320F Fall 2026 The British Side of the American Revolution

British historian Robert Harvey speaks of a “creation myth” in which Americans spun their own version of the American Revolution by use of exaggeration and misinformation. Is Harvey correct? In truth, have we ever questioned the motives of the American patriots or such American heroes as John Hancock and Samuel Adams? Have we ever wondered why at least a third of the colonists remained loyal to the Crown? Are we aware that a significant number of slaves and Native Americans fought on the side of the British—and had good reasons for doing so? And what exactly happened at Yorktown? Was it as straightforward as we have thought? In these sessions we will experience the American Revolution from a different perspective. More than one surprise is in store.

Beth Lambert has been an OLLI member since 2008 and is professor emerita of English at Gettysburg College. She published and taught courses on all aspects of the 18th century Britain. Her biography of Edmund Burke was published by the University of Delaware Press.