October 17, 2006
A Difficult Day To Be A Tory Sympathizer
October 17, 1777 - British General Burgoyne surrenders to American General Gates, ending the Battle of Saratoga.
October 17, 1781 - British General Cornwallis offers to surrender to American General Washington (the final papers were signed two days later), ending the Siege of Yorktown and, effectively, the war.
We were robbed!!!
Posted by: Basil Seal at October 17, 2006 08:46 AMAnd the Battle of Saratoga led the French to intervene on behalf of America; but they spent so much that it contributed to the French Revolution, resulting in the beheading of Marie Antoinette - as mentioned below.
It is interesting to compare the aftermaths of the American and French Revolutions. The US took a gradual approach, not really fulfilling the promise of liberty until after the Civil War (for slaves) or the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. But at all times liberty was increasing and democratic principles remained. The French took a radical approach, resulting in a huge bloodbath and the accension of Napoleon as Emperor -- thus totally negating a republican revolution. The Russian Revolution essentially followed the French model: replacing one absolute dictator with another.
As for Tories, I've got a nice big pot of hot tar and a bag of feathers.
Posted by: rbj at October 17, 2006 09:38 AMOoooo! Smells like fondue to me!
I'll bring the rail.
Posted by: Steve the LLamabutcher at October 17, 2006 11:01 AM
Image courtesy of the lovely and talented 