From what I can remember of my Standard Grade and Highers, the War of Independence isn't even
in the curriculum, north or south of Hadrian's Wall!
I think it'd be safe to say, that, if France had retained control of Canada during the Seven Years War (World War -2 anyone?
), the Revolution wouldn't have happened in the same way or at the same time.
In order to kick the French out of North America, Pitt the Elder effectively threw money at the colonists to get them to stay on side. It was because of the cost of this, plus military expenditure (Quebec, Havana etc) and the massive increase in the National Debt, that the made British turn the taxation thumb screws on afterward. Probably due to a desire to recoup the investment as it were!
The Vietnam parallel works very well too - the British certainly learned the lesson and used it quite effectively in 1812-15. Why invade and conquer when you can blockade and raid?
Mike.
