The American Revolution (was: The Brzhona)

[John Cowan <cowan@locke.ccil.org>]

Padrig Bryn yscrifef:

> Does the Fr. Rev. of *there* happen in an identical fashion?  Also, what
> is the impetus for the N.A. rebellion?  Are the ideals identical?  [The
> USA *here* had extremely lofty elements (you know, all that "utopian"
> stuff in the Declaration and, eventually in the Constitution) parcelled
> along with the pragmatic stuff (unfair taxation, other monetary and social
> issues, etc.).]

I think that the taxation should go in the column of "principle" rather
than "pragmatics".  The tax on tea, etc. was neither unfair in purpose
(the Seven Years' War/French and Indian War had been extremely
expensive, and the colonists had not paid their share of it) nor
unreasonable in amount.  The objection, rather, was constitutional:
what right had the English Parliament to tax, or indeed to regulate
in internal matters, what (in the colonists' view) amounted to a
separate country (though under a single monarch)?

It was when the rebellion changed to revolution, when the King as
well as Parliament was rejected in America, that it became necessary
to cease to appeal to the rights of Englishmen and appeal to the
court of world opinion and the rights of man.

Legislative independence for Canada came in 1867 on exactly the
same principles that the American colonists had declared for in 1775:
regulation in external matters (defense, trade, etc.) but
independence in internal matters.
 
> Also, would the Fr. Rev. *there* necesarily entail both chapters (the
> First Revolution _and_ the Second) and all the bloody details?  As I
> understand it, the monarchy remained (although was restructured) until
> 1792.
> 
> If the Rev. happens differently, does Napo still end up holding the reins?

He does; that's already a given.  I should think that most of the
details remained the same, although the presence of Thomas Paine
cannot be assured.

> Is there a Nelson to counteract him?  If so, how?

Got me.
 
-- 
John Cowan	http://www.ccil.org/~cowan		cowan@ccil.org
	You tollerday donsk?  N.  You tolkatiff scowegian?  Nn.
	You spigotty anglease?  Nnn.  You phonio saxo?  Nnnn.
		Clear all so!  'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)