[Christianlady]

(Original post by Algorithm69)
It's a time for celebration for Englishmen as well. The American Revolution was by extension an English Revolution, in which the philosophies and teachings of Englishmen such as John Jocke, Adam Smith, Thomas Paine, and many others were used to cast off the tyranny of Monarchy and to create a better, republican system based on the inalienable rights of the people. The American forefathers did after all refer to themselves as "Englishmen in America", and only wanted the same rights as those given in the mother country.

Yep, that's a good point... the American Patriarchs were Englishmen who read and studied the philosophies of many thought-provoking people in England. Hmm. Great point

[No Man]

(Original post by Steezy)
Actually I take it back, the 'founding' of America makes me feel ashamed.

This. Although I don't care about Independence Day in itself.

[Howard]

(Original post by Christianlady)
I wonder why y'all don't learn about the American Revolution? Just curious

The same reason that "y'all" don't spend much time learning about the war of 1812. Because you got owned by the Canadians and the Brits burned the WhiteHouse down.

[Steezy]

(Original post by Christianlady)
I wonder why y'all don't learn about the American Revolution? Just curious

Of course it is a part of American history here in the States, because even though it happened a long time ago, Americans today are still extremely proud of fighting for their freedom. It basically helped shape the mentality of Americans in general.

Do you not learn about Gandhi and India in history at school? I LOVE Gandhi and what he did. It is amazing how he basically shamed the British out of controlling India. I wonder if the English colonists could have done that, without fighting?

Yeah the Civil Rights Movement in the USA is awesome!!! I LOVE Martin Luther King Jr.!!!

We tend to focus on our own history because ours actual goes back more than 500 years.

[Howard]

(Original post by x_Natalie_x)
They weren't 'English colonists' or 'English and Spanish people', or at all Europeans, they were Americans. You should acknowledge this. I always find it interesting how Americans try to absolve their history of atrocities by referring to their ancestors as 'European' when bad things happened, but when it's good times they're 'American', not European.

That's true! It was the "English" that murdered the native Americans but the "American colonists" that fought to throw off the yoke of Imperialist oppression.

[Jack-Jimmison]

We got more money through trade etc than we did through taxes so i can only see it as a good thing. Also through American gaining their independence the empire was able to pool more resources into Africa and Asia etc.

[Norton1]

Ah the Colonials. With the way America has gone I don't think we'd have it back if offered.

[madders94]

I wish we had a similar kind of celebration (not for July 4th because that'd be silly) but a day where they have all the events, all the fireworks etc that America has on July 4th, and the patriotism for the UK (I mean, we have St. David's Day and England has St. George's Day and Scotland has St. Andrews Day, but it'd be nice to have a day where we all, with the exception of the miserable people who seem to have an aversion to celebrating anything, celebrate together, like the Jubilee but every year and maybe not queen-related to keep the republicans quiet).

[levisamuel]

The only time I have ever heard it discussed, it is usually followed by "They're so patriotic, I don't get it" I think we have a hard time getting patriotic or excited about anything.

[RyanT]

I notice that they rarely give the French the credit they are due, other then that - so what?

The colonies were the mouth foamy religious nutters and anarcho-libertarians. Somethings changed, the nature of America hasn't. Kind of a non-event, glad you've held onto our nutters for us etc etc.

[Democracy]

The United States Declaration of Indepedence is genuinely one of the most beautiful pieces of political writing in history imho.

Honestly, I do think the Founding Fathers, whose philosophies were rooted in Enlightenment era ideals of liberty and justice, would look at the corporatists and imperialists who took charge of the USA post-WWII and shudder...

What do I, as a Briton, think of July 4th 1776? We were screwing over a large group of people and treating them like second-rate human beings and they fought back and won. Fair play to them.

I hope that answers your question

[Christianlady]

(Original post by x_Natalie_x)
They weren't 'English colonists' or 'English and Spanish people', or at all Europeans, they were Americans. You should acknowledge this. I always find it interesting how Americans try to absolve their history of atrocities by referring to their ancestors as 'European' when bad things happened, but when it's good times they're 'American', not European.

Have you ever studied American history? Just curious. They became "Americans" after declaring independence from England. Funny how that works Before, they were English colonists who were expected to serve England.

Please read the Declaration of Independence, as well as concerning the history of people such as George Washington, the first American president. He was an English colonist who served in the English (not American) army before the American Revolution.

"George Washington, a young lieutenant colonel in the British Army and future president of the United States, leads an attack on French forces at Jumonville Glen on this day in 1754. The battle is later credited with being the opening salvo in the French and Indian War (1754 to 1763). "
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...for-first-time

Please note that when George Washington was serving in the British Army, neither he nor the British Army foreknew he would become the first President of the USA.

Please see http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm and note how the Declaration states "colonies". Who make colonies? Colonists. Where were these (in the USA since 1776) colonists from? England. Who do they call their brethren (those who signed this Declaration of Independence)? the "British brethren"

[Ham22]

I don't give Independence day any thought.

[Howard]

(Original post by levisamuel)
The only time I have ever heard it discussed, it is usually followed by "They're so patriotic, I don't get it" I think we have a hard time getting patriotic or excited about anything.

Because we're English (or Brits) - stiff upper lip and all that.

[GodAtum]

I wish the UK still had colonies. passport control would be so much quicker!

[Snagprophet]

We learned more about how the Americans massacred the Native Americans and believed God told them to take over all the land from the east coast to the west coast, as opposed to the British Empire who worked with the Native Americans. There is a reason why when the US was split between Spain, France and Britain there were millions of Native Americans but when the US took over it they had to rely on tiny reservations to keep the Native Americans from going extinct.

I don't care about their independence. It had little bearing on most people's lives anyway other than how they were categorised nationally anyway. If it had been Britian's until Australia and Canada went independent it would be independent by now also because of local government and I can imagine a lot more people would be able to get citizenship easier.

[Howard]

(Original post by Christianlady)
Have you ever studied American history? Just curious. They became "Americans" after declaring independence from England. Funny how that works Before, they were English colonists who were expected to serve England.

Please read the Declaration of Independence, as well as concerning the history of people such as George Washington, the first American president. He was an English colonist who served in the English (not American) army before the American Revolution.

"George Washington, a young lieutenant colonel in the British Army and future president of the United States, leads an attack on French forces at Jumonville Glen on this day in 1754. The battle is later credited with being the opening salvo in the French and Indian War (1754 to 1763). "
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...for-first-time

Please note that when George Washington was serving in the British Army, neither he nor the British Army foreknew he would become the first President of the USA.

Please see http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm and note how the Declaration states "colonies". Who make colonies? Colonists. Where were these (in the USA since 1776) colonists from? England. Who do they call their brethren (those who signed this Declaration of Independence)? the "British brethren"

Nobody is interested in studying 200 or 300 years of uneventful American history.

Your history consists of three topics - all of which could be covered in a half semester:

(1) The Pilgrims
(2) The War of Independence
(3) The Civil Rights Movement

[x_Natalie_x]

(Original post by Christianlady)
Have you ever studied American history? Just curious. They became "Americans" after declaring independence from England. Funny how that works Before, they were English colonists who were expected to serve England.

Please read the Declaration of Independence, as well as concerning the history of people such as George Washington, the first American president. He was an English colonist who served in the English (not American) army before the American Revolution.

"George Washington, a young lieutenant colonel in the British Army and future president of the United States, leads an attack on French forces at Jumonville Glen on this day in 1754. The battle is later credited with being the opening salvo in the French and Indian War (1754 to 1763). "
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...for-first-time

Please note that when George Washington was serving in the British Army, neither he nor the British Army foreknew he would become the first President of the USA.

Please see http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm and note how the Declaration states "colonies". Who make colonies? Colonists. Where were these (in the USA since 1776) colonists from? England. Who do they call their brethren (those who signed this Declaration of Independence)? the "British brethren"

Agreed. George Washington was a great Englishman.

[Christianlady]

(Original post by Democracy)
The United States Declaration of Indepedence is genuinely one of the most beautiful pieces of political writing in history imho.

I like the Declaration of Independence, with a few exceptions. I don't like at all how it says "the merciless Indian Savages..." To me, that is very ironic and sad. However, I do really like especially the phrase "all men are created equal" and wish they had thought so of the Native Americans!

Honestly, I do think the Founding Fathers, whose philosophies were rooted in Enlightenment era ideals of liberty and justice, would look at the corporatists and imperialists who took charge of the USA post-WWII and shudder...

Agreed. However, I am sure they would also be impressed with the inventions Americans have made, including the Wright brothers' hard work. But yes I understand your point and agree.

What do I, as a Briton, think of July 4th 1776? We were screwing over a large group of people and treating them like second-rate human beings and they fought back and won. Fair play to them.

I hope that answers your question

Yes it does. Thanks for answering, and I really like your answer. My main issue with my country's past is how they treated the Native Americans and Africans being forced into slavery.

[bax121]

They got rid of the monarchy's tyrannical rule an occasion worth celebrating. I long for the day when we can do the same.