About the book
The American Revolution was the longest colonial war in modern British history and Britain’s most humiliating defeat as an imperial power. In this lively, concise book, Eliga Gould examines an important yet surprisingly understudied aspect of the conflict: the British public’s predominantly loyal response to its government’s actions in North America.
Gould attributes British support for George III’s American policies to a combination of factors, including growing isolationism in regard to the European continent and a burgeoning sense of the colonies as integral parts of a greater British nation. Most important, he argues, the British public accepted such ill-conceived projects as the Stamp Act because theirs was a sedentary, “armchair” patriotism based on paying others to fight their battles for them. This system of military finance made Parliament’s attempt to tax the American colonists look unexceptional to most Britons and left the metropolitan public free to embrace imperial projects of all sorts — including those that ultimately drove the colonists to rebel.
Drawing on nearly one thousand political pamphlets as well as on broadsides, private memoirs, and popular cartoons, Gould offers revealing insights into eighteenth-century British political culture and a refreshing account of what the Revolution meant to people on both sides of the Atlantic.
Editions of The Persistence of Empire
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807825297
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807848463
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469603490
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807899878
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890871824
Read an Excerpt
The American Revolution was the longest colonial war in modern British history and Britain’s most humiliating defeat as an imperial power. In this lively, concise book, Eliga Gould examines an important yet surprisingly understudied aspect of the conflict: the British public’s predominantly loyal response to its government’s actions in North America.
Gould attributes British support for George III’s American policies to a combination of factors, including growing isolationism in regard to the European continent and a burgeoning sense of the colonies as integral parts of a greater British nation. Most important, he argues, the British public accepted such ill-conceived projects as the Stamp Act because theirs was a sedentary, “armchair” patriotism based on paying others to fight their battles for them. This system of military finance made Parliament’s attempt to tax the American colonists look unexceptional to most Britons and left the metropolitan public free to embrace imperial projects of all sorts — including those that ultimately drove the colonists to rebel.
Drawing on nearly one thousand political pamphlets as well as on broadsides, private memoirs, and popular cartoons, Gould offers revealing insights into eighteenth-century British political culture and a refreshing account of what the Revolution meant to people on both sides of the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Persistence of Empire about?
The American Revolution was the longest colonial war in modern British history and Britain’s most humiliating defeat as an imperial power. In this lively, concise book, Eliga Gould examines an important yet surprisingly understudied aspect of the conflict: the British public’s predominantly loyal response to its government’s actions in North America.
Gould attributes British support for George III’s American policies to a combination of factors, including growing isolationism in regard to the European continent and a burgeoning sense of the colonies as integral parts of a greater British nation. Most important, he argues, the British public accepted such ill-conceived projects as the Stamp Act because theirs was a sedentary, “armchair” patriotism based on paying others to fight their battles for them. This system of military finance made Parliament’s attempt to tax the American colonists look unexceptional to most Britons and left the metropolitan public free to embrace imperial projects of all sorts — including those that ultimately drove the colonists to rebel.
Drawing on nearly one thousand political pamphlets as well as on broadsides, private memoirs, and popular cartoons, Gould offers revealing insights into eighteenth-century British political culture and a refreshing account of what the Revolution meant to people on both sides of the Atlantic.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Persistence of Empire?
History and Archaeology > History > European history
Where can I read a sample of The Persistence of Empire?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807825297
How long is The Persistence of Empire and how many pages does it have?
The Persistence of Empire has 288 page(s)
Is The Persistence of Empire part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Published by the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture and the University of North Carolina Press
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Persistence of Empire?
Eliga H. Gould
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Persistence of Empire is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807825297) and paperback(ISBN 9780807848463) and ebook(ISBN 9781469603490) and ebook(ISBN 9780807899878) and pdf(ISBN 9798890871824)
Where can I buy The Persistence of Empire online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Persistence of Empire from below
Where can I buy The Persistence of Empire?