British Foreign Policy in the Age of the American Revolution

This is a detailed study of British foreign policy before and during the war which led to the loss of the American colonies. The period from 1756 to 1783 was one in which Britain's position in Europe was transformed. H.M.Scott examines the nature and role of British diplomacy in the age of the American Revolution, and explores the reasons why Britain fought that war without a major continental ally, in contrast to her other 18th-century conflicts. Using a wide range of sources, Dr Scott focuses on the problems faced by Britain after the Seven Years War and the way in which they were exacerbated during the mid-1760s by her own statesmen. He goes on to chart the limited recovery begun later in the decade, and the renewed setbacks following the American revolt in 1775 and the subsequent intervention of France and Spain. Two themes receive particular attention. Britain's continuing rivalry with the Bourbons, exemplified by the great crisis over the Falkland Islands in 1770-1, and the unsuccessful efforts to strengthen Britain diplomatically by concluding alliances with major Continental powers. The resulting isolation is shown to have derived less from the failures of Britain's own pol

'based on impressive archival research in both British and foreign repositories and on an extensive grasp of printed primary material ... This book will be required reading for all those interested in 18th-century British foreign policy for many years.' Times Higher Education Supplement, `This excellent book fills a major gap in the historiography of eighteenth-century Britain.' History Today, 'With this splendid book, H.M. Scott joins one of the great traditions in historical scholarship, the study of eighteenth-century British diplomacy. Scott's topic is huge ... His range of sources is correspondingly wide ... It is impressive that he is able to compress his results into fewer than 350 pages of text. Scott's thesis is convincingly argued, and his judgment about both eighteenth-century diplomats and twentieth-century historians usually is superb. American colonial, military, and political historians will find much to ponder and all lovers of good historical writing much to enjoy.' Jonathan R. Dull, William and Mary Quarterly, 'solid and worthy study ... This book will be required reading for all those interested in eighteenth-century British foreign policy for many years.' Jeremy Black, University of Durham, History, June 1992, 'This volume will long be used as a key reference to the complexities and subtleties of British diplomacy in the critical middle years of George III's reign.' Charles R. Middleton, University of Colorado, American Historical Review, June 1992