Independence Lost: Lives on the Edge of the American Revolution by Kathleen DuVal examines the history of the Gulf Coast during and after the War of Independence. In this way the author supplies us with another view of the revolution, exposing many myths we often accept without question.
Not all British colonies in the Americas rose up in revolt. Canada did not, for one, although DuVal gives Florida center stage. At the time, West and East Florida were English possessions. When the Spanish and French declared war on Britain, Spain captured the Floridas. It was the only area seized from the British that did not rise up in revolt.
DuVal separates each chapter by historical character. The Spanish war with England was a multicultural affair, fought by slaves, free blacks, Acadians (Cajuns), Irish, Germans, and Native Americans. She teases out their contributions to the war and the peace, and examines who were winners and who were losers when the war concluded.
This wonderful inversion of our typical reading appetites for the American Revolution is truly enlightening.
Not all British colonies in the Americas rose up in revolt. Canada did not, for one, although DuVal gives Florida center stage. At the time, West and East Florida were English possessions. When the Spanish and French declared war on Britain, Spain captured the Floridas. It was the only area seized from the British that did not rise up in revolt.
DuVal separates each chapter by historical character. The Spanish war with England was a multicultural affair, fought by slaves, free blacks, Acadians (Cajuns), Irish, Germans, and Native Americans. She teases out their contributions to the war and the peace, and examines who were winners and who were losers when the war concluded.
This wonderful inversion of our typical reading appetites for the American Revolution is truly enlightening.
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