How do British teachers teach about the Revolutionary War? Other countries?

Question

I have always wondered what the losing side of a war teaches about the causes of that war, or the reason it was lost. What is the difference between how an American teacher might teach it and a British teacher?

If you are from a country outside the U.S., does your country teach about world wars only, or wars involving your country only, a mix of both? Any people from smaller countries, do you learn about European/ American wars? Even the non-significant ones (7 years war/ war of 1812?)

Answer 1

I don't know anyone who was taught about the revolutionary war. Most young British people wouldn't have a clue what the revolutionary war is. Americans are certainly more aware of it than we are. We were taught about World War 1 and 2 and for some reason, we learnt a lot about JFK's assassination.

When we learnt about the World Wars, it was with an emphasis on what the British did, but that's nothing unusual. I live in Russia now and the Russians are taught that Russia was virtually the only country that fought against the Nazis. Believe me, I've had some heated debates about it with them. I guess it's the same in America.

I'm just commenting on my own history lessons and those of people I know. It's not a generalisation.

Answer 2

Yeah, when we learned about it, we were taught about how Britain was tyrannical and brutal. Its okay to teach British people about how we used to be, because we aren't any more and I don't support the kinds of things that the British did all those centuries ago. Its the same as when we are taught about slavery. We are told about how British and American people were brutal to slaves and the conditions we made them suffer in. I'm sure you were too, right? We know what our country did centuries ago, and we know were in a way the bad guys, and it wasn't just America. We sailed around the world claiming land in the name of the British Empire, and if the people there didn't like it, then we would butcher them, and IMO that's a lot worse that what started the revolutionary war. And we also made the people there convert to Christianity, why do you think there is 2 billion Christians in the world? Because its been passed down generation to generation over three centuries, in all the countries that we went to and brought it to.

Answer 3

We aren't taught it, all through school i was never taught it, and as far as i know it takes up to university level before it's taught or you can choose the option.

Not being taught it i don't know the real reasons though i know a bit from films (Patriot). But colonialism is more expensive than trading with an independant nation, economically it was in our interest, and France benefitted from selling New Orleans.

Answer 4

in my history class (im English) we start at the battle of hastings, then the middle ages, the the tudors, stuarts, english civil war, french revolution, british empire, slave trade, industrial revolution, world war one, depression, world war two, and america 1945-89, going in order of events, but no history of america other than the 20th century is taught, just because it is irrelavent

Answer 5

I've always wondered how the British teachers teach that also. I hope someone answers this.