History 102 with WhatifAltHist's Rudyard Lynch and Austin Padgett

American Revolution

24 snips
Aug 30, 2024
Rudyard Lynch, creator of 'WhatIfAltHist,' and Erik Torenberg, a founder at Turpentine Network, dive deep into the complexities of the American Revolution. They explore how it was a conservative revolt led by elites, contrasting it with the radical French Revolution. The hosts discuss the impact of British mismanagement and the unique demographics of the colonies. They highlight the brilliance of the founding fathers and the pivotal turning points of battles like Saratoga and Yorktown, underscoring the significance of tactics and foreign support.
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INSIGHT

A Conservative Revolution

  • The American Revolution differs from others like the Russian or French Revolutions.
  • It was about a pre-established elite maintaining power against external forces, not replacing one elite with another.
INSIGHT

Flawed vs. Perfectible Human Nature

  • The American Revolution prioritized flawed human nature and built systems with checks and balances.
  • The French Revolution aimed for a perfect society through social engineering, leading to autocracy.
INSIGHT

Two Liberalisms

  • Two trajectories of liberalism exist: British and French.
  • Today's left descends from French liberalism (Locke), while the right descends from conservative liberalism (Rousseau/Locke).
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