This exceptional piece features a page of THE LONDON CHRONICLE, printed between 1777 and 1781. Inserted below the newspaper is the 1909 painting by E .Percy Moran, obtained from the Library of Congress, entitled “Battle of Bunker Hill.” The image has been digitally enhanced and reprinted on the finest museum quality paper.  The documents are housed in a 21½ by 15½ inch solid wood frame with bronze highlights and are matted on acid free paper.  All materials and assembly are from the USA.  

Just as public opinion for the cause of independence changed over the course of the conflict by the American colonists, support for the war by the British population also varied considerably during the seven years of conflict. The newspaper articles included in the American Military Heritage Society Revolutionary War series-British Perspective reflects these conflicting opinions held by the citizenry as well as leaders of the British government.

The divided nature of support for the British war effort was significant. Many British subjects' including some of the most influential politicians and even generals were critical of the government's policy of armed confrontation with the American colonists. Gen. Thomas Gage, who was in command of British forces in North America at the start of the rebellion, was criticized at home for being too lenient on the American colonists. Two of the most celebrated British commanders of the war, General William Howe and General (Gentleman) John Burgoyne who were both members of Parliament, opposed military solutions to the conflict and publicly stated to the British press that they were unwilling participants in the war. 



The challenges faced by Great Britain in dealing with the American rebellion posed significant manpower as well as logistical problems throughout the war years.  At the beginning of the war, the British had less than 10,000 men stationed in North America. By 1779 this number grew to 70,000 not counting the mercenaries recruited from German principalities. The British navy had grown to over 170,000 sailors. Even with the over 25,000 colonial "Loyalists," manpower deficiencies were chronic. These difficulties increased dramatically once France and other powers entered the war, turning the little American revolt into a full blown world war.

British war strategy was further frustrated by the fact that unlike European wars, capture of cities did not necessarily mean victory. British armies captured all four of our major industrial cities including New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Charleston but none of these victories created the desired effect of forcing a capitulation. Americans were simply not fighting a European war. 

Nowhere is the challenge faced by the British government more obvious than in the financial impact of the American Revolution on the British treasury.  Over the course of the conflict it is estimated that Britain spent in excess of $80 million dollars in their attempt to put down the revolution by military intervention. The result of that effort for Britain was not only the loss of the very profitable American colonies but a $250 Million debt to their treasury.