The Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies, 1760-1785

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Atlantic Monthly Press, 1995 - 416 pages
In The Long Fuse, Don Cook investigates the American Revolution from the British side, throwing new light on this colorful age and its players. He draws from a multitude of primary sources, including personal correspondence and political memoranda, to show how Britain, at the height of her power but suffering from internal political strife, made one mistake after another, culminating in the loss of her prized colonies. In opposition to King George's American policies were such towering figures as William Pitt, Edmund Burke, and Charles James Fox; their speeches in the House of Commons are some of the best oratory in the English language. But despite their eloquence and forcefulness, they did not have the votes to prevail. In the end, the Americans rebelled as much against an English political state of mind as against the British Army. Cook takes us through the war years: King George's decision that blows must decide the colonies' future; Lord North's futile effort to negotiate peace after the British defeat at Saratoga, which only hastened the American alliance with France; the secret letter from Washington to Lafayette that the British intercepted, perhaps altering the outcome of the Battle of Yorktown; and the peace negotiations masterminded by Franklin and John Jay. Winner of the Colonial Dames of America Annual Book Award 1996. The Long Fuse is a marvelous new way of understanding the Revolutionary War. Many Americans have no idea of the extraordinary combination of brilliance, ignorance, stubbornness and intelligence on the British side. We won with a majestic collection of heroes, fools, geniuses, and rogues; they lost with an unforgettable cast of colorful characters. This eye-opening book is a splendid historical synthesis. - John Chancellor

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Contents

ENGLAND VICTORIOUS
1
PITT DEPARTS BUTE LIGHTS THE FUSE
21
FRANKLIN IN LONDON
38
THE STAMP ACT
51
THE CRISIS
70
FRANKLIN TESTIFIES ROCKINGHAM REPEALS
88
THE CHATHAM FIASCO
106
THE TOWNSHEND CRISIS
119
ENGLAND AT WAR
219
THE HOWE BROTHERS TRY WAR AND PEACE
240
THE ROAD TO SARATOGA
262
A NEW WAR FOR ENGLAND
283
THE SOUTHERN STRATEGY
304
THE ROAD TO YORKTOWN
319
THE KING FIGHTS ON
340
THE PEACE PROCESS
360

ANOTHER REPEAL
133
THE KING FINDS A PRIME MINISTER
147
LORD NORTHS TEA PARTY
163
BLOWS MUST DECIDE
179
FRANKLINS LAST TRY
201
EPILOGUE
380
SOURCE NOTES
387
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
395
INDEX
401
Copyright

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