While most Americans are familiar with the founding fathers and the war for Independence and the numerous battles fought lost and won and finally Yorktown. What most Americans do not realize that this was a truly global war with the British empire not only fighting the colonists they were also fighting the Dutch the French and the Spanish this aspect is conveniently forgotten in the mists of time because of national pride, which is no bad thing. However as a lover of history I bring you these few clips to show what else was going on at the same time. One thing the Revolution did force the Royal Navy to do was seek an alternative to tar pitch from American pines and the first copper bottomed ships were born. Giving the Royal Navy a technological edge and helped us defeat America’s allies for which I am grateful.
The siege of Gibraltar showed the finest side of the British army and the Royal Navy.
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Knotted prop Blog 
I have to keep reminding myself that America was a nation born out of persecution, then revolution. Coming from one of the few large countries not formed through war in one way or another, and an island nation at that, I sometimes forget that history frames consciousness. The current political circus in America is a reflection of this, writ large.