Peter Whiteley

Lord North (eBook, PDF)

The Prime Minister Who Lost America

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

Lord North was in many ways a most successful politician. Prime Minister for an unbroken 12 years, his management of both parliament and of the business of government was adept. He enjoyed the confidence of King George III, not always an easy political ally, avoided factional strife (having no political following of his own), was notably uncorrupt and made virtually no enemies. In many ways he epitomizes the political outlook and aristocratic assumptions of the 18th century. He is, however, principally remembered for presiding over Britain's loss of her colonies. This is an account of his life. It includes a full study of the American War of Independence, examining it from the perspective of the British government as well as from the colonial standpoint. No senior politician had visited America and few had a proper knowledge or understanding of Americans. Too often the colonists were regarded as unruly and ungrateful children, with whom compromise was either a sign of weakness or the betrayal of the principle of parliamentary sovereignty. High-mindedness contributed to the final humiliation, as did ignorant over-confidence. Military defeat, to a country that become preeminent in Europe by the end of the Seven Years War, was not entertained as a possibility.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury UK eBooks
• Seitenzahl: 304
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. Juli 1996
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780826434937
• Artikelnr.: 41763790

Autorenporträt

Peter Whiteley was for many years a publisher. He subsequently worked for Sotheby's before retiring to concentrate on writing. His interest in Lord North was prompted by the discovery of some unknown letters and diaries in a family archive.

Inhaltsangabe

Illustrations
Preface
Introduction
1. Background and Upbringing
2. Coming of Age
3. Political Apprenticeship
4. A Man with a Future
5. Arrival
6. The King's Firsy Minister
7. A Confident Start
8. The East India Company
9. The Good Years
10. The Thirteen Colonies
11. The Gathering Storm
12. Wartime Prime Minister
13. After Saratoga
14. The Road to Yorktown
15. The End of an Era
16. The Coalition and the Last Decade
17. Conclusion
Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index