[@brucew7062]

It’s interesting that Americans are taught a lot of British history because it directly ties into our history of the colonies and later the Revolutionary War and our independence as the United States of America, but the British apparently are not wanting remember their woes and losses dealt with as a result of those pesky American settlers. And now we are one of the tightest and longest alliances (if not the tightest alliance) between any two countries. The history of the American Revolution is even more important to those of us who have served as United States Marines because the need to protect colonial ships using well-trained armed troops became the basis of establishing the United States Marine Corps on 10 November 1775 and why we fall under the Department of the Navy even to this day.

[@user-tx6hl9fx4x]

The 3rd Ship that I was stationed on was the USS Compte De Grasse DD-970. Compte De Grasse was mentioned at 11:33 in this video.

[@kenle2]

During the Seven Years War (which Americans typically call the French and Indian War - since that was the "enemy" the colonials in British American were fighting) George Washington was a colonel in the Virginia Militia which was "seconded" or placed under the command of the British Army leadership during the war. So Washington was both a British colonial citizen and was an officer under British authority at that time before the Revolution. In fact, Washington initially applied to the British military to have his militia commission converted into a commission in the British Regular Army, but he was turned down after the failures of his and British General Edward Braddock who was killed while Washington was under his command.

[@M4ttNet]

One thing to keep in mind is that the colonists before the American Revolution were in fact British, just British colonists. They had developed a bit of their own offshoot culture but were very much still considered (and considered themselves) British. So people like George Washington had served in the British military previously and everyone in the colonies was essentially a British citizen. That's part of what upset them so much. At first most of the colonists weren't going for independence, they just wanted representation in parliament for their taxation. They felt they were treated worse and subpar to British citizens who were in Great Britain itself and that was part of the issue. Even once the war started and independence was declared about 30% or so of the colonial population stayed loyal and supported the British (hence basically proclaiming they wanted to remain British). As the videos showed there was a lot of rebel vs loyalist colonist infighting in the Southern backgrountry.

[@benrast1755]

Well, to be fair, at the beginning of part 1, Washington WAS British, as were all American colonists, because America was not an independent country. So George Washington was a British officer in the first part of part 1. But when the US declared its independence, then Washington, a patriot, became American.

[@holyfire11]

You and your mum remind me of my sister and mom. I love your girls' relationship.

[@AtinDalkoness]

Is something to remember is that prior to the American revolution, all the colonists were technically british. George Washington was a British commander sent to the Americas during the French Indian war. Later, he became the general of the revolution, and then the president of the United States

[@lindaeasley5606]

All of my ancestral families except for those on my paternal grandmothers side ,fought in South Carolina militias during the Revolutionary war

[@BrLoc]

The idea of not pooping in certain places was so the enemy wouldn't see your excrement and know you are near. They still do it today.

[@aaronburdon221]

Well, there's also disease, the stench, and basic hygiene.

[@rickbailey-ty8bq]

No, the latrines at valley forge was literally right next to the kitchen. That's how you get dysentery and cholera.

[@christophermckinney3924]

Washingtonwas born a British citizen because he was born in the colonies. But he was also among the first American citizens as well.

[@ericminton6084]

George Washington was a British officer during the French/Indian war, but was the American general during the Revolution

[@adamdonovan4071]

George Washington was a British officer during the seven years war, (French and Indian war in the US), he was born birtish as he was a subject of the British crown in a British colony, but was born in America and was as American as anyone else during the revolution and founding.

[@bostons_departed3631]

Yes. Baron Von somebody. He wrote the “blue book”. Which when I joined the Army in 2013 was still handed out to everyone in basic training and to this day is the basic fundamentals of soldiering. Think of it like bare minimum essentials. Basically… discipline. Besides cohesion that’s probably most important.

[@christophermckinney3924]

Fort Knox, kentucky and Knoxville, Tennessee are named after Knox

[@user-wo9xl5ln6q]

George Washington was the first British General sent to the Colonies from the United Kingdom to get the colonies in order

[@ihatebofa6]

Please tell me you’re joking

[@kissmy_butt1302]

One explanation is Massachusetts a colony that was NOT landlocked. It eventually split off as it's own and is the State of Maine. This was part of later US history in part of the Missouri compromise. Today only one US state on the mainland is in two parts and that is Michigan.

[@gunkulator1]

Virginia also has two parts: the main part that looks like a key and also a small peninsula hanging off the eastern most part of Maryland.

[@ernestcline2868]

Kentucky, Minnesota, and the state of Washington are also in two parts, though in each the second is rather small, with Kentucky being the most extreme example as with all the others one can go from one to other via water that is part of the State, but to get to the Kentucky Bend from the main part of Kentucky, one must go through another state, either Missouri or Tennessee.

[@docogg50]

They were all British prior to declaring Independence. Most of the American officers began their careers as British officers and had experience fighting the French and Indians.

[@PEPPER2323]

This was basically British fighting British.

[@Twrexx1]

Still kind of blew my mind ( and at the same time not surprising considering the state of education in general) that they didn't know who GW was at all. I can see some of the others, but him? That's like saying I didnt know who King George was ( Im an American).

[@baraxor]

When part 1 described George Washington as an "up and coming British officer", to the average person it would imply that he was from England or at least some part of the British Isles. He was a British subject by birth, as was everybody in the American colonies, but he was born in Virginia. He was indeed as "British officer" since he held the King's commission; he wasn't just some local colonial militia commander. As a lawyer John Adams successfully defended the British soldiers put on trial for murder for their part in the Boston Massacre; and of course George Washington served gallantly with the British army in America. These weren't crazy firebrands automatically hating the British.

[@larryk731]

Technically almost all of the non-natives in the colonies started out as British.

[@williamberry9013]

He doesn't mention that "Freed" slaves often had to work for the East India Company and stuff.

[@mikecarew8329]

To this day if you want to accuse someone of being a traitor, even in regular life affairs, you taunt him as a Benedict Arnold.

[@danz1182]

There is a very 21st century twist on the discussion here concerning Washington's service record and nationality. One of the core issues in the revolution was what authoriry, if any, the British paliament in London had over the colonies, 8 of which were royal, 2 of which were corporate, and 3 of which were proprietary. The colonists were subjects of the empire but were not British just like the people of Hanover were not British. Washington, if asked, would most like have told you he was a Virginian. Which brings up his military record. Washington was not in the British army, he was an officer in the Virginia militia. The militia reported to the governor as the king's representative in the colony and was not in the regular army chain of command.

[@mikeg.4211]

Washington started out as a British general, but went over to the American side.

[@joannauriegas3389]

The first eight presidents where born in the British colony

[@williamberry9013]

He does not mention Washington crossing the delaware river for his winter attack was Christmas morning The Hessian were recovering from Christmas eve. The first Christmas tress in America were seen by Alexander Hamilton (musical and $10 bill) as he silently killed the German pickets. BTW, the US starts with a violent Christmas miracle.

[@fawkesflames]

All of the Colonists were British prior to the Revolution. They served in the British armed services and considered the King to be their sovereign. They thought of themselves as British, even the ones born in the colonies, and wrote about it often. They did a revolution mostly bc they were being taxed but weren’t represented in Parliament. No taxation without representation comes directly from Magna Carta and is still part of British Common law. From the American POV, the King was violating Magna Carta by taxing the colonies without giving them a voice in Parliament. When we had won our Revolution, we based the constitution on British Common Law and much of Magna Carta.

[@billmalone9949]

You were both right about George Washington. He was born British, as was all the colonists at the time. There was no United States to be citizens of yet. But he, like all other colonists, became American citizens once there was a United States of America.

[@SWEditing]

Y’all should react to more oversimplified

[@williampilling2168]

Sanitation was an incredibly important thing. In the 18th century, a soldier was actually more likely to die from disease brought about by unsanitary conditions, than from combat.

[@gigglehertz]

Mel Gibson was in a movie called "The Patriot" that was about the Revolutionary War in South Carolina. They basically used "dirty" guerrilla tactics against a formal European military with great effect. It's actually a really good movie that's worth watching, even if we later learned Mel was a right wing anti-semite.

[@kevingouldrup9265]

Yes Washington was British!...Then became American!

[@gilbertoesquivel9668]

Cute vids! Truth is (and they sarcastically hinted at this in the end…)America had a serious problem that will require a second war of independence to be defeated: AKA…The American Civil War…😢

[@keithmcdonnell4485]

Everyone in the 13 colonies (and Canada) was British until we declared ourselves independent from Great Briton. The main beef the colonies had (all over the world, not just America) was not having representation in Parliament. If Parliament had given representation to the colonies the sun would still never set on the British empire... as is, due to rule over the colonies as subjects rather than citizens all of the British colonies eventually broke away. The United States learned this lesson and as it expanded westward through north america, as each new territory was settled by Europeans, instead of being a colony to be exploited, as the population grew they formed local governmental bodies and petitioned for statehood in the United States, thus gaining representation in the US Federal government.

[@jonathan53356]

The American Revolution was a civil war as both sides were British. The colonists were fed up with taxation without representation. Thus, they pushed back. The crazy thing is that most Continental troops only had enlistments for a year. Most left after a year. The Continental ARMY was not well supplied, and getting paid was tough. Their are lots of historical records stating that in the first years of the war, troops were naked. Their clothes basically disintigtated over months of battle. However, they kept coming, and eventually soliders were better supplied, and the tide was turned. Americans all know Benidict Arnold as he was a traitor to America. Calling someone a Benedict Arnold is the same as saying they betrayed you or screwed you over. Brits don't know about him because to them, he was a rather minor part of the story.

[@jamesthorpe4556]

You have to remember, at the time, most of the colonists were British. That's why the colonists referred to the British army as the red coats. Just because they lived in colonies, didn't mean they weren't British subjects.......at least until after the revolutionary war.

[@smorris281]

George Washington was a British-American. He served in the British army prior to the revelation but switched sides during the war for independence. Also, everyone living in the American colonies was technicaly British. When Paul Revere warned everyone that night, he didn't say the British were coming, he said, the red coats were coming, because, Like I said, everyone was British!

[@BostonBobby1961]

That is why it’s myth here in Massachusetts Paul Revere and William Dawes ran through the streets of Boston all the way to Lexington for Revere and Dawes through Boston warning the colonists the regulars were coming. It’s a myth that they said the British were coming.

[@Liethen]

I think he actually said "The Regulars are coming"

[@TeamHarrisonMachine]

Everyone in America that originally came from Britain or was born of someone that came from Britain were British prior to the outcome of the war for independence. Which is why we speak English today