Happy 4th of July!
Two hundred and twenty-nine years ago we told the British to get the heck out. We got sick of heavy taxes, being cut off from the political decision making, and the damn King doing whatever he felt the government and military should be allowed to do. A few very brave men put together the get-the-heck-out document . Contrary to the famous pictures of all these guys in a big room, there were actually few of them there, and the document was passed around to signed by leaders separately. Luckily, it takes several months for bad news to travel to England.
Then they came and began kicking our butts, despite us giving them a darn good fight along the way. Fortunately, the French (who hated England even then), decided to support our insurgency (thanks to much negotiating by Ben Franklin) and sent ships, troops and luckily, food and shoes. A few years later, the British gave up realizing that there was no good way to fight a war across the ocean against both a heavily armed French military and guerrilas that would do anything to keep them out.
Less than 100 years later we’d be having a big bloody argument about what we really wanted in the first place. But that’s another story.
So Happy Birthday, America! Congrats on surviving 229 years of some really wierd stuff.
July 4th, 2005 10:35
Now that’s a mighty fine account of history we can all understand. May your independence day have its celebratory moments.
July 4th, 2005 10:48
Happy 4th of July! One thing you gotta give the British … that got good chocolate.
July 4th, 2005 11:11
I think the line the french gave the British was, “I farrrt in your general direction”. :D
Happy 4th Jon. Have a great day!
July 4th, 2005 12:47
Oh what an entertaining lecture on national history! You make me smile :) Happy 4th July!
July 4th, 2005 14:57
Happy 4th and here’s to many more years of weird stuff!
July 4th, 2005 18:58
First we fought them and now they are our best friends in the whole world - kinda like grade school…
July 4th, 2005 20:12
I love the way you explain it, very easy for someone who doesn’t have a clue to understand.
Happy b’day!
July 4th, 2005 22:12
touching….
July 4th, 2005 22:54
Happy 4th of July Jon!! I hope you celebrated by treating yourself to some extra chocolate.
July 5th, 2005 02:25
Thanks for an American history primer that a Canadian can understand. In my country, “get the heck out” translates in history to: “ummm … could you … maybe, if you want … like … leave? Maybe? K?” :)
Happy Fourth! :)
July 5th, 2005 09:48
You should have been my history teacher, now that I can understand!! happy day after 4th.
July 5th, 2005 13:53
what a great way of summing it up! happy b-lated 4th to you too.
July 6th, 2005 02:03
do i understand this correctly,,,,,,the french helped the americans,, canadians fought with the french,,,,,,,,But we are the ones who are bilingual,,,,hmmmm
Heather
July 6th, 2005 07:28
Weird stuff indeed. I mean, the last few alone what with Paris Hilton and the startling reemergence of Donald Trump have been challenging enough!
July 6th, 2005 12:32
When we were in Williamsburg earlier this year, one of the tour guides said that if we had lost the Revolutionary War, the founding fathers would have been executed for treason. I’d never thought of it that way before, thought it was an interesting angle.
July 6th, 2005 16:14
Yep, you COULD be a teacher. Great history lesson, one , even I can understand. Hope you had a great day!