Why did communist Grenada keep the Queen? (Short Animated Documentary)

[@maskthem0ney295]

'As a result, the Grenadian Communist monarchy was toppled' Well, there's a sentence I never expected to hear.

[@agentg7227]

It's like saying "capitalist soviet union"

[@AFGuidesHD]

Well there's always that time when the Capitalists saved the Communists in WW2.

[@thegodofimagination]

@@agentg7227 that is what happens if time travelers sneeze lol

[@coffeeman882]

@@agentg7227 clearly you dont remember or havent seen Gorbachev pizza hut commercial

[@jacklaurentius6130]

Well, the Chinese communist Party has a member in every business corporation’s board of directors … so …

[@jasondaveries9716]

Monarcho-communism sounds like something a kid who's really into political compass memes would come up with

[@RenegadeShepard69]

Lol it does

[@Valencetheshireman927]

Funny thing is, it’s actually real. North Korea is a communist monarchy.

[@Xo-3130]

Anarcho-Monarchism is a semi-legitimate ideology so not that insane.

[@vladprus4019]

@@Valencetheshireman927 Socialist non-official monarchy They have given up communism as they noticed that no one would believe them they will reach classless state. They still kept socialism though and even their economic liberalization (slightly, but it apparently exists) is done in non-capitalist manner (local managers in state-controlled businesses have more autonomy than before + you can make your business... but collectively owned, you cannot start your own private one, of course it is still planned mainly economy, just not as much planned as it could be) The monarchy stuff are definitely not official part of the ideology, but in practice pretty much

[@RenegadeShepard69]

@@vladprus4019 Well explained. Think that North Korea is either communist or monarchist is political illiteracy by the books.

[@turmuthoer]

This reminds me of the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947. Both India and Pakistan were dominions at the time, meaning George VI was technically at war with himself. There was also the awkward fact that the armed forces of both countries, now at war with each other, were still largely under the command of British officers. So you had Indian troops being directed by British generals, fighting against Pakistani troops being directed by British generals, with both sides fighting for George VI as their king.

[@EdMcF1]

It's not even keeping it in the family. I wonder if the King-Emperor got daily briefings on how his forces were doing?

[@TheManinBlack9054]

@@EdMcF1 "I have good news and bad news, my King."

[@orionfernandes4587]

We should’ve become a constitutional monarchy

[@jescruz5465]

It's like King George playing chess with himself

[@stunner9005]

Technically they fought a giant gladiator battle for the King’s amusement.

[@cannonball666]

Queen Elizabeth: "Grenada is a communist monarchy." Czar Nicholas: "OK, just rub it in"

[@Zachomara]

"Yes, cousin!"

[@Zraknul]

Nicky was actually in charge, and terribly clueless and inept at. Liz does as she's advised, and living the good life.

[@Zachomara]

@@Zraknul Well, I'd assume she doesn't want to get French Revolutioned.

[@quakethedoombringer]

@@Zraknul blame his father for constantly belittling him + not bothering teaching him how to rule so little Nicky end up being manipulated by his war ministers and Rasputin while barely passing any sufficient reforms to improve the lives of his citizens

[@RealTrey19]

@Zraknul was*

[@Gabriel-sdf]

"Both sides were expecting to outlive each other" bold ones aren't they? Trying to outlive the queen that is.

[@martinfiedler4317]

"I will do it. I will do it. God help me that I can outlive her!" Prince Charles

[@MP-tz2yn]

Technically the Grenadan communists were trying to outlast the PM, not the queen, since the prime minister (aka Maggie) was the real political threat.

[@TheTroyc1982]

They were trying to outlive the conservative government, not the Queen

[@dimethylhexane]

Though just trying to outlive the conservative government wasn't a good plan either - the conservatives remained in power until 1997, and I suspect Tony Blair's more moderate New Labour probably wouldn't be that keen on recognising them anyway.

[@DukeOfKidderminster]

God won’t outlive the Queen.

[@filneqstar-craft15]

Fun fact: Grenada wasn't the only communist monarchy in the history. It was also Mongolia from 1921 to 1924 when Mongolian khan, Bogda Chan, became a communist when Soviets took control of his state.

[@bluesteel8376]

So then that is not a real monarchy, right? If the soviets were in charge, then he was no longer a monarch.

[@SamAronow]

@@bluesteel8376 But the Soviets didn't _annex_ Mongolia, they simply made it a client state.

[@thisguyishisface370]

@@bluesteel8376 You can say the same about the UK, the Queen isnt de facto in charge

[@raptorfromthe6ix833]

also democratic kampuchea was a monarchy for year

[@alberto2287]

And Romania, 1945-1946

[@Seirra72]

Best part of this is Reagan didn’t tell Thatcher they were invading ahead of time, and this caused a minor diplomatic incident since the USA technically declared war on the UK by declaring war on one of the members of the Commonwealth. Reagan called up Thatcher to apologize since we obviously weren’t going to fight them and that call is actually on KZbin. It’s so great because Reagan sounds like a little boy apologizing to his mom. And Thatcher doesn’t even say it’s okay she just says something to the effect of “it’s too late now so don’t fuck it up”.

[@brookeking8559]

I wish I had the link handy. I’ve seen the clip. It’s darkly funny.

[@piperjj4486]

That’s the power of our special relationship with the UK go ya. Funny thing.

[@EdMcF1]

No, the Commonwealth is meaningless, Commonwealth States have gone to war with each other (then one gets kicked out of the Commonwealth) India and part-time member Pakistan as example.

[@RenegadeShepard69]

Reagan sounding like a baby boy, Thatcher like a cold mother, that'd make up for quite the family of supervillans. May them both Rot in Peace.

[@Drag0nfoxx]

The USA never declared war on Grenada

[@tjoconnell2524]

A question I never thought of asking. Good work history matters.

[@terrorgaming459]

Im from uk and a communist we should keep the queen if we are ever in power

[@DonBozzieri]

@@terrorgaming459 You are a 12 year old

[@martynas1819]

@@DonBozzieri you are an eleven year old

[@Sorieat]

@@martynas1819 You are a 5 year old

[@patkub3214]

This entire channel in nutshell

[@pauljensen5699]

A little-known side note. When the US invaded in 1983, it forgot to ask/tell the UK government and it created a diplomatic mess because the US technically declared war on the UK. In thr process of clearing up the diplomatic mess, the USSR could tell that there was a great number of confidential diplomatic cables. Since the KGB nor the GRU couldn't declassify the cables, they were left in the dark about what was on them. The Soviet Union somehow got in mind that NATO was about to attack under the cover of an exercise known as "Able Archer '83". The amount of classified cables looked like preparations for war, and so the USSR prepared for war only to find that NATO wasn't actually planning on attacking. Egg on everyone's face.

[@corey2232]

They didn't declare war though. But yes, there were weird incidents because of it including Reagan calling Thatcher to apologize for not giving a heads up in advance.

[@LaneCorbett]

Margaret Thatcher was angry Regan made her look bad by liberating Grenada when she wanted to go in like the Falklands

[@floricel_112]

Why was the cold war such a bloody mess?

[@TomorrowWeLive]

No, only on the Soviets face

[@nathanieldrain907]

Technically, the Monarchy of Grenada and the Monarchy of the United Kingdom are two different monarchies, although Queen Elizabeth is the head of both. So the US did declare war on Queen Elizabeth (as the head of state of Grenada) but not on the UK.

[@jostein1195]

Reminds me of a well known quote from King Haakon of Norway when he was called out for pointing to the Labour Party to form a government in 1928 (while they were still 'revolutionary'): "I am also the King of the Communists,"

[@comechocolate]

A communist monarchy is probably the most cursed thing I’ve ever heard regarding history.

[@Jhqwulw]

*blessed

[@turcanadian]

@@Jhqwulw *blursed

[@RockerTopper-hh3ru]

*blursed

[@darthplagueis3488]

North Korea: 👀

[@biharek7595]

In hoi4, there's a mod called Kaiserredux where you basically can form the "People's Tsardom of Transamur", ruled by a communist Tsar. So yeah, kinda based.

[@brandonb4742]

As a Grenadian you have no idea how happy this video made me thank you especially on our Independence Day

[@rowland5951]

Happy Independence Day

[@tunistick8044]

you didn't even watch it

[@Iksvomid]

As a non-Grenadian you have no idea how happy this comment made me especially on this video.

[@noe_cortez]

Happy independence day

[@GuildsmanPirate]

Happy Independence Day, my brother of the New World 🇬🇩

[@macsenpuma]

Not only is it Grenadian Independence Day, but yesterday was the kickoff of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. With being the head of state of a communist state, she really has done everything.

[@kristi4113]

Platinum Jubilee. 70 years.

[@TeaDrinkingColonist]

platinum jubbly

[@martinfiedler4317]

She has literally overseen the downfall of an empire from within. And now the Brexit chaos...

[@kristi4113]

@@martinfiedler4317 She needs to reign for another 2 1/2 years to overtake Louis XIV as the longest-reigning monarch ever, and I think she will.

[@juliusnepos6013]

Yeah

[@Swordsman1425]

Thatcher and Maurice Bishop waving the Governor-General on a stick at each other was the funniest thing I'd seen in a while so thanks for that!

[@Hand-in-Shot_Productions]

I have heard of the Grenadian communist monarchy, but for a while, I didn't know why this seemingly paradoxical form of government happened! Thanks for the information!

[@yokermitthefrog5169]

I never thought to hear communist monarchy

[@frefromwig9322]

Isn't North Korea basically a communist monarchy

[@LordDim1]

Half Grenadian, and my god I love this video, thank you so much. Slight correction though, at 2:49 you said Bishop was deposed for being too dictatorial. He was in fact deposed for not being dictatorial enough. The faction which overthrew him were hardliners, angry at Bishop’s neutral foreign policy

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

They wanted to take over the entire Caribbean with Castro and then try the rest of Latin America

[@AlfaGiuliaQV]

That must be kind of unique for a dictator to be toppled for not being draconian and brutal enough.

[@TomorrowWeLive]

@@AlfaGiuliaQV nope, pretty rub of the mill for commies

[@TomorrowWeLive]

Yeah, the way he said "too dictatorial" and "not communist enough" as if those were somehow in opposition instead of being literally the same thing. He's constantly showing his true colours, and they're bright red.

[@1204-z3q]

@@TomorrowWeLive well there such things as anarcho-communism for one. Communism is merely economical ideology, it can be authoritarian or libertarian. A good example would the multiples of democratic communist party that existed in western Europe in the past.

[@ashcoria1268]

I have an interesting idea. Why did the West Indies Federation Split? All of the islands spoke English, had a common history, had a population of mainly Black African origin, and had Queen Elizabeth as their monarch.

[@mandarkastronomonov2962]

A simple equation created by Eric Williams, future PM of Trinidad and Tobago, 13-1=0. Sir Alex Bustamante, chief minister of Jamaica, being the largest island in the anglophone Caribbean, didn’t wants its wealth and political direction made by the “small” islands and Jamaicans voted to leave the West Indian Federation. With Jamaica gone, T&T withdrew and the incentive for that rest to stay together was lost.

[@zidanehadeed9229]

@@mandarkastronomonov2962 Excellent response. Today it's still survived by West Indies Cricket and the OECS which is like a mini EU.

[@jaidoni.vincent6773]

@@mandarkastronomonov2962 you also forgot to mention that Trinidad and Jamaica contributed something like 40% of the revenue to the country each, and they received less seats in Parliament given their population and economic contribution compared to the rest of the colonies.

[@DerekMitchell]

@@mandarkastronomonov2962 Eric Williams said one from ten leaves nought. It was a pun. 10 - 1 = 0

[@aagamjain1395]

@@zidanehadeed9229 OECS is more commonly known as Caricom

[@natethenoble909]

The entire Caribbean was swinging left for a period in the 70s, not just Grenada. Guyana's two major parties both were socialist, but divided along ethnic lines between the descendants of African Slaves and Indian Indentured Workers. In Jamaica, the 70s were dominated by the PNP, whose leader Michael Manley promoted a strong Democratic Socialist Agenda. In the latter case, the PNP and JLP entered into a low intensity civil war that led to the birth of crime and violence that plague Jamaica today.

[@EdMcF1]

Even now, Barbados (now a republic) has two types of Labour Party to choose from. However, they are very polite in Parliament, even when accusing the Prime Minister's wife of receiving inexplicable gifts from Red China.

[@john2g1]

Yes and the Sneaky Boys had nothing to do with ensuing instability 😉 I love this channel.

[@americanloyalist4599]

The jlp is right wing

[@mikhaillovelace434]

Wow I didn't know Jamaica invaded a country but jointly with Barbados and the USA

[@JcoleMc]

Trinidad and Tobago had an attempted islamic coup

[@spartanworrior4519]

This channel really is the master of both answering questions we’ve never heard of and answering question that confuses but ones we don’t quite care enough about to find out the answer

[@nvawntedafame]

😂😂😭dude I’m Grenadian & I was so lost

[@RJunite2008]

What I really love about this channel, is that every time something significant happens, it always shows a leader galloping through a daisy field.

[@benabroad8872]

These videos are so good. They are answers to questions no one asked, but when you see the question you NEED the answer.

[@redwankhan3375]

True that

[@MimOzanTamamogullar]

So here is a video idea: How was the politics of minor German states during the unification? What went on inside their political arena that led to Prussian allies in North Germany to agree to join the NGF? What went on in, say, Bavaria? But Bavaria is still kinda big, what happened in the political arena of South German states that led to them joining Germany? Why wasn't there a single state that refused to join, was the threat of invasion from France that major? The story of the German unification is often told from the perspective of Prussia, we know about what happened in the Prussian political arena during the unification. The perspective of Austria is also... mentioned. But what about all those other German states who are just swept under the rug as "French threat, Germany for protection"? What was the unification like from the perspective of the minor German states?

[@DaroriDerEinzige]

Short version; they were either so broke that they anyway were already indebted to the Prussians or grew finally desillusioned and kinda supported the idea of a united Germany anyway. After all, its nice and cool to be a X of Y - yet if you're surrounded by Countries which have a standing army larger than your population while the only thing which keeps them from invading you is anyway "Be nice to those guys which anyway speak the same language and kinda anyway dictating your policies.", it's kinda better if you become a X of Y in the German Reich which will grant you certain prestige and riches. Edit: Oh, and Austria aka the Harbsburger were the only ones which could rival the Prussians and were like "Yeah, well, united Germany yes but under our own leadership!" - then they lost a war and Prussia said "Then without you >:(". Edit2: Plus the Civilians wanted a united Germany anyway already and you know ... that was the time of Revolutions and so on.

[@Shadowkainine]

Yes! Like what were the free cities, Baden, Württemberg, etc. up to?

[@MimOzanTamamogullar]

@@Shadowkainine Precisely!

[@MimOzanTamamogullar]

@@DaroriDerEinzige understandable. Still, there wasn't *one* free city in the middle of nowhere or something that said "no, we ain't joining". Kinda weird, don't you think?

[@DaroriDerEinzige]

@@Shadowkainine The free cities were like "Hell yeah!" - because they were traditionally a place of the "Middle Class" (They had no Monarchy or so but were gouverend by elected Councils etc. pp) through the rise of the whole Nationalism Thingy (The idea of National States ain't that old btw) and Baden-Württemberg was for an example a place which was kinda like: "Hell yeah, Deutschland - Then we'll kick France Ass' and takin' names as revenge for Napoleon! >:("

[@General_Ace]

*Everyone:* always saying James bisonette this, James bisonette that… *Kelly Money-Maker:* 🥺

[@domsjuk]

Kelly make-money, Kelly give-money, we all love her.

[@jamesbissonette8002]

She needs way more credit

[@kellymoneymaker3922]

It's all good.✌️😎

[@aaronmarks9366]

I'll always stan Maggie Pakskowski

[@THTB_lol]

spinning 3 plates

[@friendlyavocado4319]

This man makes videos of stuff nobody asked about, and still makes it fun to learn.

[@yourroyalchungusness]

0:28 Karl Marx in the background be like: *BRUUH*

[@wittylibrarian]

Eat it, Karl. Liz was more popular than you.

[@nickmacarius3012]

*Communists gain power in Grenada* *U.K:* "We're just going to see how this plays out..." *U.S:* "Yeah, we're not."

[@undoubtedcrow8010]

Meanwhile in Jamaica...

[@nickmacarius3012]

@@undoubtedcrow8010 Some may have expected the Spanish Inquisition, but no one expected Jamaica to invade!

[@terrorgaming459]

Rip queen elizabeth ii

[@sooryan_1018]

I read that in Mike Ehrmantraut's voice

[@jonathanwebster7091]

There was a similar situation in Mongolia 1921-1924. After Mongolia asserted independence in 1912 in the aftermath of the Chinese revolution that toppled the Qing dynasty (and simultaneously abolished the Chinese monarchy), it established (or rather, re-established) its own monarchy, and in a similar system (and circumstances) to Tibet, made the leader of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia, the Jebtsundamba Khutuktu (a figure only third in the lamaist hierarchy below the Dalai Lama and the Pachen Lama) a secular monarch at the same time, as the Bogd Khan. When the Mongolian revolution of 1921 drove out the Russian white armies from Mongolia that had occupied the country, due to the widespread reverence with which the Buddhist hierarchy was viewed in Mongolia at the time, the Communists were somewhat hesitant to depose him, and the Bogd Khan was allowed to remain as a figurehead monarch until his death in 1924, when the ruling Communists declared a Communist republic, and declared that there would be no future reincarnations of the Jebtsundamba Khutuktu (there have, predictably, been more since). There were also constitutional monarchies that existed (very uneasily) simultaneously with communist, or communist dominated, governments in the aftermath of the Second World War, in Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, and Yugoslavia (Josip Tito was even briefly Prime Minister under King Petar II in 1945), before the respective governments abolished them.

[@litkeys3497]

There was also that weird period where the king of Cambodia was actively recruiting for the Khmer Rouge

[@yarpen26]

@@litkeys3497 Sihanouk had probably one of the weirdest political careers in the history of the world. On top of being a pro-communist two time monarch, he made movies and wrote songs.

[@attiepollard7847]

So how was that similar as Grenada when there was no foreign interference when it comes to Mongolia? Was there some worries from the USSR?

[@barvdw]

There was also the strange case of the Kingdom of Nepal. The craziest part is, the Kingdom ceased not because of the Communists, but because during a family quarrel the King's -brother- son and heir to the throne killed the entire Royal family... (Edit: corrected brother to son)

[@attiepollard7847]

@@barvdw Jesus freaking Christ was he inspired by the communist wiping out the entire Russian monarchy?

[@SusaVile]

I would like a few episodes centered around Portugal, perhaps on the fall of its naval empire, or on the reasons of its beginning. A particularly interesting subject is later why Macau continued to be Portuguese, and how its diplomatic transition to China was conducted. Even nowadays, Chinese governments hold Portugal in high regards and the Macau transition is often mentioned as particularly effective from both parties.

[@sibericusthefrosty9950]

I swear, History Matters just keeps improving with the visual humor.

[@perfectprince8062]

As a Grenadian seeing a video on my country's history brings a smile to my face. Bonus marks for dropping the video on our Independence Day.

[@accessthemainframe4475]

What's your opinion on the monarchy today? Do you think Grenada should continue to keep it?

[@tieforest4871]

@@accessthemainframe4475 me too?

[@WhoCares3001]

@@accessthemainframe4475 It's pretty much symbolic. Many countries in the region are slowly departing from the commonwealth as they are no better or worse off for the status in modern world.

[@LordDim1]

@@accessthemainframe4475 I’m Grenadian and personally very much in favour of keeping the monarchy. It doesn’t harm us, and the alternative (a republic) could only be worse. As is, the queen is a nice symbol and the Governor-General an effective and independent de facto head of state. Becoming a republic would just give us a president beholden to one of the parties. Our politicians are morons, so I’d rather not.

[@sydenhamfortune2308]

Lol

[@whitehawk4099]

Workers of the World Unite! You have nothing to save but the Queen!

[@privateeyety5735]

Well that was a mess of events. Fantastic job as always!

[@firemangan5024]

I like how Marx is like “This just defeats the whole purpose of the system”

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Ikr, his own "system" is already enough of a mess as it is

[@The_Remembering_Person]

Yeah like, the entire point was to rid the world of monarchies and such.

[@charlestonianbuilder344]

'' you were suppose to destroy the -monarchy-, not join them ''

[@ilikewindows3455]

Basically the Soviet Union as well when it implemented "Socialism in one country"

[@The_Remembering_Person]

@@robertortiz-wilson1588 I guess we'll agree to disagree.

[@timetotalkhistory6372]

So much info in so short a time - amazing work by History Matters as always.

[@arleighburnham1790]

Could you please do a video on the Mayerling incident, I find it so interesting and not talked about at all, and not to mention secretly changed the corse of history. There are little to no videos of it on KZbin and I think it would make a great video. Love the work keep it up.

[@gemmeldrakes2758]

It is pronounced Gre-nay-dah. So that it isn't confused with the city in Spain.

[@Georgiearchie1]

I was literally going to post this but thought it best to check if someone did it already 👍🏿

[@theshlauf]

I was worried for there for minute. I've always heard it pronounced that way and I was thinking, "Oh boy, am I pronouncing yet another name incorrectly?'

[@hughkevill-davies1757]

@@Georgiearchie1 Me too! Incidentally, I visited Grenada in about 1990. A lot of people I spoke to were disappointed that it was the U.S. and not Britain who came in and restored the democratic government. They felt they had strong ties with Britain.

[@mariahamilton5305]

Oh thank God, I thought, "am I going REALLY deaf or is he saying "Granada" (as in Spain / the tv station) rather than "GrEnAda" *all the way through?" Anyway the pronunciation thing is minor, really interesting vid

[@AG-ni8jm]

I'd never thought of this. Leave it to HM to find these niche things. I'm actually interested, if you are, in the exclave in an exclave situation with the UAE and Oman

[@RenegadeShepard69]

That'd make a nice video. Also the exclaves of Belgium in the Netherlands, or is it vice versa? Those always confuse me too, as in how they work more so than how than came to be.

[@TheRealKingLeopoldII]

@@RenegadeShepard69 There's exclaves of Belgium in the Netherlands and within one of those excalves is another excalve of the Netherlands lol

[@marcosfonseca8195]

Pls do how was life in Central Asia during the Soviet Union! Great vid!

[@yourneighbourhooddoomer]

Fun fact: It sucked.

[@terrorgaming459]

Fun

[@RenegadeShepard69]

@Blackpilled Belarusian how do you or other Belarusians feel about Lukashenko?

[@brandonlyon730]

RIP Aral sea.

[@yourneighbourhooddoomer]

@@RenegadeShepard69 Mostly negative, people realize they made a grave mistake when they elected him in the first place and didn't bother to challenge him early on after his bogus referendums and decrees, but they also realize the time window for change is closed for a long time now, action should have happened in the late 90s already. Now the threat of russian intervention is something most people fear, people are not ready to make such a big sacrifice and lose their loved ones in warfare. Back then when big offensives were going on in Ukraine, e. g. Ilovaisk, Debaltseve, etc. lot of people said they're glad that the same thing isn't happening here and they were terrified of the prospect of this ever happening in Belarus.

[@dwaynecunningham2164]

This was awesome. I don't know where you come up with your topics, but keep them coming

[@1QuebecSierra]

Truly informative video. Only one hitch, the island is pronounced Grenade-ah, never Granada, which is in Spain.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Ah yes, Workers of the World, Save the Queen. Happy Platinum as well.

[@jensonkiin3678]

So...a bee hive?

[@niclassemmerow6401]

History Matters giving me like 3000 ideas for essays in my history studies

[@GuildsmanPirate]

Monarcho-Communism needed praxis

[@theparadigm8149]

0:07 The Mladorossi Union: **Evil laughter** “That’s what YOU think!” **More evil laughter**

[@DenTehSand]

I often think about small random events and think "this would be a good history matters video", and then he makes an even more random video that nobody ever knew about

[@drmujtabashaikh8]

We can all agree that this channel never disappoints us

[@0deepak]

Stop copy pasting the same shit on every single video that he uploads!

[@cv4809]

Except when he decided to stop making 10 minutes videos Real fans of the channel never forget

[@EdMcF1]

2:23 The British Monarchy or Government had no say whatsoever in the appointment or continuance in office of the Governor-General of Grenada, the Queen was in the legal person of the Queen of Grenada, not the Queen of the UK, Great Britain or England etc. Legally they are two 'people' with one person wearing two 'crowns' or hats. So neither the Queen nor Mrs Thatcher had any legal role in Grenada's internal affairs, Statute of Westminster 1931 etc. Granted there was a legacy as you point out.

[@letsgoraiding]

The Queen did as Queen of Granada.

[@Jotari]

Queen of the UK had no legal role, but the Queen of Grenada did, also known as Lizzy 2, Queen of the UK.

[@hoseasylvester2596]

@@letsgoraiding that's a city in Spain

[@thomas_lale]

Please do an episode on why the Isle of Mann isn't part of the UK. A tiny island right off the coast of England with English an English speaking population not being incorporated into the uk proper is strange, and probably interesting.

[@bigbad25]

You have to do Jersey and Guernsey as well. Mind you I think it was a originally done to annoy the French.

[@inovakovsky]

@@bigbad25 Not to mention their occupation by the Germans in WW2.

[@stvdagger8074]

@@bigbad25 Everyone always forgets Sark.

[@oliverraven]

@@stvdagger8074 Alderney is bigger than Sark but they and Herm, Brecqou etc. all fall under the jurisdiction of Guernsey anyway.

[@aaronmarks9366]

*cries in Manx*

[@bl4315]

Was so thrilled to see a video being made about my island Grenada but I've struggled to watch the 4min video because GRANADA is a City in Spain. GRENada is a small island in the Caribbean. The pronunciation is like GRENADE not Granada. I hope this doesn't come across as rude as I love your content but I cannot stress how annoying this is!

[@dewismith3059]

I was surprized my country Jamaica would partake in the invasion, but it all make sense to me why that happen. The prime minister at that time was edward seaga, a CIA puppet. He is the most hated politician in Jamaica, even to this after his death years ago.

[@johnthomas2485]

The Governor General was under house arrest at the time of the US invasion. There were cuban soldiers on the island at the time. There were also armor fighting vehicles. These didn't last long against the Ranger Battalion that dropped on the runway. I didn't go, but personally know people who did in my unit in the 82nd. Rangers put 90mm recoiless rounds through just about anything that moved. Yes, like in the Clint Eastwood movie, the Marines rescued the US Students attending the Medical School.

[@curtisthomas2670]

The students didn't need "rescuing", most didn't want to leave and said in phone calls to home that they were ok. That was just one of the typical bs excuses for an invasion, like wmds

[@ilmari1452]

Sort of. There was about 60 Cuban soldiers and military engineers (and 600 civilian Cuban construction workers who had some military training). They had been helping Bishop's government build an airport before the coup and were pretty much caught up in the invasion by default. They actually put up a surprisingly stiff resistance, carrying out some hit and run attacks against the US forces for two days before surrendering after heavy bombardment by the Navy. At the time, US officials actually used the quality of Cuban resistance to claim that there was an extensive Cuban military presence, but it has since been clarified that it was mostly down to the fact that most Cuban civilians are also military reservists and, it seems, very motivated.

[@josephryan9230]

Thanks. I took part in the Grenada military operation with the 82nd Airborne (which is once again in the news), and so it was very interesting to learn about the larger context of the Governor-General's relationship with the Bishop regime, prior to 1983. One thing I would note, Grenada maintained the facade of being a "socialist" government, with the plan to announce its transition to a communist one in March 1984, at the celebration of the 5th anniversary of the regime.

[@martinfiedler4317]

Wow, that would indeed have been a first. To my knowledge, none of the other ruling communist parties ever claimed that they have achieved a communist society.

[@TheSheiban]

Watching from Grenada! Happy Independence Day 🇬🇩

[@captainbritain1154]

This channel really is just "Answering questions you never thought to answer"

[@aagamjain1395]

For me it's, “Answering questions about stuff I never knew happened”

[@silenthunteruk]

The "Other Labour Government" from 1976-79 i.e. Jim Callaghan's administration, is worth a video in its own right. You've got a government with a majority that starts at zero and goes down, reliant on two other parties to stay in power. Because ministers are MPs, they have to be in the Commons to vote, resulting, I believe, in one minister flying all the way to China and having to come straight back as she was needed for a vote. Ill MPs were frequently brought in for the votes, one dying due to delaying medical treatment. The final no-confidence vote involved serious consideration being given to driving a dying MP down from Scotland in an ambulance so he could vote, a Conservative whip volunteering to end his political career by abstaining to respect the pairing system and a Northern Ireland MP turning up to "abstain in person".

[@SwimBodyEVill]

I always learn things in this channel that I didn’t know I wanted to learn. Never boring.

[@hornet370]

they couldn’t get bisonette to be the king

[@jamesbissonette8002]

They should have asked Kelly Moneymaker instead

[@donpollo3154]

The Grenadians were the only people with balls enough to carry out what the Mladrorossi couldn't

[@americanloyalist4599]

Who

[@senbontorii2680]

@@americanloyalist4599 Russian monarchists who supported a Soviet system.

[@Idfk4nymore]

WHO MUST GO?

[@rowland5951]

Happy Independence Day Grenadians 🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩

[@henrykurniadi4805]

Considering that recently Queen is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, it is worth to note that she lived an interesting life. Including this one

[@fadoobaba]

2:40... They were having a who would last long competition with Elizabeth 2? Really?

[@CJMapping]

This didn’t age well

[@StephenAngelico]

The Yes Prime Minister episode "A Victory for Democracy" (S1E06) has a paper-thin disguise of this story as its main plot - highly recommend.

[@MacTac141]

Once again a fascinating question I desperately want to know the answer to that I never would have thought of myself. Great job HM!

[@adzsrulz]

Granada is in Spain, Grenada is pronounced 'Grenayda'. Love the topic and the channel though, and thanks for covering this!

[@today273]

Thank you so much for making a video about my country on our Independence Day!!! 🇬🇩 ❤

[@today273]

I watch this channel every episode, and have gone far back in the archives. I watched every Ten Minute history last year, and probably hundreds of videos total. It's really shocking to see a channel I done know big up Grenada. Thank you ✌

[@aagamjain1395]

Answering questions about stuff I never knew happened but still excited to know

[@mrcolz9373]

Summary: Some people on an island decided to do the commune thing, but kept the queen because other people don't like the commune thing, but this really didn't work as a person who really just didn't like the commune thing un-communified their island by force

[@Boretheory]

Fun fact: technically Italy the first fascist nation was Monarco-fascist the Savoyards were still in charge and eventually fired Mussolini from his position.

[@sydhenderson6753]

San Marino was actually fascist before Italy.

[@jonathanwebster7091]

As was Croatia (that had an Italian Prince, Aimone of Savoy, as it's de jure King). Also Spain under Franco from 1947 was officially a monarchy. Also Albania after 1939-1945 was fascist and a monarchy (very technically, in practice it was an Italian puppet state).

[@eduardomoraes2650]

As unlikely as it is, I asked that myself a few days ago when along with the queen's jubilee I noticed Grenada was still under her despite its previous revolution...

[@sion8]

Well even if they hadn't kept the GG and declared they abolished the monarchy it wouldn't matter as everything went back to the status quo after they were beaten.

[@edwardengland8349]

2:41 Lmao, I swear the editing keeps getting better and better. ^^

[@spencerderosier6649]

The only channel ive watched every single video beginning to end.

[@gulliblegerman]

3:26 Jesus Churchill

[@masterofallthelakesintown2472]

The holy Bulldog

[@DannyDom3]

Grenada: *attempts to outlive Queen Elizabeth* Queen Elizabeth: you can't defeat me

[@michaelcutler5538]

"Sir! The Americans are invading!" "Yeah, that sounds about right." "Jamaica and Barbados are invading too!" *distorted kung fu panda face*

[@nellzapik210]

Thank you for this easy, yet exhausting explanation I actually wanted despite never asking the question.

[@jimmyromano249]

This is BY FAR the most confusing and factually intensive video ever posted on this channel. Like, not even close.

[@brianmaday9227]

The animations in this series have always skewed minimalist (to its strength, I think), but the two Governors-General (yes, I know, same actual person) on sticks may be firmly entrenched as my favorite use of that half-lidded "Really?" expression.

[@maxdanielj]

As an American born in the 70s this is the first time I can remember hearing an explanation about the invasion of Grenada

[@oliversherman2414]

I love your channel keep up the great stuff!!

[@jacobayotte5836]

I love this channel. my only regret is that you are only able to make one video a week.

[@youtubeaccount5153]

Wow. A lot of cool back story I never knew about leading up to the US invasion of Grenada. Thank sir. And thank you for another well done history lesson.

[@teem4800]

In a small state, it's easy to know where then pendulum is going to swing as far as elections are concerned and most people in Grenada were in support of Bishop. Grenadians got tired with Geary's rigging and chose to revolt under the guise of Bishop!

[@andrej8861]

Ah yes, the classic Holy Communist Monarchy

[@marsgal42]

I remember the Grenada authorities being proud of being part of the first English-speaking revolution since 1776. The people who revolted in 1776 took a dim view...

[@mlc4495]

Um, that would have been incorrect given English-speaking Ireland had its own revolution in 1919-1922, the Irish War of Independence. And then there was the Kenyan Mau Mau Rebellion, which ended in failure. But still an English-speaking revolution.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Installing a communist dictatorship isn't that revolutionary.

[@AtomicBlastPony]

@@robertortiz-wilson1588 It literally is

[@_McCormickProductions]

@@AtomicBlastPony So most western nations have gone a revolution by electing Communist Party?

[@AtomicBlastPony]

@@_McCormickProductions What?

[@alan-sk7ky]

Loving the Geoffrey howe 2:45 !

[@rossjohnstone4689]

This randomy appeared in my recommendations and now instant subscribe :3

[@toastoftriumph]

Video idea: I'd love a history lesson on South Korea's democratic movement, Park Chung-hee, his assassination, etc. The Korean War seems to overshadow what happened right after... I didn't see any other channels covering this topic.

[@robtoe10]

I think it was Orwell who said that even if Britain had a communist revolution people would still want the Queen lol

[@rotehaus]

I remember seeing a Grenada liberation celebration by members of the Tennessee-Chattanooga young Republicans club. I have no idea if anyone in that club had a true Grenada connection, or if they were just enthusiastic Reaganites. Fun fact. I was driving a Ford Granada then.

[@miahsafwanabdal4994]

History Matters' work us so amazing, never fails to surprise.

[@wat-ch]

1:18 Ngl I mistaken Maurice Bishop as Maurice White. The question is what would that have looked like in an alternate universe

[@TheTabascodragon]

I have a question for a video. Why doesn't Bhutan have diplomatic relations with the United States? Pretty much the only other countries that are like this are north korea, Iran, and Syria. As far as I'm aware Bhutan isn't a crazy dictatorship that hates the US like North korea and Iran, and it isn't going through a crazy Civil War like Syria. What led them to do this?

[@user-zz3sn8ky7z]

To limit foreign influence, they are very isolationist. It's not just the US, but UK, Russia, China or France as well. They have official diplomatic ties with just 50 or so countries and measly 4 embassies around the world

[@timmccarthy872]

"Like other elections, he [won] by getting the most votes." *Cries in US electoral college*

[@francesco8000]

Or "Cheering in US electoral college" depending from your party affiliation since only one party has benefitted from it.... the party that has lost all popular elections (except one) over the last 30 years.

[@cisium1184]

You mean "cries in civic ignorance."

[@steelbear2063]

They are called states for a reason. Nobody wants Californians to decide everything. Or anything really

[@infinitehonkworks195]

@@francesco8000 Not much of a bad thing, producers are more valuable than consumers, so of course they're worth more US probably would have imploded had it not existed

[@EdMcF1]

No, the US Electoral College works by the most votes (of the College), or else it goes to the House for President and Senate for VP.

[@rosiefay7283]

BTW: 0:16 Grenada, not Granada.

[@clarencecorbeil1061]

I have an idea for a video: how were the battles named? Not just like "the Battle of Agincourt happened in Agincourt" kind of thing but how does naming happen from the moment after the battle happened onward. Obviously, the commanders weren't thinking about the name of the battle in the middle of the action. Also, you could talk about the less geographical names, like the "Battle of the 13 sides", for example. Thank you for the great content.

[@sydhenderson6753]

Apparently the battle of Tours was fought closer to Poitiers.

[@omegaRST]

FINALLY you are answering the questions Ive always asked myself

[@rickH0102]

3:18 that's Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, not Grenada

[@williamb9248]

My dad and step mom were in the air force when all this went down, they took and developed a lot of the spy pictures before the U.S. invasion.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Epic!

[@luispablogonzalezv4522]

I would like an explanation why Costa Rica was red and in flames in 3:03-3:06 when it was never communist and wasn't aligned to any communist government, unlike the northern neighbor Nicaragua.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Mistake probably

[@luispablogonzalezv4522]

@@robertortiz-wilson1588 yeah

[@alfieboddice7948]

keep up the great work history matters

[@playpower7632]

Hello History Matters, I did not like history until I saw videos, keep up the good work. Could you make some videos about some facts about spies in Cold War?

[@jonasdavies1806]

1:40 yeah I see mrs Gandhi there.