There were 26—not 13—British colonies in America in 1776. Of these; the six colonies in the Caribbean—Jamaica; Barbados; the Leeward Islands; Grenada and Tobago; St. Vincent; and Dominica—were among the wealthiest. These island colonies were closely related to the mainland by social ties and tightly connected by trade. In a period when most British colonists in North America lived less than 200 miles inland and the major cities were all situated along the coast; the ocean often acted as a highway between islands and mainland rather than a barrier.The plantation system of the islands was so similar to that of the southern mainland colonies that these regions had more in common with each other; some historians argue; than either had with New England. Political developments in all the colonies moved along parallel tracks; with elected assemblies in the Caribbean; like their mainland counterparts; seeking to increase their authority at the expense of colonial executives. Yet when revolution came; the majority of the white island colonists did not side with their compatriots on the mainland.A major contribution to the history of the American Revolution; An Empire Divided traces a split in the politics of the mainland and island colonies after the Stamp Act Crisis of 1765-66; when the colonists on the islands chose not to emulate the resistance of the patriots on the mainland. Once war came; it was increasingly unpopular in the British Caribbean; nonetheless; the white colonists cooperated with the British in defense of their islands. O'Shaughnessy decisively refutes the widespread belief that there was broad backing among the Caribbean colonists for the American Revolution and deftly reconstructs the history of how the island colonies followed an increasingly divergent course from the former colonies to the north.
#508804 in Books Stackpole Books 2007-11-16 2007-12-10Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.95 x .57 x 6.03l; .97 #File Name: 0811733955224 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. You want details.....you got details.By W. W. TurnbowThis work contains a plethora of detail and a wealth of pictures; maps and sketches. It describes the rationale behind constructing the line and a great deal about the actual construction. Lots of detail is given concerning the armament of the forts. It covers the actions of the fortress troops during the war. One regret is the lack of discussion of any tactics that were to be employed. I'm glad to have this book. It is a keeper.2 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Full of facts; very disorganizedBy MONTY PITTSThis an academic work. It is full of facts about the Maginot Line; but also is overwhelmed with data on the politics. It also has many irrelevant tables of data. It is; frankly; a poorly organized work that is very difficult to read and follow. It WOULD be a great resource for research on the environment and development of the Maginot line.Other works may be more enjoyable for those not engaged in academic research.61 of 62 people found the following review helpful. Viva La France!By R. PhillipsA fine introduction to French defensive systems of World War II. In six chapters this book covers the inter-war period through World War II. The challenge of the French military after the Great War in deciding on doctrine and dealing with a basic demobilization of their forces is the theme of the first chapter. The next chapter covers the creation of the Maginot Line and how it was built and organized. The third chapter describes how the gaps in the French front between the Maginot Line and sea were covered including the Maginot Extension of the New Fronts and also the little known Mareth Line in Tunisia. Chapter 4 describes the naval and air defenses of the French nation. Chapter 5 and 6 deal with the events leading to the 1940 campaign; German intelligence on the French fortifications; and a summary of the events of the campaign showing the relationship of the fortifications to French strategy and some of the positive aspects the high command failed to take advantage of. There are many drawings in the book of more than just the Maginot Line. They include maps of the defenses; drawings of aircraft; ships and tanks and even perspectives of not just the Maginot line positions; but even a 340-mm gun turret block of the coastal defenses at Toulon! The book is a little pricey at almost $50; but the $10 CD supplement that I ordered from Merriam Press has many more illustrations including photos (there are no photos in the book)and copies of pre-war German plans although I do not know why this CD was not included with the book. This is about the best general work covering all aspects of the French defenses that I have seen in English.
