Converging Dialogues #462 - 250 Years of the United States: A Dialogue with Richard Bell
Jan 1, 2026
Richard Bell, a British-born, American-trained historian and professor at the University of Maryland, delves into the American Revolution's global significance. He connects the Boston Tea Party to international trade and shares insights on varying British opinions, including anti-war sentiments. The discussion highlights the roles of Hessians and Indigenous peoples, illustrating complex alliances. Bell also details France's crucial naval support and Spain's overlooked involvement, emphasizing the Revolution's lasting influence on future independence movements.
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Revolution As A Global Geopolitical Event
- The American Revolution was deeply entangled with global actors, not just a local rebels vs. redcoats story.
- Richard Bell argues viewing it globally restores the complexity and geopolitical significance of the conflict.
Free Trade Fueled The Break With Britain
- Trade and access to global markets were core grievances motivating colonists, not merely abstract liberty rhetoric.
- The Tea Act and East India Company intervention crystallized colonists' fight over who they could legally trade with.
Britain Was Not United Behind The War
- Britain was politically divided over the war; significant anti-war sentiment existed at home.
- Critics opposed the war for economic self-interest and principle, creating a vibrant British anti-war movement.