Help me remember a historian
July 5, 2011 8:16 AM Subscribe
Looking for the name of a historian who claimed that the American war for independence was for the rich and by the rich.
I can't remember the name of this historian, although I'm pretty sure his name started with a "B." He was writing in the late 50's or 60's, I believe. The idea he put forward in his article or chapter was that the war for independence was promoted by rich people who were facing harsher taxes. Part of his argument also included the fact that war bonds were not redeemed until after the ratification of the constitution, which allowed them to be bought for pennies on the dollar by wealthier individuals because those who had bought them were unable to redeem them and were going broke.
I remember we read him as a counterpoint to Bancroft and I keep wanting to think his name is Bayn or Bayer or something.
I think there was something about quartering of troops being because the troops were housed in the warehouses of smugglers (like Hancock), but that might have been my history teacher instead.
Sorry for all the vagueness, but I'm reaching back to 11th grade history here.
I can't remember the name of this historian, although I'm pretty sure his name started with a "B." He was writing in the late 50's or 60's, I believe. The idea he put forward in his article or chapter was that the war for independence was promoted by rich people who were facing harsher taxes. Part of his argument also included the fact that war bonds were not redeemed until after the ratification of the constitution, which allowed them to be bought for pennies on the dollar by wealthier individuals because those who had bought them were unable to redeem them and were going broke.
I remember we read him as a counterpoint to Bancroft and I keep wanting to think his name is Bayn or Bayer or something.
I think there was something about quartering of troops being because the troops were housed in the warehouses of smugglers (like Hancock), but that might have been my history teacher instead.
Sorry for all the vagueness, but I'm reaching back to 11th grade history here.
Response by poster: Two minutes and it's answered. You rock.
posted by Hactar at 8:23 AM on July 5, 2011
posted by Hactar at 8:23 AM on July 5, 2011
Right, Charles Beard, but he was writing much earlier — 1910s and 20s.
posted by beagle at 8:24 AM on July 5, 2011
posted by beagle at 8:24 AM on July 5, 2011
I think you're remembering the name Bernard Bailyn who disagreed with Beard.
posted by mareli at 2:23 PM on July 5, 2011
posted by mareli at 2:23 PM on July 5, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by foursentences at 8:18 AM on July 5, 2011 [1 favorite]