America's 2nd War of Independence

[Chris]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnSwKWRL8i4

[Ethereal]

I don't know if I would agree it was a second war of "independence". In the opinion of the British, the impressment of sailors (Americans and otherwise) was a right long established by custom and law. They did not see it as a violation of US sovereignty or independence. It's also worth noting that the British made peace overtures towards the US that the US rejected. Lastly, the video understates US naval successes in the early and middle parts of the war. US naval forces proved highly effective, even though they were vastly outnumbered. Three British frigates were crushed by US frigates early in the war, although as many pointed out at the time, the US frigates were more like ships of the line (battleships) in their dimensions and mass. Still, these were stunning defeats. The British were incredulous. So I think Kilmead misses some of the nuance of that war.

[donttread]

And yet we have squandered much of that indenence to tyranny from within.