Idk about other states but it was drilled into my head in school that winning the revolutionary war would've been impossible without the french.

@taotaostrong

5 жыл бұрын

Greetings from California USA! Where did you grow up?

@taotaostrong

5 жыл бұрын

Tyler Buckley Mad love for all of the Indigenous Tribes!

@uh1pilot458

5 жыл бұрын

The French only agreed to help after it was apparent that we would win.

@bxdanny

5 жыл бұрын

I don't know about "drilled into my head" but it was certainly mentioned, not kept a secret.

@flyingdutchman913

5 жыл бұрын

How about - PRETTY DAMN SMART OF THE YANKS TO UTIILIZE THE FRENCH TO WIN.

As a Texan, all of these “uncomfortable truths” were 100% taught in school. Depending on the quality of your football coach’s ability to teach history.

@felixblakat7718

3 жыл бұрын

I wonder why are all coaches either history, or english teachers?

@seanbailey1156

3 жыл бұрын

Why was this always the case, I am in Oregon. I remember being like why does this seem to to be the qualifier to teach history at the high school level lol.

@jasonjames4254

3 жыл бұрын

@@felixblakat7718 I guess this explains why the average American knows little about history or grammar, but a lot about football.

@jessewhite3177

3 жыл бұрын

Luckily my football coach was a hell of a history teacher and coach. Truly blessed

@theboyoofoly

3 жыл бұрын

I laughed way harder than appropriate at this

Native Americans fought on both sides.

@imavileone7360

2 жыл бұрын

Don't you just hate half-truths?

@srice8959

2 жыл бұрын

@@imavileone7360 Very much so, and it’s like something that’s not talked about in schools because it doesn’t fit a certain narrative is that. Many of Native American tribes also fought on the side of the Confederacy. Because they had such a bad taste in their mouths because of what the US Federal Government/Military had done to them in all the years leading up to the Civil war. I know it’s got nothing to do with what this video is on, but felt it was important to note because like you said half truths

@imavileone7360

2 жыл бұрын

@@srice8959 well don't just stop there brother, keep going, mention the reasons why they fought for the confederate government and not the national government. (Treaties, land, etc.)

@aarondetinne8128

2 жыл бұрын

@@imavileone7360 Since the majority of Native tribes that sided with the Confederacy were slaveowners I am going to say that was probably the primary factor...

@destubae3271

2 жыл бұрын

@@srice8959 Yep, people fight for different reasons, even for wars that seem one-dimensional in their causes. Somewhat off-topic, but another example of this was when Arabs or Indians would fight for Germany in WW2. Anti-British imperial sentiment

Can I just say that Americans are not ashamed that the French helped us and we are aware that we would not have won without the French’s help.

@popcornrain6572

3 жыл бұрын

@Des Prenty I don’t feel I have to be ashamed of anything. I was not even alive. So yea...

@texman89

3 жыл бұрын

I don't know where the misconception of us being embarrassed of accepting help came from.

@keeganrothlisberger8019

3 жыл бұрын

Yup pretty much every American knows that France was our first and greatest ally

@FRAGIORGIO1

3 жыл бұрын

-- As a matter of fact, the US Navy has had ships named after DeGrasse. Lafayette, and Rochambeau.

@FRAGIORGIO1

3 жыл бұрын

@Des Prenty --I haven't heard about the incident with Canadians you mention, but the Colonists wanted new land and there was plenty our west to pioneer and develop on. The king had his land, and the colonists wanted some of their own. Fair enough.

I taught US History in High School. The vast majority of these facts were included in what we taught. I think many of the popular myths / stories are taught at a younger age. The older students get the more critical our analysis of the Revolution becomes.

@Moribus_Artibus

3 жыл бұрын

That just smells like future collapse to me.

@anthonyclarke1707

3 жыл бұрын

Christopher J. Murray Jr - We have a phrase that we use in our school. “It hasn’t been taught, if students didn’t learn it.” I agree that too many Americans take their education for granted and that the remain ignorant on major skills and knowledge, especially when it comes to their own history and government. It is also true that Americans often assume that education; content, skills, and methods have not evolved since they were in school and nothing can be further from the truth. National standards, common core skills, brain science, understanding of social emotional needs, and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of teaching practices have all become regular parts of education practice. The rigor in teacher training programs has never been higher. While there is still plenty of room to grow, graduation rates have never been higher in our nations history. Our education system still has a long way to go with regards to equity and in catching up in math and sciences but it is not the same as people remember.

@danielbrady8892

3 жыл бұрын

I was taught in grade school that Christopher Columbus never set foot on the American mainland. He was never here but landed in the islands. It wasn't until americus vespusir =spelling= an Italian mapmaker , much later, realized it wasn't India. So it became America. Columbus wasn't involved in destroying no south American civilizations. He was the navigator. Now the street rabble has Columbus as being a racist exterminator of happy American cultures. Mexico and the United States have both removed his statues. Why,

@THall-vi8cp

3 жыл бұрын

Amerigo Vespucci

@ralebeau

3 жыл бұрын

I didn't get anything apart from the party line until university, and by that time it was hard to overcome the mythology we'd been taught earlier.

I was taught nearly all of this. Education in America is pretty poor in some part, but I've never heard someone argue the French did not save the American cause. A lot of these were common knowledge among 11th grade students in U.S. history.

@AngelicusImmortus

5 жыл бұрын

Thomas Kerby I know it’s a hard one for modern America to swallow, but you need to remember that at the time America was no where near the military power it is now. It would be more like a New Zealand army - that’s not an insult I’m just talking about numbers. The whole right to bear arms comes from America’s lack of military power. I’m not trying to insult America here. It’s just a fact that the military powers were European and France, Spain, Germany, Russia all wanted empires. But the British Navy was powerful and won battles at sea relatively easily, they were also able to invade many countries that didn’t have an actual single leadership. Once they had taken hold of loads of countries they kept spreading their armies thinner and thinner. That meant that there weren’t enough troops to defend British rule. But it also meant if they teamed up they could reclaim territories one at a time. The Commonwealth is an example of how many countries Britain “ruled” for the longest amounts of time. Only a few idiots seem to believe the UK should still have such wide ownership of countries. American rebellion was the one that started the other countries fights for independence against British rule. It’s just a fact the Brits were the dominant army of the time, it’s just that the Kings etc thinned them out too much. No one with a brain thinks we should still hold that much power

@thomaskerby8908

5 жыл бұрын

@@AngelicusImmortus You're backing up what I said. Even with the British spread thin, the Americans were getting hammered left and right. Without the French, and without the British people getting sick of a long war in the Americas, the United States would have lost. That's what was taught to us in grade school and high school. I was saying it's not an "uncomfortable truth" it's common knowledge.

@supersami7748

5 жыл бұрын

Try fifth grade US history, at least in the late 50’s.

@bronzetoothbrush6825

5 жыл бұрын

Super Sami unfortunately most schools don't care to teach in depth American history until 11th grade ( 10th grade depending on state / school district ) the reason why the education system sucks today is because of the poor elementary and junior high education standards . I can attest that I learned more stuff in my one year of world history ( 10th grade ) than all six history / social studies classes I took before then .

@Britonbear

5 жыл бұрын

@@AngelicusImmortus I was surprised the British prioritising India was not mentioned here; or am I mistaken in that belief?

Running away from battles and sneak attacks doesnt make you any less of a military leader. These are well known tactics since the days of Sun Tzu and many others I'm sure. You do what you have to to keep your people alive and catching the enemy off guard is one of the biggest advantages any fighter can have. The element of surprise is formidable in itself.

@kenb3552

2 жыл бұрын

Correct - and actually - General Nathaniel Green who is mentioned in the video was known for precisely that as he commanded the American army in the South and wore down Cornwallis through a lengthy game of cat and mouse which ultimately ended at Yorktown.

@calscout

2 жыл бұрын

True. George Washington knew he could not go face to face in a in a single battle in the early years. He bought time by running until he had the upper hand in a fight.

@MrTussey91

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly. What's more important, standing your ground like an idiot and dying, or living to fight another day, in order to achieve the goal of driving the Brits out of the country and declaring our independence? And it was well known that he lost several battles. And we could care less about that, though many battles were lost, ultimately, the war was won...

@rixxroxxk1620

2 жыл бұрын

Very well said and factual.

@AlaGoose09

2 жыл бұрын

Facts

When I was in seventh grade, it was pretty engrained in my head that the war would have been lost without outside help. We also had a lesson about the seven years war and the events leading up to it before the unit on the revolutionary war.

The only thing uncomfortable about this is the presumption that it's uncomfortable.

@willj2196

3 жыл бұрын

I've noticed that this guy has a bit of a down the nose attitude towards the US. His derision is obvious and he takes passive aggressive swipes at the US whenever he can in his videos.

@SPACEB0YZER0

3 жыл бұрын

Allegedly

@Chriss_Fishes

3 жыл бұрын

@@sabrinawadey1531 In my experience, that's not very true. Sure, there are a few who take that attitude, but I find that they have that attitude toward any foreign country, not necessarily just the English. The opposite is true, as well - I'm sure that the majority of the English don't have an active hatred towards your average American. This show's host does make a lot of swipes at the US, but he does it to other countries as well, so whatever. I don't take it personally either way.

@averagejoe4932

3 жыл бұрын

😂

@lixxxxit

3 жыл бұрын

@@sabrinawadey1531 so, we win.

And sorry to disagree with you but Washington has never really been thought of as a great military genius. In fact most documentarys talk about his failings. He was a typical young soldier who didn't have experience but learned by doing. But he was a fast learner & did pull off some great victories after his failures that almost got him replaced.

@tfries1607

5 жыл бұрын

LIES ! George Washington was LordGodKing of the war ! He won cowpens AND Shiloh fer Pete's sake.

@zackarywilliamson6861

5 жыл бұрын

@@tfries1607 Why do you waste TIME by screwing up Historical facts?Is it funny to you?Are you trying to be unnecessarily IRONIC?Go back to watching Star Wars movies for the 10,000th time in your Mom's basement!

@bbmeow2740

5 жыл бұрын

Don't dis my George!!!

@robertewalt7789

5 жыл бұрын

At least as important, Washington as first President set up many of the government functions we still follow today.

@lestermount3287

5 жыл бұрын

Washington greatest trait was keeping the army intact and not losing. He never had the numbers or equipment to beat the larger, better armed British he wanted to extend the war.

Nothing uncomfortable or secret about this well taught information in schools.

@matthewmcpherson8831

2 жыл бұрын

@Mr. Melendez I do not know where or when you went to school but I was taught all of this

@price41899

2 жыл бұрын

@@matthewmcpherson8831 Extremely doubtful.

@matthewmcpherson8831

2 жыл бұрын

@@price41899 then I am sorry you were not taught

@dsxa918

Жыл бұрын

I ended up either learning or being taught all of this, but people who were not informed may not know all this IE: British being so pre-occupied at the time, ensuring victory with French help.

A European assuming we’re uneducated. A timeless classic.

@user-iw7ne7sy5q

2 ай бұрын

We are though

Believe it or not they actually do teach this in the U.S. , most Americans know about Washington's luck, and failures.

@arkisenn9895

3 жыл бұрын

Can't agree more. While our country romanticizes our history in early education(which country doesn't?), we are taught at an older age the truth of the Revolutionary War.

@abramlockheed6969

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed -- what stands out most about my teachings of Washington was the brutal winter without proper supplies. That's a logistical failure.

@the88thdarcstar

3 жыл бұрын

The ones that weren't distracted, bored or sleeping do

@brycezen1896

3 жыл бұрын

Abram Lockheed that was more on the Continental Congress, and Washington’s greatest strength was keeping his army together.

@thepianoroommusic

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, for sure. Can’t stand when people think this isn’t taught.

#10 - To be fair about George Washington, he realized, at least in the early years, that a pitched battle with British forces would result in the annihilation of the American army. He realized that until a regular army could be formed Washington would have to rely on militia groups. This resulted in the early withdrawal of the American forces in order to keep them intact. Protocol in those days dictated that if you withdrew from the battlefield without a decisive victory, you lost the battle. That's why Washington had more losses than victories. Which proves you can win every battle and still lose the war.

@projectilequestion

5 жыл бұрын

I agree that his large number of defeats don't tell the whole story, but I think 'protocol' is the wrong word.

@chrisj197438

5 жыл бұрын

ToughAncientSpark The North Vietnamese proved that to be true as well

@44Jimboslice

5 жыл бұрын

ToughAncientSpark yeah this dude left out major things like this on all these points he made. Completely opinionated and not the full story of things lol

@homuraakemi1684

5 жыл бұрын

He definitely suffered two defeats where he tried to stop the British army, at the Battle of New York and the Battle of Brandywine Bridge, both of which involved the same mistake of leaving an opening that the British could exploit. He wasn't a complete idiot, but he's far from a military genius.

@troubledsole9104

5 жыл бұрын

Sounds like he had great management skills.

I learned this stuff in school, including the other messenger, the deeper problems involving the King and the taxes, and the importance of France. We're not schooled as abhorrently as people think. But definitely at least half as much....

As a history buff since childhood, I actually knew a lot of these facts already. It was a matter of course that in order to have any chance at winning the war, the Colonies were going to have to get England's then arch enemy, on their side. I'd also never known Washington to be a "military genius." At most, he was a seasoned militia officer with combat experience from the French & Indian War. Indeed, he probably lost more battles than he won during the Revolution. However his failings as a military leader seemed to make him more human. He was already a natural leader with a charisma that made men want to follow him.

@petrusinvictus3603

11 ай бұрын

How close History can be! Meaning contrafaktual, IF ...

A great leader doesn't need to be a genius. He needs to recognize it in others and then surround himself with it.

@powelllucas4724

5 жыл бұрын

A smart leader always picks someone smarter than themselves, but less ambitious.

@tolfan4438

4 жыл бұрын

He almost be Republicans

@jimmygray5782

4 жыл бұрын

@@tolfan4438 what? Are you referring to the republican party or the fact that the U.S. is a republic?

@Mulberry2000

4 жыл бұрын

No but he needs not to be a crap general and win battles

@tommyebunn5121

4 жыл бұрын

I promise you this guy got alot of things wrong.

George Washington may not have been a genius, but his greatest strength was his ability to listen and take in what others said. He surrounded himself with other brilliant military minds and took in all the input they gave him. Most of the wins under George Washington had a completely different plan going into the battle until Washington’s peers rightly told him how bad the plan was, and he listened and changed it.

“Most Americans think that...” 🤔🤔 interesting. Would love to see the data you used to draw such conclusions. As far as I’m aware, most Americans were taught this pretty elementary info in grade school.

@dylanhaugen3739

3 жыл бұрын

Your world within, depending on what school system you go too, what you learn could be really barebones if not outright whitewashed.

@honolulublues5548

2 жыл бұрын

@@dylanhaugen3739 he did state "most Americans" just like Simon. Most Americans did learn nearly everything Simon mentions. The actual Molly Pitcher story wasn't even taught to me.

@susansurles3776

Жыл бұрын

And it cost the french a lot which helped their revolution along.

Every time I've talked to someone from Britain about the revolution, they've said they're basically taught that the British thought the colonies were more trouble than they were worth and just walked away from the war.

@natashatomlinson4548

3 жыл бұрын

Which essentially is a major goal of guerrilla warfare

@davidclark1545

3 жыл бұрын

The Brits were also fighting another war in Europe at the time.

@jonmce1

3 жыл бұрын

As an American prof used to say, the British could have held the American colonies that cost them money or the Caribbean Islands that made them money. Guess which was their choice.

@robertfry6783

3 жыл бұрын

@@jonmce1 implying the Brits had a hard on for slavery as the Americans. In reality Britain started to lead the world in stamping out slavery after that, which the US would get involved in for decades. The British had black regiments fighting in the war of independence not the revolutionaries who were effectively defending slavery and freedom to brutalise the Native American and reneg on all the restrictions the British colonial authorities had put on often brutal unchecked expansion. Look it up.

@jonmce1

3 жыл бұрын

@@robertfry6783 Try reading what I wrote you have it backward.

47 year old American here. Not sure what they bother teaching U.S. kids about history these days, but this was all pretty well-known stuff from my time, anyway.

@sameoldthing4037

5 жыл бұрын

I'm 56 and I know all this stuff but I defiantly did NOT learn it in school...

@lylecosmopolite

5 жыл бұрын

I studied American history in 7th and 11th grades. I do not recall any admission that George Washington was not a success on the battlefield, or that Yorktown was more of a French victory than a colonist one.

@ericlarson6390

5 жыл бұрын

@@lylecosmopolite I suppose they taught you that General von Steuben was formerly a Prussian officer too? The truth was that he was a very well informed and very useful FRAUD... he was a con man and impostor. That was not known to George Washington or anyone in the colonies at that time, but research done in the 1960s -1970s found that he was not even a Baron in Prussia. He was obviously a soldier and may have been an officer but not a Prussian officer. None of that mattered though, since he did what he said that he came to do: turn a ragtag bunch of farmers and teenagers into something resembling soldiers. Fraud or not, he was a big help to Washington and the Continental Army.

@ericlarson6390

5 жыл бұрын

@@lylecosmopolite Washington went from one defeat to another for most of the Revolution. There were key victories that kept things afloat, and once Washington even had to personally pay his soldiers from his own pocket due to the lack of money available to the Continental Congress. Most of the successes he had were due to the aid received from France and other quarters, though he was not an incapable commander. His weakness was that his troops were not what they really needed to be, and more often than not just wanted their enlistment to be done and to go home. There were many cases where at harvest time desertions happened on a wholesale level.

@Lxx-tc4xc

5 жыл бұрын

@@ericlarson6390 Thank you for the info re von Steuben, whose name I did not invoke. My narrative is simply that the American revolutionaries won only two significant battles: Saratoga and Yorktown. This was not taught to me in school (1960s), so that I did not learn the truth about the Revolutionary war until my, 30s even 40s.

I would say that Ben Franklin got a bit of credit for gaining French support, considering he is on our highest paper cash denomination.

@thomasdeas1941

3 жыл бұрын

Not the highest. Just more seen.

@jacksonmcintyre3653

3 жыл бұрын

@@thomasdeas1941 That's actually in circulation.

@RichardLongsnifferJrIII

3 жыл бұрын

Ben Franklin knew how to fight, for the right,,,,,,,,,,,TO PARTY!!!!! Oh I thought he would never leave France

@adrianbundy3249

3 жыл бұрын

@Moto Rukus To be honest though, the thing that really put America on the international map of powers of all the 'founders' that everyone really, really overvalues is not Franklin. Nor Washington, or those names. But Hamilton. Washington's first secretary of Finance, and he had a hand in designing a lot of our monetary systems and even had the first central bank (before politics from the party of and part of Jefferson pretty much dismantled that, even though ultimately keeping some of those positive things), and set much of the forward thinking ways we deal with money now, as our way of doing things. Yes, his fingerprint is all up and down our monetary system today, yet he is seldom brought up, or what his banking name even did for the revolution... His legacy is almost more expansive than all of them, but not recognized as such.

@arkady714

3 жыл бұрын

The highest paper cash denomination is the $100,000 bill which has a portrait of Woodrow Wilson.

He’s still salty that his team lost 250 years ago 😂

@jrueger1327

2 жыл бұрын

Damn lobster backs

@simonpowell2559

2 жыл бұрын

Someone is salty about the truth.

@redseethus2872

Жыл бұрын

Agreed...lol

@FLITT

Жыл бұрын

Don't let the truth get in the way of your propaganda little buddie 👍

@austin8775

Жыл бұрын

@@FLITT yes biographies, top tens, geographics KZread channels never get anything wrong Foh

I’m an American and in elementary school, I was taught that our loyalties were divided during the revolution. 1/3 patriot, 1/3 loyalist, and 1/3 didn’t care either way.

@whysoserious702

Жыл бұрын

Yes, exactly!

Correction: you do NOT have to be a Christian to be a Mason. There are some degrees and some rites that demand it ( like the Swedish Rite) but there are no demands as a general rule for a certain religion. Usually a faith in a higher power suffices. There are also differences in these regards between ”English” Masonry and ”continental” Masonry. Neither is Masonry itself a religion.

@wormthatturned8737

9 ай бұрын

Not now but back then you did, The Mason’s would soon run out of new recruits if they kept up the Christian necessity!

American here, and if you had an actually decent education, even in public schools, a lot of this should sound familiar

@carriecarter5472

5 жыл бұрын

Prince Black Elf ...actually I have learned more from the History channel.

@zay6324

5 жыл бұрын

Actually public school education teaches the cliche and well known aspects of that time. Atleast where I'm from

@princeblackelf4265

5 жыл бұрын

Zay mine did not high school was an exceptionally long time ago for me (in my 30s) and I had a rather exceptional history teacher, this was why key word was "decent"

@mackss1

5 жыл бұрын

Prince Black Elf I'm in my 30s as well and until HS, I was taught they myths and hated History. In HS, I was lucky to have Mr. Powell (best teacher ever) who taught me our school books were BS and preferred open discussions on real historical facts. Plus, he updated his notes whenever new historical discoveries.

@TheBlueB0mber

5 жыл бұрын

Totally agree! My history teacher told us in as few words; w/o France the American Revolution would've gone very differently.

We learned like 8-9/10 of these... far from myths.

You forgot one major fact in No.1 - Washington essentially started the Seven Years War by ordering the attack on a French and Indian party that were actually on a diplomatic mission, resulting in the Battle of Fort Necessity and Washington’s surrender.

@davidpeters4129

9 ай бұрын

He did not order the attack, Half King's warriors did so without his orders.

Like pretty much all the other Americans are saying, none of this is uncomfortable, or at all unfamiliar provided you've graduated High School in the United States. I do want to address this point though. >Washington spent most of his time avoiding fights I know this is confusing for some people, but when you're on the short end of the stick in terms of combat power in a conflict, not offering your enemy decisive engagements is actually the smart thing to do. You conserve your forces and fight the enemy on your time and terms, which Washington, while not a military genius, did quite admirably. When the time *did* come to offer decisive engagements to the British, the Limeys usually fared quite poorly. Or was Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown just bad luck?

@michaelbinder7348

5 жыл бұрын

The term for that is army in being. His army could not be ignored, and thus sending resources elsewhere, because they were a viable fighting force. It's what "spread the British thin".

@jaydedinnoo8819

3 жыл бұрын

Haaaaa, lies.

@godwarrior3403

3 жыл бұрын

@Xen Raw nerve isn't a bad thing. Stop that right now.

@jr8163

3 жыл бұрын

@Xen In english schools you are tough history but not through rose tinted glasses as in american schools.

@ram0166

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you

Washington's great accomplishment wasn't being a great battle commander. His great accomplishment was keeping his army in being, because as long as that was the case the British could not win.

@dylan4964

5 жыл бұрын

Also he seemed to have understood force concentration/defeat in detail to some extent atleast

@charlesperigord1599

5 жыл бұрын

Rich Barr He also understood civilian morale and paraded some captured British soldiers through the streets of Philadelphia, which greatly increased support for the rebellion.

@honolulublues5548

2 жыл бұрын

@Daytona 6263 see your point, but I think what is being alluded to is military genius in the offensive sense where a plan is put together, executed, and the battle won.

“Listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul revere...” is infinitely more poetic than “listen my children, this is what you got the midnight ride of Samuel Prescott...”

George Washington’s greatest skill as a general was keeping his army together and being able to retreat more than a few times very successfully

@gentleeyes

2 жыл бұрын

That is what I was taught as well, excellent evasive maneuvers. He had an untrained "army" of unpaid militia men that he could sometimes not even feed.

@jewsco

2 жыл бұрын

@@gentleeyes Washington realized if he could keep his army together eventually it would cost England too much to keep fighting

As someone who lives close to where Cornwallis surrendered, I can assure you we know how much the French helped us 🤔

_"What's history, but a fable agreed upon?"_ Napoleon Bonaparte

Thanks to Ben Franklin for going to France and getting the help we needed, while getting his rocks off.

@voiceofreason2674

Жыл бұрын

They let him bust

I agree with many of the comments regarding the in-depth American school education of the American Revolution. Much of the information presented in this video was taught to us in school. I even took AP US History, took the AP exam and eventually earned the AP Scholar Award! I couldn’t have earned my award without learning about the details of US History.

I've never heard Washington referred to as a military genius.

@QuantumRift

5 жыл бұрын

He did ok for himself.

@eatmyshorts

5 жыл бұрын

I've heard that many times

@shibbershabber

5 жыл бұрын

Agreed. Never heard that either and Ive read up on the Revolution quite a bit. One does not need to me a 'military genius' to make great victories. Consider Andrew Jackson and his utter destruction of the British in New Orleans (war of 1812)... There are countless examples of this throughout history. This video is a joke and the presenter is a douchebag

@justincase5272

5 жыл бұрын

Indeed! He won the war.

@frankverdino477

5 жыл бұрын

To define " genius" solidly as winning battles misunderstands the reality of war. What Washington understood was that just keeping an army in the field was a victory. He understood that costing the British money and disrupting commerce was the best way to beat them.

US schools acknowledge the importance of the French.

@cambs0181

3 жыл бұрын

Still struggling to find it on the map, but they know it's important!😅

@Tony-ex2rm

3 жыл бұрын

@@cambs0181 They know enough that Layfette trolled the British on surrender field and had Yankee Doodle Play.

@michaelmartin3745

3 жыл бұрын

W/O the help of Spain it fails. It’s well documented, just not talked about.

@lordfraybin

3 жыл бұрын

Republicans today, still dont. "FREEDOM FRIES!!!"

@joshuaestep6130

3 жыл бұрын

Tell napolean that Spain was a mess

I grew up in Revere, Massachusetts and per my old history teacher Paul Revere's real story is even funnier than you mentioned. Paul Revere was drunk and really did ride down the streets shouting that "the British are coming" but that wasn't the plan, he was supposed to go to specific homes.

At 5:04 . . . "The Revolutionary War (1775-1783) was basically a proxy war between France and Great Britain." (1950-1953) The Korean War was basically a proxy war between the United States and the Soviet Union. (1950-1975) The Vietnam War was basically a proxy war between the United States and the Soviet Union. (1979-1989) The Soviet Afghanistan War was basically a proxy war between the United States and the Soviet Union.

"History of the American Revolution", by some guy from the losing side. BTW, I'm American, and I already knew most of what you offered. A handful of farmers beat the British Empire, so yeah, they utilized Britain's enemies...

Love the comments, it seems at least some Americans learn History in school.

@ghiggs8389

4 жыл бұрын

The ones that paid attention in class. History teachers were always my favorite and definitely the most eccentric.

The difference between the Spanish and the French is that their merit was to fight alongside the rebel troops while the Spanish did their job alone and also made possible the joint success of the French and the rebels because they could not have done it alone. In other words, the work of Spain was decisive and great for others to take the glory. - Carlos Rodriguez Hurtado HMAR member

@davidpeters4129

9 ай бұрын

Gen. Bernardo de Galvez certainly did is share in Spanish Louisiana, the Spanish contribution is often overlooked. Is HMAR a lineage organization ? I'm SAR, and I know we have members, Spanish and French ancestry .

*sees title* Me: Interesting British dude: *starts speaking* Me: So it's one of Those Videos™

@jamesharding3459

3 жыл бұрын

He's largely correct. The US wasn't a blip on the historical radar until the mid-late 1800's, and our revolution was....less than perfectly justified. And mostly fought by the French.

@pamsharpe60

3 жыл бұрын

It was more factual than Those American Videos!

@HalseyHFW

3 жыл бұрын

The colonists were British.

"Luck and enemy ineptitude"...battles and, even entire wars, have been won since antiquity from those two qualities.

@metalpsalm

3 жыл бұрын

Didn't Sun Tzu, in fact, encourage his disciples to capitalize on luck and enemy ineptitude? And " choleric temperament" ?

@shinner65

3 жыл бұрын

You’re right...there were plenty of instances of luck during the Civil War. It was very lucky for the Union that Stonewall Jackson was shot and killed by friendly fire. It was incredibly lucky that Lee’s battle plans were found wrapped around a couple cigars, dropped by a courier. There’s plenty more.

@JohnDoe-pt7ru

3 жыл бұрын

Nazi Germany could have won if it weren't for those factors as well.

@chideraalexanderdex9876

3 жыл бұрын

No great general requires mostly luck and enemy ineptitude

@strick9nueve

3 жыл бұрын

He was underestimated, and he capitalized.

As an American who has read our history I do thank the French for their help.

@himlingpatrice

5 жыл бұрын

Do not forget that the influence of the American war of independence was really important beyond the French leaders of the first French revolution. So the French must probably thank the Americans for not having a king. (I'm french)

@multipipi1234

4 жыл бұрын

Why ? Freedom ? So the bad tyrannical Brits have been kicked out and then replace with more tyrannical self interested individuals. As a Welshman sets about how smug the new order is going to be with a declaration heavily drawn on the Magna Carter...the Big Chart ...that outlines King John is a bad boy and more power to be devolved to the Barons. Who by the way did not have the common people at heart . I suppose the uncomfortable truths come later. Lets gain land...lets have a Mexican war..(very uncomfortable) Lets take out Canada.... Lets have another Civil War because the Southern Dixielandaroonies disagreed with the Northern Yankee doodle dandies over that damnable Chart again. Lets go West ...buy California.....break a treaty or two...displace peoples....buy Greenland. Lets stop Okies going to California. Much like the Brits did in their uncomfortable history. Well... the French were hated by the colonists .They were uncomfortable allies. Speak to Mel Gibson ...he tells a truth or two.(No please don't) The French and Spanish had it in for the Loyalists and it was their chance to join in. Well... British history is full of uncomfortable truths in Empirical terms and as a Welshman we were the first conquest of the English./Normans So .. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness...well Jeff did just that......That's uncomfortable also.

@deemariedubois4916

4 жыл бұрын

O'Rylee Don’t forget the Spanish who were extremely generous to help us to get our freedom from the British.

@Reneelwaring

3 жыл бұрын

I do believe we saved their butts in WWII.

@bleachigo783

3 жыл бұрын

Salut je suis français

#7, again . . . this isn't uncomfortable. US soldiers are taught that it was the French that trained US troops and it is widely acknowledged that the "blue book" became the standard for training troops in the US Army. How this is "uncomfortable" I will never know.

@grahamhodge8313

10 ай бұрын

It goes beyond that. There were almost as many French troops at Yorktown as there were American.

@danielsmith6782

10 ай бұрын

And it was a Prussian (german) officer that actually established a regi.ent of training and standards for the colonial infantry

Lose battle, lose again and again. Then win the war. That’s military genius!

Let's remember, George Washington was leading an army that was in rough shape. His men were starving, freezing to death, and often didn't have shoes. You say he held his army together through adversity, but that's an understatement. When he and his army crossed the Delaware River in the night and hiked several hours to fight and beat the hessians (German mercenaries hired by the British) many of his men were starving, wearing rags, and were barefoot walking through deep snow. Yes George Washington did lose more battles, but the fact that he won anything let alone the war is astounding. And it is true that there was no way we could have won against the British without the French's help, but they refused to join until they felt that the Americans had a chance of winning. His men loved him so much they tried to make him King, he turned then down and went back to farming for several years. Years later he was pressured into presiding over the Constitution conventions and later into the presidency being the only man elected unanimously to the office. He really was amazing contrary to the few historians that don't like him.

@grahamedge4349

5 жыл бұрын

But if it hadn't of been for the battle of Saratoga which was actually largely won by Benedict Arnold the French would probably have never got involved .

@Therockofplumbing

5 жыл бұрын

Sacrifice to the fullest to escape the tyrannical British arm.

@crhu319

5 жыл бұрын

I could do all that stuff also if I had hundreds of obedient legally rightless slaves to do everything else I have to do. Whatever we may think Washington or Jefferson did, it's diluted by the number of people who had no choice but to do these "great men's" other work for them.

@Corey1873

5 жыл бұрын

@@crhu319 "I could do all that stuff also if I had hundreds of obedient legally rightless slaves to do everything else I have to do." Sure you could. At any rate I only judge historical figures if they're especially terrible for their time period. Doing otherwise is pointlessly crapping on your ancestors imo.

@crhu319

5 жыл бұрын

@@Corey1873 Jefferson & Washington were markedly worse than John Adams who was a contemporary. But likely better than most slave owners insofar as they saw it would end some day.

I am puzzled he claims "no taxation without representation" applied only to landowners. The Stamp Act tax was one of the more infamous taxes, certainly one the Colonists had in mind for that slogan, and it applied to a much wider cross section of society than just the landowners. It applied to anyone dealing with official documents, not just documents for land purchases.

@stevek8829

5 жыл бұрын

It's one of the many inaccuracies in this fractured history fable.

@deputyvillageidiot

4 жыл бұрын

SpectatorAlius He is talking about the “representation” part, not the “taxation” part. The problem with this video, though, is that he criticizes America for extending voting rights only to landowners. He neglects to mentions that in that era, all around the world even in the U.K., voting had always been restricted just to landowners. This of course changed, in the U.K. as well as here.

@jliller

4 жыл бұрын

Did the Magna Carta say all men are created equal? The USA did away with monarchy and hereditary nobility, and declared "All men are created equal" then shortly thereafter went "well, not really..."

@weeewoooooooo

3 жыл бұрын

@@jliller yes it did.

@anthonyknight170

3 жыл бұрын

@@weeewoooooooo your country’s history says otherwise 🤦🏻‍♂️

The Revolutionary War could be called the first Civil War. My relatives had moved from Bucks county, PA to Rowan, NC just prior to the war and the areas closer to the Atlantic had a lot of Tories and they operated both with the NC militia and individually hunting down Tories and torturing and killing them. It was reminiscent of the later irregular actions in the south during the Civil War.

Washington: Phew, crossing the Delaware was the most luck any military campaign could ever have. Battle of Midway: Hold my completely useless torpedoes.

@BigStib

3 жыл бұрын

Genuine question. Do they teach about how much the victory at Midway was due to intelligence from British code breaking?

@davidcleary9510

3 жыл бұрын

@@BigStib I'm Australian, so I can't answer that one, unfortunately.

@ptb2008

Ай бұрын

Battle of Midway was successful for 2 reasons. 1) RADAR and 2) code breaking. Both of which were given to USA by Great Britain.

Alternate title: "Ten commonly known and taught facts a guy on KZread thinks Americans don't know."

@tgdelta

3 жыл бұрын

He’s just mad cuz they lost

@notcal28

3 жыл бұрын

And still losing

@tilltronje1623

3 жыл бұрын

He never said anything to that effect. Try not lying while attacking him. It is true however that many Americans deify the fathers and the revolution and many have a reductionist understanding of it all

@tilltronje1623

3 жыл бұрын

@@tgdelta and how would you know?

@user-dx5yx6mb5c

3 жыл бұрын

or the fact that we were founded by a bunch of white land owners who wanted to take everything for themselves. don't cry because it's true, educate yourself and grow to be a better wiser person.

This isn't uncomfortable and if you're American and didn't know this already, then that's kind of sad.

@brycerevelli7520

5 жыл бұрын

@David Powell haha you're funny. I'm pretty sure most Trump voters know more about history than the fascist leftists who constantly try to shut down conservatives by violent and intolerant means. I voted for Trump and I knew all of these facts and they didn't make me uncomfortable at all because they are facts.

@artm1973

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah this is basic high school stuff.

@jun-hs4eo

4 жыл бұрын

I know way more than what this video told me *coughbaronvonsteubenmarquisfalafayettecharlesleesamuelseaburyhoratiogatesnathanielgreenejohnlaurenscough*

I knew most of these but enjoyed learning a couple more things about US history

Yeah I tried to keep an open mind, but a lot of these conclusions about "what Americans think or believe " weren't super accurate.

I don't know why Simon kept saying "Most Americans think this", or "Most Americans think that", we never think of Washington as a military genius or that Paul Revere "Saved the day", and we know the French helped us tremendously, and the Prussians too (Steuben), but the way he talked down Americans like we didn't know what "really happened" made it sound like he is still bitter about Great Britain losing the war, at least it did to me. Yes, there are Americans who believe fallacies about the Revolution, but it has been my experience these people are the exception, not the rule, or "Most Americans."

@genli5603

5 жыл бұрын

Anne James His ignorance about what Americans believed then and are taught now is equally astonishing.

@Master...deBater

5 жыл бұрын

@@genli5603 It's not "ignorance"...it's PROPAGANDA!!!

@bignorbert1136

5 жыл бұрын

@@genli5603 : Did they want to pay their taxes then... and they do now?

@HDSME

5 жыл бұрын

Simon is your jealous brit type he doesnt mention all battles we beat thecrap out of them!!!!

@billybob01234567

5 жыл бұрын

Hahahahah you're literally proving all his points. The French won the war NOT the Americans. Americans would have been smashed to pieces by the tiny British force there but for the French, as history shows

Weird that Washington spent most of his time running away and needed help from foreign countries when fighting a war of a small collection of colonies vs the a world conquering empire.

@APHELPSX

3 жыл бұрын

That's what I was thinking. Sometimes just because you lose a battle doesn't mean you lose the War.

@Mulberry2000

3 жыл бұрын

The fact you made that statement shows how ignorant you are. That world-conquering empire was fighting a war all OVER THE WORLD. This meant they were fighting in Europe as well as India etc.

@shawngarratt2887

3 жыл бұрын

You outnumbered the British ten to one LoL with out help from other countries !

@BiteYerBumHard

3 жыл бұрын

@@APHELPSX Actually at that time, the World-conquering empire was engaged in a protracted war against the French; certainly a more seasoned and efficient fighting force.

@captiancrunch1840

3 жыл бұрын

Today it's called guerilla tactics the idea was adopted from natives tactics.

The arguable military 'genius' of GW was IMO his uncanny ability to know just when to retreat and then...the really astounding feat...to get the remains of his army safely away from a superior force in such a manner that the superior force either could not find them or found it too dangerous to push another attack...thus saving the army for another and another and another day to fight again and again until victory was achieved. This is truly genius level stuff or a vast amount of sheer luck which is statistically almost impossible.

@ComeAlongKay

2 жыл бұрын

Washington also established the image of the president, and refused to be king.

@grahamhodge8313

10 ай бұрын

As Winston Churchill said after the battle of Dunkirk; "wars are not won by evacuations".

One of my College Professors told his classes, that Paul Revere while out on his little ride would stop at homesteads on the way to Concord. At these homes he would try to awaken the person in the home. If no one answered his calls he would then enter the home and take the silver. When he was captured by the Regulars his stash of silver was taken by them.

This is all taught in American schools.

@stevenluker793

2 жыл бұрын

Far less so in years past.

@Bladerunner5146

2 жыл бұрын

I was not although I will be in 11th next school year

@MaleviahBurned

2 жыл бұрын

graduated high school in 2004, never heard any of this.

@thurstonxander

2 жыл бұрын

@@MaleviahBurned you probably shouldn't have graduated high school in that case.

@imgoingtocountdownfromthir4580

2 жыл бұрын

It isn't taught in British schools, literally half a page in a history textbook covers it.

George Washington running away from fights is was made him a great general. He was able to keep his army intact.

@Paulafan5

4 жыл бұрын

He lost battles to win the war. Did Simon want him to stay and get wiped out? No, he retreated and lived to fight again another day..

@nmagain24

4 жыл бұрын

Sounds very un American

@thomasmills339

4 жыл бұрын

Denying your enemy battle is as effective as engaging them.

@punkwrestle

4 жыл бұрын

Name Again How so? Most Americans pride those who show true leadership and make necessary strategic decisions.

@ainis232

4 жыл бұрын

So American's shouldn't laugh at French for running form battle

Knew the French made the win possible. They touch on it in the movie "The Patriot". But it's always interesting to know a little more about your history.

@rikxsmith3858

Жыл бұрын

And the Netherlands too. They broke their bond with England and helped America so the can take advantage of the trading

@anthonyluccini1015

Жыл бұрын

The film absolutely does not pay homage to France, on the contrary half of the film they spend their time insulting the French. It's a shame like the movie Dunkirk

I can also can confirm that all of this is taught in American schools. Many students probably forget some of it, just like how I can't remember everything I learned in chemistry class...

The French saw being involved as an opportunity to weaken England and less to do with giving the colonies a hand.

@joeissac3934

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly !!

@x2y3a1j5

3 жыл бұрын

Just as same as the English saw being involved in Latin American independence wars as an opportunity to weaken archrival Spain (and replace it as the colonial power) and less to do with giving the colonies a hand.

@robertfry6783

3 жыл бұрын

@@x2y3a1j5 interesting never heard of that ...but it’s a big stretch to think the Brits were trying to replace the Spanish.

@itstheweather642

2 жыл бұрын

Who said?

@kristinamitchell716

2 жыл бұрын

Lafayette believed in the philosophy of what we were fighting for. He participated in the American and French Revolutions.

Molly Pitcher was nearly a nickname but she definitely did exist. It was a nickname given to a woman said to have fought in the American Revolutionary War. She is generally believed to have been Mary Ludwig Hays, who fought in the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778. Another possibility is Margaret Corbin, who helped defend Fort Washington in New York in November 1776. So the name may be fake but whoever it really was, was definitely a war hero.

@davidpeters4129

9 ай бұрын

Molly Pitcher and Margaret Corbin are to different people, although their stories are similar, Molly Ludwig (Hays, McCauley) is buried in Carlisle, Pa. near Generals William Thompson, John Armstrong and Henry Miller. Margaret Corbin is buried at West Point. There were 3 women that received Revolutionary War pensions Molly Pitcher, Margaret Corbin and Deborah Sampson

@raymondclark1785

8 ай бұрын

Let's meet at the Molly Pitcher Inn and drink to it. Then we won't care if she was real or not :)

I'm wondering about the mean age of the comments below; I was not taught these things in primary school, and had to do deep dives on my own in addition to AP history in high school which was NOT the same as 'normal' history in the same school. (- over 30yrs ago)

"However Americans tend to be a bit insular in their thinking" Rest of the world: Truer words never spoken Americans: What does insular mean?

I was always taught that Washingtons greatest military genius was surrounding himself with brilliant men and listening to their advice. Also, the Delaware, they attacked hessian mercenaries if I'm not mistaken and it was the hessian commander who disregarded the Intel from his troopers. Almost in opposite to what Washington often did.

@UKChrisC

3 жыл бұрын

The hessians were auxiliaries and not mercenaries, it’s a specific but important distinction. They were hired out by their lords to serve the British (auxiliary) and not men making a free choice. Technically Pulaski and Kosciuszko and the other polish-Lithuanians for the revolutionaries were mercenaries

@timmo491

3 жыл бұрын

George Washington was colonial born but English by parentage. He also served in the British Army.

@mickg8306

3 жыл бұрын

I was always taught that Washingtons greatest military genius was surrounding himself with brilliant men and listening to their advice>>...........a bit like Donald Trump.....not........

@rogertaylor6386

3 жыл бұрын

The Hessian commander was drunk, had he acted on the information Washington would have been finished

@davidpeters4129

9 ай бұрын

@@timmo491 He did not serve in the British Army, his officer commission was Colonial Provincial Militia, granted by the the Govenor of Virginia, not the King, He served under the British Army, splitting hairs but there was a difference.

Most Americans know everything on your list and have no problem with it. We learn these things early on in school, we’re not as ignorant as most Europeans think we are.

@TheDrewThornton

5 жыл бұрын

Still waiting for Europe to put a man on the moon.

@tylerbeel6482

5 жыл бұрын

@@TheDrewThornton Europe may not of put a man on the moon but Europe created the modern world and most of the technology in it Europe has done many things. The Industrial revolution to many mordern technology, medicine, infrastrcture, demoracy and the very language you speak plus many more . Still waiting on european americans to created their own language.

@davidlogansr8007

5 жыл бұрын

Tyler Beel we speak English substantially different than Britain! In point of fact, we have even changed British English as spoken on that small island!

@tylerbeel6482

5 жыл бұрын

@@davidlogansr8007 So have Canada the aussies and more Same with spanish to south america. Its still the Same language even if used differently. Your not the first to put your own Spin on it nor the last

@pandorasbox4238

5 жыл бұрын

Actually, most of this is NOT taught in schools, unless it's a new addition. All of this I learned about years after leaving school.

I think most Americans are aware that not every American back then was enthusiastic about independence. I do agree though that Loyalists don't seem to get much 'air time' if you will from historians of the period, but that is slowly changing. Which makes me happy as I am descended from a few Loyalists and think they deserve just as much attention as their Patriot counterparts.

Definitely learned all of this before college.

The founding fathers are not "practically deified". That's like calling my hometown of Philadelphia a practical holy land.

@nicholasschoonbeck6866

4 жыл бұрын

Just because your personal view isn't this way, doesn't change how America in general views these figures.

@betaraycomics9072

4 жыл бұрын

nicholas schoonbeck I can promise they aren’t deified.

@nicholasschoonbeck6866

4 жыл бұрын

@@betaraycomics9072 oh well, some random guy on the internet making a solemn promise! That'll def change what I know from reading the history of the country & the rantings of patriots. lol

@jliller

4 жыл бұрын

You must not know many right-wing types then (especially libertarians). Lots of them essentially deify the Founding Fathers. The story from those folks goes like this: Founding Fathers had the most wisdom of anyone and created a perfect political system with a perfect constitution, bringing freedom to the land and creating a Christian nation, the greatest on earth. If only we stuck to what they believed in everything would be great today, but no it's liberals and atheists and government tyranny ruining everything.

@JackClockerinos

4 жыл бұрын

@@jliller I'm liberal asf and even I adore the Founding Fathers

Everybody knows about Layfaette and the French, our first friend. That is why when Pershing, with the AAF, landed in France during WW1 the first place he went was Lafayette’s tomb and declared, “Lafayette Lafayette we are here!”

@OutnBacker

5 жыл бұрын

There are myths about that young man, Lafayette. In actual fact, he came here out of brashness and offered his "expertise" and the assistance of his countrymen when he had no official writ to do so. Thus, the French Court was embarrassed and this helped to sway the King to acquiesce and send a token force to America. Like the British, the French had absolute disdain for the fighting abilities of the Americans. A proper perspective, IMO, since nearly every engagement with the British ended in a rout, with colonials throwing down their arms and running as fast as they could as far as they could, many never returning to the muster. Until the Prussian drill was learned, the American forces simply could not compete with the British for more than a few volleys. I doubt that the French blockade at the Chesapeake would have worked as well had the Battle of Yorktown been a battle for New York, where most of the British forces were based. General Clinton in NY simply refused to come to the aid of Cornwallis and that was that. The British had no way of knowing if the French fleet were the only ships in the area and Clinton did not want to risk his fleet and army in a large scale battle with the French, who might have had more ships just over the horizon. The whole story of the American Revolution is quite complex and has a lot of twists and turns. I my opinion, even though I admire them, the French were never really our friends, have never been, and will never be. They are a rival power to this day, despite the many "traditional ceremony" between us and them.

@stevek8829

5 жыл бұрын

@@OutnBacker don't forget, nations don't have friends. Nations have allies based on based on self interest.

@stevek8829

5 жыл бұрын

@@petenelson4396 What part of what he said is revisionist? It was all pretty accurate. I guess Trump is your president. He is mine as well. I voted for him because the alternative was worse. He failed as a manager of three casinos. The all went bankrupt years before Atlantic City had a downturn. His investors always lose. Perhaps you're just a goose stepping conservative who doesn't have to think for them-self anymore, just follow the dogma.

@petenelson4396

5 жыл бұрын

Steve K first of all Outnbacker edited his post huge more than once. Then deleted the one in question. His original post was nearly twice as long. Second you are obviously a self loathing libtard. “Ooooo look at me I called somebody a Nazi, I’m so brave and progressive.” Third you have 6 more years of Trump so you have plenty of time to scream, block traffic, or hand-cuff yourself to a tree. I think and don’t just “feel” like you so go watch MSNBSCLGBT & find some more material to regurgitate ya 🐑

@petenelson4396

5 жыл бұрын

Michael Cristian cite a source. I’d like to read on this

3:35 I definitely can find people alive in the USA 🇺🇸 that would criticize the revolution. My partner told me several years back how complex feelings on the ground were, and he's largely descended from people who were loyalists. That being said, he also has Canadian ancestry, but that doesn't diminish his American-ness. I also know others who have questioned or criticized it, including myself.

Another uncomfortable fact concerning the American war of independence was the impending ban on the slave trade which was growing in Britain and that the colonists were not allowed to expand Westward due to treaties with the indigenous population. Treaties which had brought an end to the Indian wars. It was the large and very wealthy land owners, such as Washington who needed slaves to work the land, coupled with those who wanted to invade the neighboring Indian territories. Let the whole truth be known. It should be remembered that Washington called himself an English Gentleman and had sworn allegiance to the King. Washington and his wife doubled the number of slave they owned following the war. Tell the whole truth as uncomfortable as that may be.

Now REALLY Simon! You hope we enjoyed this video? I had heard that the British take on our revolution was different. But until now I had no idea in which way we differed from one another. So, here's something that is more clear than historical stories: Read the Declsration of Independence. It is online and easily available. It clearly lays out the complaints of the colonies, and their polite, manly efforts to set things right. The Declaration is not long and people really should read that, and our Constitution. I don't know if the end justifies the means, But I do know that the long term result has been marvelous! Just ask the many millions who have come here, or want to.

Molly Pitcher is a Folk lore character like Uncle Sam or John Bull, but with some truth to it. Troops called women who carried water to the troops during battles "Molly Pitcher". Mary Hays is said to be the real Molly Pitcher at the Battle of Monmouth (June 1778). She spent much of the early day carrying water to soldiers and artillerymen, often under heavy fire from British troops. Mary took up the ramrod at her husband's cannon after William Hays collapsed during the battle, either wounded or suffering from heat exhaustion. Joseph Plumb Martin recalls this incident in his memoirs, writing that at the Battle of Monmouth, "A woman whose husband belonged to the artillery and who was then attached to a piece in the engagement, attended with her husband at the piece the whole time. While in the act of reaching a cartridge and having one of her feet as far before the other as she could step, a cannon shot from the enemy passed directly between her legs without doing any other damage than carrying away all the lower part of her petticoat. Looking at it with apparent unconcern, she observed that it was lucky it did not pass a little higher, for in that case it might have carried away something else, and continued her occupation." After the battle, General Washington asked about the woman whom he had seen loading a cannon on the battlefield. In commemoration of her courage, he issued Mary Hays a warrant as a non commissioned officer. Afterwards, she was known as "Sergeant Molly," a nickname that she used for the rest of her life.

@globetrotter5800

5 жыл бұрын

Hey! Mary Hays and William Hays are in my ancestry line!

@christopherjensen794

5 жыл бұрын

I believe she got a pension from the State of New Jersey as well!

@kathleenadams4978

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Sometimes running away is the smartest play. Live to fight another day

@honolulublues5548

2 жыл бұрын

@Daytona 6263 in reality, it was his sneak attack in Trenton that got the help. Before that, the French wouldn't budge in aid. They wanted proof it was worth getting involved. However, part of his "running away" was quite genius in its own right. It stretched the supply chain out and caused much trouble for the Brits.

Search up about the Indian removal act of 1830. Long after independence from the British. In the war of 1812, the Native Americans sided with the british mainly because it was always known the colonists in America wanted to gain more Native American land. “Most Native American tribes during the War of 1812 sided with the British because they wanted to safeguard their tribal lands, and hoped a British victory would relieve the unrelenting pressure they were experiencing from U.S. settlers who wanted to push further into Native American lands in southern Canada and in the lower Great Lakes and the south. Although some tribes remained neutral and some supported the United States, the majority allied with Britain.” From whitehouseorg.

None of these I didn't already know except the myth about Americans believing Washington was some sort of military genius- I never heard anyone say that, just that we admire his character and courage

Now I feel foolish about my Molly Pitcher tattoo.

@dogman6687

4 жыл бұрын

It doesnt matter if she’s real or not, she’s a symbol

@quabledistocficklepo3597

3 жыл бұрын

Who lying? I have seen accounts that tell her real name.

Interesting pointing out all of Washington's imperfections. Perhaps I could even add to them: Slave owner, spy master . . amateur 'lumberjack . . He was also incredibly brave: During the French and Indian war he personally went into battle and was caught several times. Now that so many of our nation's first and highly capable President have been highlighted; perhaps an expose on Cornwallis or Chelmsford or Churchill or Montgomery should be in order? We could discuss the Boer War. I believe the British sometimes refer to it as their Vietnam.

@shawngarratt2887

3 жыл бұрын

They won the Boer war ! You lost in Vietnam ?

@williamphillips6049

3 жыл бұрын

@@shawngarratt2887 You're not actually going to call the Boer War a "victory" are you?

Me, who loves simoms work: lemme listen to this Also me, a red blood American: throws Simons tea into a harbor

Maybe because New York schools took it's Revolutionary placement seriously, and being raised near places key in the Revolution, I was taught in Elementary & high school everything you discussed. I even knew who Lafayette was prior to Hamilton Musical making him popular.

Why, this is exactly the kind of thing I would expect a British person to say about that particular war...

@fishyc150

3 жыл бұрын

You mean the truth? Fair point I suppose. At least you're honest about it.

@VonDarkfaulker

3 жыл бұрын

@@fishyc150 "...the truth?" No offense, friend, but you sound uncannily...British.

@fishyc150

3 жыл бұрын

@@VonDarkfaulker No, I'm English.

@timothybattey171

3 жыл бұрын

@Xen No, I am not blinkered. As a student of history, I must say that very much of what this series covers is spot on.

@RylanMoffitt

3 жыл бұрын

fishyc150 someone hasn’t had their morning tea..

Actually there was only one "myth" that was news to me. I do recall being taught that American militia avoided European style battle and would use their knowledge of the terrain to fight from the cover of woods against redcoats in the open. Then they run and hide to survive for further ambush style warfare. Can history buffs confirm his account? I understand that Native Americans used guerilla tactics too.

Simon was addressing this to the American Myth, promoted by Hollywood and TV, and what a lot of Americans seem to believe, based on their behaviour. As a Canadian, these myths have been in movies, TV and political speeches coming across the US/Canada border all my like.

@nozecone

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly - I lived on the border ... and I've just read a few comments - but I can see where this is all going ... !

@redseethus2872

Жыл бұрын

Canada sucks. We are building a wall on the wrong border!

@ComedorDelrico

Жыл бұрын

Maybe. But he keeps saying "most Americans think . . ." followed by things that most Americans definitely do not think. Perhaps he should have said, "most Canadians think . . ."

Everything you said is taught in American schools. You seem to just want to call American people stupid for believing things they don't actually believe.

@FLITT

3 жыл бұрын

You lead the world in "people who believe in guardian angels", get down off that high horse 😂

@stinkbug4321

3 жыл бұрын

He sounds a bit jealous to me

@BBC-dq3ki

3 жыл бұрын

@@FLITT definitive #1 world power since 1991🤷‍♂️😂

@dakotaclement7751

3 жыл бұрын

Puff Dragon 😂😂😂😂👌🏼

@BBC-dq3ki

3 жыл бұрын

@Lamar each state has different standards on teaching, aswell as your teacher could have been a person uncomfortable with these facts because of their murican pride and decided to neglect what wasn't on the educational standard. You could have also been not paying attention. I doubt that's true since you're interested in this video but the point is their are variables in everyone's education but everyone got at least part of this. For example I got taught some more things that were "uncomfortable" than what was on this video

George Washington’s strategy WAS to run away from fights. He knew he couldn’t go up toe to toe with the British, so he fought a war of attrition.

@danielmalloy6093

5 жыл бұрын

True. It wasn't until the Von Stueben rendered his services to Washington, training troops at Valley Forge to stand and fight in the spring campaign against the Brits.

@scottsteibel

5 жыл бұрын

Gerald , that’s my understanding as well.

@jgalt308

5 жыл бұрын

Actually, that was his claim to fame as an "officer", when serving under Braddock....when he got all those horses killed, while directing "a retreat" after being ambushed. ( during the French/Indian thingy. ) His "ambition" was to fight for and become a permanent officer in the British Army, but his "skillful ability" to retreat, was insufficient to gain his acceptance. ( more's the pity, since it might have shortened the war considerably if they had. ) This might have altered the history completely, since Arnold might have been given a greater role, and was certainly far more tactically astute and aggressive than Washington would ever be. ( as he had engaged in the canadian campaign and was pivotal at Saratoga, which essentially "stalemated" the northern theater.....) Regarding the "war of attrition" choice.....this would place him in a similar category with Robert E. Lee, which 'lost' the war for the confederacy, and were Washington "critical" to the revolution, to the same extent, we would have lost the revolution too.have lost

@Michael-uf1hz

5 жыл бұрын

Washington did attempt to go toe to toe with the brits on numerous occasions and was out smarted and flanked forcing him to retreat. Many times it wasn't his strategy to retreat but out of necessity. As he says in the video he was not a military genius a sound leader but not a man of tactics. If it weren't for the Prussian officer Friedrich Wilhelm, Washington's army would have never stood a chance.

@Michael-uf1hz

5 жыл бұрын

@Blue Dress your right his strategy wasnt to run, he was forced to retreat or lose his army, live to fight another day. He was fighting the most powerful military in the world after all.

Paul Revere didn't call out "the British are coming!" At that time he WAS British. He much more likely alerted the countryside a house or so at a time and would have called out "the Regulars are coming!", meaning the Regular Army soldiers a.k.a. the Army a.k.a. the cops are coming. No different than the way kids today who are lookouts for drug dealers call out "5-0! 5-0!" when they see the cops coming.

Most of these aren't uncomfortable and are commonly known in America... it sounds like you're referencing the curriculum most of is learn in middle school, which is a simplified overarching version... in Highschool I learned all of what was in this video and much more, especially about Paul Reveres other contributions to the revolutionary war outside of the caricature

John Adams was my favorite Founding Father. He was a genius man who did what he thought was right. He wasn't a born diplomat but he learned along the way, becoming quite effective in mending any kind of hatred between the mother country and the USA. And he always put America first. He created a legacy of servitude, and back then, public office wasn't as nearly glamorous and lucrative as it is now. Fun fact, John Adams was one of the very few Founding Fathers who did not own any slaves.

In breaking news today.. battles can be positively affected by luck and foreign/external support... film at 11!!

@6731adam

2 жыл бұрын

Love this comment

I have high praise for this video. I glanced over some of the comments on this video and I can only say that the amount of information taught about the War fir Independence can vary depending on what grade you were in as well as what state you were going to school in.

@davidpeters4129

9 ай бұрын

A lot on the video is out right false and misleading. .

From what I remember learning in HS, the French & Spanish had every intention of re-conquering for their own nations the part of the Americas the British lost after the revolution before very long. But in the coming decades, they were sidetracked by the Napoleonic Wars.

Growing up in Scouting 20-30 minutes from Valley Forge we heard a lot of this, although not to the point of a proxy war for the French. The Crossing of the Delaware attack was a last ditch effort before massive terms of enlistment were up and Washington desperately needed a win. LaFayette was very well known and credited for training the American troops. If the French hadn’t supported us, we’d all be speaking English to.... wait

@danielsmith6782

10 ай бұрын

The proxy was is a false point as it took 2 years to get the French to do anything more than sell equipment and munitions to the colonist.

This man and the Entirety of the UK have been waiting hundreds of years to say these things.

@jaydedinnoo8819

3 жыл бұрын

The truth😆

@barnabywild2601

3 жыл бұрын

If this man has been waiting hundreds of years to say these things; he appears to be ageing very well. 😜

@chrissessions6108

3 жыл бұрын

Uncomfortable fact number 11: the British are sore losers Uncomfortable fact number 12: the fact that the colonist victory was mainly due to help from the French doesn't make it any less embarrassing 😂 Uncomfortable fact number 13: the British worship their monarchy far more than Americans worship George Washington.

@chrissessions6108

3 жыл бұрын

@Scott S sounds like you are a Brit, and I'm not, so I'll concede. I'm inclined to think that most, like yourself, aren't going to be bothered by the American revolution that happened 250 years ago. But whoever wrote this video is clearly trying to downplay the revolution and trying to save face for the 1700s version of Britain. And I'll end by pointing out that 'Murica won the civil war 😜

@donaldsterling1631

3 жыл бұрын

@Scott S Americas won almost every war its been in. Theres a few embarassing losses got us here and there so it evens out Id say. The war of 1812 and Vietnam i think. That being said Britain has been around a lot longer so like I saod it evens out.

As an American I have never been unaware of the fact that the French were absolutely crucial in the success of the revolution. It would have without a doubt been a lost cause without their intervention. The quote about how during the time period “women couldn’t vote and black people were slaves” is equally true about the crown at the time. We all know Paul revere wasn’t the only rider that fateful night and I in my 28 years as an American and a patriot have never heard of molly pitcher. I feel a fair bit of bias towards Americans in general in this video. This a shame as I have always found simons videos quite unbiased and pragmatic.

Mmm yes all of this is taught in school....