How is the American War for Independance taught in the UK?

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I know more about the American civil war than the American Revolution but again, that was from reading on my own time.

You aren't the first to say that and I'm rather puzzled. I would've never expected more people to know more details about the civil war than the revolution. Personally I love the civil war history so I'm glad to see other countries know about it too I'm just curious why.

Well personally I've had an interest in the politics of the 1800's as well as the military advances made during the time and the American Civil War saw the emergence of logistical support via railroads, a serious change in infantry and cavalry tactics. It was also interesting to read up on how the Confederacy came into being.

Personally I haven't looked too far into the revolution as I'd rather avoid the very patriotic texts out there and haven't found a good, non-American book about it. The bulk of my knowledge is that the French navy's intervention, guerrilla tactics and the lack of a cohesive military plan on the side of the British led to successful expulsion of Imperial power. That and that American loyalists flooded into Quebec after the fighting.

 

[WannaBlessedBe]

I've wondered this before. I also wonder how World War 2 and the Holocaust are covered in Germany.

I always figured it was handled the same way the US Internment of Japanese citizens is handled in the US... you know barely touch upon it and have the surrounding curriculum be about how great and noble your country was and then hope nobody noticed by not even including a question about it on the test...

i don't know about you but i covered that and the trail of tears pretty thoroughly in my social studies class.

Shit anything relating to Native Americans was left out that didn't have to do with Thanksgiving in my history classes...

Where in the hell did you lot go to school? Jeez. I grew up in suburban Seattle, and damn skippy we covered the Japanese internment and the trail of tears and pretty much every crappy thing the US government has ever done to its own citizens or other residents of this continent. Maybe I just lucked out in not having jingoistic teachers.

 

[LostAlone]

Typical American arrogance to assume it's taught at all.

Typical nationalist arrogance to pretend that a major part of said nation's empire didn't just get up and leave. -

Wasn't a major part of anything really. There wasn't much to recommended America at the time, and since the 13 colonies were really really tiny by contrast to Canada, India and Africa, its not even close to right saying that America was major. If we cared that much, do you think that the only super power with a navy couldn't come and viciously suppress you ? Turns out that the Atlantic is big and we didn't care that much compared to everything else.

How you are now in no way reflects what you were.

 

[Febel]

I did not forget that. That is why I merely said it involed them. However, I do think that America's imprtance know kinda should make it more important. Knowing the past lets you better understand the current and future.
And every country should be aware of the good and bad they have done. (Yes, including the U.S.) Best way to better yourself is to know your flaws. Same works for a country and its people.

Its not like we aren't aware of what happened in the revolution, its just not something we get taught in schools.

Most of our history isn't particularly favorable to America quite frankly. We get taught that y'all sat twiddling your thumbs while millions of Europeans died for no reason. Now that's not strictly the truth either, but if thats how you get treated when you're on our side, imagine how you get treated when you aren't.

Most of our history classes (at least the ones I attended in high school) amounted to AMERICA SAVES THE DAY! WWI was basically "Yeah some French people and British people fought some Germans and it kind of sucked and then AMERICA ARRIVED AND SAVED THE DAY!" Did some independant research on WWI few years later. Amazed its not covered more in schools here, much worse and far more tragic than WWII, battle wise at least.

 

[crystalsnow]

It's strange that it isn't taught at all (if I am to believe the comments here, I do not live in the UK) considering that it was a global event with far-reaching effects.

 

[Saelune]

I did not forget that. That is why I merely said it involed them. However, I do think that America's imprtance know kinda should make it more important. Knowing the past lets you better understand the current and future.
And every country should be aware of the good and bad they have done. (Yes, including the U.S.) Best way to better yourself is to know your flaws. Same works for a country and its people.

Its not like we aren't aware of what happened in the revolution, its just not something we get taught in schools.

Most of our history isn't particularly favorable to America quite frankly. We get taught that y'all sat twiddling your thumbs while millions of Europeans died for no reason. Now that's not strictly the truth either, but if thats how you get treated when you're on our side, imagine how you get treated when you aren't.

Well thats just bad schooling. But I very much believe that the US gets alot of undeserved flak. Im not really surprised, but its still a curious thing to think of. Also I dont think people generally are unaware of the American Revolution over there, but if its not being taught legitimatly at school, then its not being taught. I dunno, Im biased though. I actually enjoyed (the good) history classes. Mainly US history.

 

[ramboman88]

Japan's textbooks have a large, gaping hole in the WWII area, most notably toward the end.

They have a large gaping hole in the end? Do I sense a bit of innuendo...?

 

[Agayek]

Wait, WHAT? You had thought this whole time that America has been this exact size since the 1700's, and to top it off, that England had control of it? You're missing quite a few details on how the US got its shape.

Just the original 13 colonies is well over 3 times the size of the entire UK. Only the segment England controlled in 1775 is several times the size of their entire country.

 

[Merkavar]

in australia i dont remember it being tuaght. most countries have enough personal history to teach that they dont need to teach another countries.

 

[Spade Lead]

The text book itself(for Texas) was VERY lacking for the national history portion. The sections for each area were extremely small and given we only had 250 years an 1 1/2 thick text book would seem good. Except it was plastered with pictures and the print was something out of a child's pop up book.

Will clean up my previous point to avoid further confusion.

But as far as i am concerned Texas text books for history suck and go into little depth on most subjects.

Well, that is because they spend a whole YEAR teaching the 12 years Texas was an independent country. Fuck that class, Texas History. It was long, boring, and stupid. No one in my class CARED that Texas was an independent country. Does Massachusetts have a "Massachusetts History" class dealing entirely with the history of being a separate colony until they signed the Articles of Confederation? Not that I know of... But Texas has to be fucking special, and not in a "You win a prize" way, either...

 

[-Samurai-]

I did not forget that. That is why I merely said it involed them. However, I do think that America's imprtance know kinda should make it more important. Knowing the past lets you better understand the current and future.
And every country should be aware of the good and bad they have done. (Yes, including the U.S.) Best way to better yourself is to know your flaws. Same works for a country and its people.

Its not like we aren't aware of what happened in the revolution, its just not something we get taught in schools.

Most of our history isn't particularly favorable to America quite frankly. We get taught that y'all sat twiddling your thumbs while millions of Europeans died for no reason. Now that's not strictly the truth either, but if thats how you get treated when you're on our side, imagine how you get treated when you aren't.

I never understood the love-hate relationship between the UK and USA. We're friggin' allies! Sure, the US came to the parties late, but we still fought evil together! And I guarantee we'd do it again, if need be.

 

[LostAlone]

Most of our history classes (at least the ones I attended in high school) amounted to AMERICA SAVES THE DAY! WWI was basically "Yeah some French people and British people fought some Germans and it kind of sucked and then AMERICA ARRIVED AND SAVED THE DAY!" Did some independant research on WWI few years later. Amazed its not covered more in schools here, much worse and far more tragic than WWII, battle wise at least.

Oh indeed.

Its precisely because of that we cover WW1 a LOT. We go on trips to the battle fields in France and Belgium and talk about how absolutely terrible it was.

Tbh I think that if everyone taught WW1 more in depth and how it was so pointless and destructive and just... inhuman, we wouldn't fight wars so much.

 

[Watchmacallit]

I know how the War for Independence is taught in Aus. Will Smith killed the aliens and the Americans became independent. The End.

 

[liquidsolid]

Typical American arrogance to assume it's taught at all.

Well we DO learn about British History. I'm surprised that it isn't taught in England seeing as it should also be a part of British history. Now if you guys skipped out on The War of 1812 I wouldn't be surprised. I hear that wasn't considered a "big deal" to the British public of the time, they were more preoccupied with the Napoleonic Wars.

 

[Febel]

I did not forget that. That is why I merely said it involed them. However, I do think that America's imprtance know kinda should make it more important. Knowing the past lets you better understand the current and future.
And every country should be aware of the good and bad they have done. (Yes, including the U.S.) Best way to better yourself is to know your flaws. Same works for a country and its people.

Its not like we aren't aware of what happened in the revolution, its just not something we get taught in schools.

Most of our history isn't particularly favorable to America quite frankly. We get taught that y'all sat twiddling your thumbs while millions of Europeans died for no reason. Now that's not strictly the truth either, but if thats how you get treated when you're on our side, imagine how you get treated when you aren't.

I never understood the love-hate relationship between the UK and USA. We're friggin' allies! Sure, the US came to the parties late, but we still fought evil together! And I guarantee we'd do it again, if need be.

It's all in the accent. To an American a British accent naturally has undertones of authority and intelligence. And what do Americans hate more than Authority and Intelligence? So we are forever doomed to call each other posh pricks and pompous pillocks.

This entirely joking post was brought to you by the letter Zed!

 

[Canid117]

Typical American arrogance to assume it's taught at all.

Oh you!

However, the sudden loss of a giant portion (Well over four times the size of their current country) of a country's land seems to be quite a major piece of history that needs be covered.

Wait, WHAT? You had thought this whole time that America has been this exact size since the 1700's, and to top it off, that England had control of it? You're missing quite a few details on how the US got its shape.

Virginia alone is about half the total landmass of the current United Kingdom. Us colonies were a pretty big part of the empire back in the day.

 

[LostAlone]

I never understood the love-hate relationship between the UK and USA. We're friggin' allies! Sure, the US came to the parties late, but we still fought evil together! And I guarantee we'd do it again, if need be.

Neither do I to be quite honest. You'd be amazed how fashionable it is to hate on the US over here, as if the US is the absolute worst thing in the world spewing global companies and such like. All the evils of the modern era are Americas fault apparently and it just makes me wanna face palm. And this is from people I went to university with, not just random retards (we have them too they are just quieter)

I'm really pro-US personally, to the point that I wanna come live there if I ever have the opportunity, but trying to argue you're side is a good hiding to nowhere most of the time. Like if America does it then we must absolutely never EVER do that *sigh*. Its because we are bitter that the only importance we have is because we are holding onto your coat tails.