Topic: Britain
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British Opinion of the Americas
In this work, a British author expresses his views on the ways in which the colonists and Great Britain could peacefully resolve their differences. Written in the wake of American...
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British Soldier
This is an image of a regular British soldier. Dressing with strict precision, British soldiers looked nearly identical to one another in their scarlet coats. Their uniforms were meant to...
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Common Sense
Published in January 1776, Thomas Paine’s COMMON SENSE made the case for an immediate separation of the colonies from Great Britain. It attacked hereditary privilege, exposed the failures of the...
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Currency Act
The Currency Act of 1764 forbade colonists from using paper money as legal tender to pay their public or private debts. This measure represented an effort by Parliament to prevent...
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Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act stated that Parliament had the authority to pass laws on all matters relating to the governance of the colonies. Passed after the repeal of the Stamp Act,...
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Design for a Library Bookcase
This image is a design for a bookcase by the well-known English furniture designer, Thomas Chippendale. In the mid-18th century, many of the wealthiest people in Britain and the colonies...
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Designs for Chippendale Chairs
This image is a design for chairs by the well-known English furniture designer, Thomas Chippendale. In the mid-18th century, many of the wealthiest people in Britain and the colonies purchased...
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English Fleet
This is an image of the English fleet, or Royal Navy. Britain became the most powerful maritime power in the world during the eighteenth century. By building up its navy,...
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Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford
This portrait shows Lord North as prime minister. Before 1776, he took a hard line against colonial protests. In 1778, he offered concessions to end an expensive and unpopular war,...
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