00:01So, we all know the story of the American Revolution. Colonists get sick of British
00:07rule, throw a bunch of tea overboard, and establish a free nation in the United
00:12States of America. But, considering the sheer scope of the British Empire at the
00:18time, and the humiliation of their defeat at the hands of the revolutionaries, it
00:23seems a little odd that the British would accept this affront to their global
00:27supremacy lying down. So, did the British ever try to retake America?
00:34The answer is almost, but not for a hundred years.
00:39It is worth noting that as the British military retreated at the end of the
00:44Revolutionary War, there was some support among Britons for the newly established
00:49Republic across the Atlantic. Some British newspapers, particularly those outside the
00:55elite circle of British politics, voiced approval of America, which they called a
01:02new order for the ages. The Westminster Chronicle, for example, regarded Americans as their
01:10brethren. Even among British loyalist publications, American leaders like George
01:15Washington were well regarded. Scots Magazine calls him a man of sense and great
01:21integrity. Some British citizens, it seems, had come to terms with their loss of the colonies.
01:31Except the British still had a military presence in America. Six forts across the Great Lakes region
01:39maintained English forces and wouldn't be vacated until the signing of the Jay Treaty in 1796,
01:4713 years after the end of the Revolutionary War. But they'd be reoccupied during the War of 1812,
01:56also known as the Second War of Independence. Although the War of 1812 did feature America
02:03fighting the British, and they even burned down the White House, this isn't the closest the British came
02:09to reconquering the US. For one, only the Americans viewed it as a Second Revolutionary War. The British
02:18just thought of it as either an American attempt to annex Canada, or a side element of the conflict
02:24they really cared about. Yes, the Napoleonic Wars. In fact, if Britain hadn't been at war with France,
02:34the War of 1812 might not even have happened. And the British and Americans could have gotten along
02:42fine. Sort of. Part of the reason war broke out was the British practice of impressment,
02:50or forcing sailors into service in the British Army. British ships would impress English sailors
02:57serving on American vessels. And if American sailors couldn't prove that they were US citizens,
03:03they might be taken along for a ride too. Oh dear. But the War of 1812 ended without the annexation
03:13of
03:13US territory. And it wasn't until the American Civil War that the prospect of British interference in
03:20American politics cropped up again. You see, the South believed in a doctrine called King Cotton. Basically,
03:28that its booming cotton trade would force Britain to support the Confederacy against the Union.
03:35Because England relied on cotton to supply its textile industry. British elites were earnestly discussing
03:42the possibility of aiding the Confederate efforts against the North. And British shipyards even built
03:48five ships for the Confederacy. Most famously, the CSS Alabama, which London eventually issued financial
03:55restitution for, after the war, to the tune of $15.5 million. Thank you very much.
04:04Things got even more serious in the fall of 1861, when US Naval Officer Captain Charles Wilkes captured a
04:11British vessel in order to take prisoner two Confederate ambassadors to Europe, who were on board.
04:18This caused an outrage among the British public, and Britain marshaled itself for war.
04:26Eleven thousand troops were stationed along the Canadian border, and an English fleet was put on
04:32high alert, with orders to capture New York City if war broke out. Yes, the situation only de-escalated when
04:40Abraham Lincoln secured the release of the prisoners. As the Civil War progressed into a stalemate,
04:46British politicians considered interceding if it seemed like the conflict wouldn't end.
04:51But after Confederate General Robert E. Lee's defeat at Antietam, British support wavered.
04:58So, the British have come close to retaking American soil a couple of times. But America can still call it
05:06even. In the late 1920s, a document known as War Plan Red was circulated among American military brass,
05:13describing plans for a possible war with the United Kingdom. The plan? Invade and annex Canada.
05:23Conclusion. While the British never made a proper attempt at retaking the US, it hasn't always been
05:30smooth sailing. But things have always worked out, which is probably for the best. Not least of all,
05:38because whenever the US and Britain think about going to war, it's poor old Canada that gets stuck
05:44in the middle. Lumberjacks and all that. Hey guys, thank you very much for watching. If you like this
05:50video, I hope you'll consider hitting that subscribe button or supporting me on Patreon,
05:55so I can continue exploring the fascinating side quests of world history.
06:00This whole YouTube thing is really quite new to me, so I'm super excited to be making these videos,
06:06and any support, any support you can offer would go a long way in helping me make this channel
06:14awesomeness. So, if you liked it, give me a little bump and maybe also hit that bell button thing.
06:21And thanks again for watching, and see you soon for the next side quest, I tell you.
