A King and a Spy: Two Paths in the American Revolution

The American Revolution was a conflict that changed the world forever. It was a war fought for independence, where a group of thirteen colonies decided to break away from the most powerful empire on Earth. When we think of the Revolution, we often think of George Washington leading his troops across icy rivers or Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence. However, the story of the war is also the story of two men on opposite sides of the ocean and opposite ends of society: King George III of Great Britain and James Armistead Lafayette.

At the start of the conflict, King George III sat upon a magnificent throne in London. He was the ruler of Great Britain, Ireland, and all the British territories across the globe. To the King, the American colonies were his property. He believed that the colonists owed him loyalty and taxes in exchange for the protection provided by the British army. King George was not a man who liked to lose. He viewed the American rebels as disobedient children who needed to be disciplined. From his palace, he sent thousands of red-coated soldiers and massive warships across the Atlantic Ocean to crush the rebellion and restore order to his empire.