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Zusatztext 'a sober! scholarly and fair-minded account of British foreign policy in this period'John Cannon! University of Newcastle Upon Tyne! Albion Klappentext This is the first detailed and comprehensive study of the British foreign policy before and during the war that led to the loss of the American colonies. Using a wide range of sources, Scott examines the problems faced by Britain after the Seven Years War and the way in which they were exacerbated during the mid-1760s by its British statesmen. He proceeds to chart the limited recovery started later in the decade, the renewed setbacks following the American revolt in 1775, and the subsequent intervention of France and Spain. The resulting isolation is shown to have been the result of a realignment of the European powers which undermined many of the traditional premises of British diplomacy. A scholarly reassessment of British diplomacy, this volume analyzes both the impact of the personalities involved and the successes and failures of their policies. Zusammenfassung This is the first detailed and comprehensive study of British foreign policy before and during the war which led to the loss of the American colonies, a period from 1756 to 1783 in which Britain's position in Europe was transformed. H. M. Scott examines the nature and the role of British diplomacy in the age of the American Revolution in the context of Britain's other eighteenth-century conflicts. 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. Dr Scott has provided a major scholarly reassessment of British diplomacy in this period, analysing both the impact of the personalities involved, and the successes and failures of their policies. Inhaltsverzeichnis Abbreviations; A note on dates; The study of British foreign policy in the age of the American revolution; The making of British foreign policy; The legacies of the Seven Years War; The failure of the old system 1763-1765; The decline of British diplomacy 1765-1768; The beginnings of recovery 1768-1771; The ascendancy of the Eastern powers 1771-1773; Splendid isolation 1773-1775; Peace with the Bourbons 1777-1779; War in Europe 1778-1780; The coming of peace 1781-1783; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index...
