The collective narrative of the United States, albeit still being written, is fascinating. Nowhere in human history can one find another example of a nation being born purely out of ideology and belief. Margaret Thatcher effectively conveyed this reality with her iconic statement “Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy.” The United States is not often viewed from this perspective, but the nation's experimental nature is undeniable after careful consideration. There are many things that could have prevented America from becoming the global superpower that it is today, and when contemplating these possible deterrents, the persistent good fortune of America becomes clear. It is mostly due to the savvy character of Benjamin Franklin, the potential mental impairment of King George III, and France’s financial and naval assistance that America was able to win independence from Britain.
In 1776, America was catastrophically unprepared and ill-equipped to fight for independence; to be more specific, it was in a position that would lead to complete failure. In fact, to say that America was underprepared to declare war against Great Britain is a gross understatement. In A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, Stacey Schiff echoes this stance by …show more content…
In this particular historical work, accounts of the major mental health episodes in George III’s life are given. In 1762, the monarch suffered an episode of insanity that resulted in him being “completely incoherent for about a week.” Unexpectedly, and with no real explanation, George III improved and came out of the condition on his own. This resulted in a high degree of confusion in everyone involved. In 1778, only twelve years after the American Revolution began, the ruler experienced his second major bout of mental
In 1776, America was catastrophically unprepared and ill-equipped to fight for independence; to be more specific, it was in a position that would lead to complete failure. In fact, to say that America was underprepared to declare war against Great Britain is a gross understatement. In A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, Stacey Schiff echoes this stance by …show more content…
In this particular historical work, accounts of the major mental health episodes in George III’s life are given. In 1762, the monarch suffered an episode of insanity that resulted in him being “completely incoherent for about a week.” Unexpectedly, and with no real explanation, George III improved and came out of the condition on his own. This resulted in a high degree of confusion in everyone involved. In 1778, only twelve years after the American Revolution began, the ruler experienced his second major bout of mental