Britain's wars with France and America 1773-1815
Wed 11 Jun
|Cambridge
Revolt and revolution shake an empire—unpack how Britain fought to keep America and confront Napoleon in a world on fire.
Time & Location
11 Jun 2025, 13:00 – 14:30
Cambridge, Meeting Room 3, Queen Anne House, Gonville Pl, Cambridge CB1 1ND, UK
About The Event
What happens when empires overreach—and their subjects fight back? In Britain’s Wars with France and America (1773–1815): Empire in Crisis, we explore how two world-shaping conflicts—the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic Wars—tested the limits of British power, identity, and resilience.
This was an age of revolution. Across the Atlantic, thirteen colonies challenged imperial authority and declared themselves free. In Europe, France erupted into chaos, only to give rise to Napoleon’s military empire. Britain faced both challenges head-on—through diplomacy, military campaigns, and the forging of a global strategy that would reshape its future.
Guided by Alex, a distinguished scholar and Fellow of Christ’s College Cambridge, the McDonald Institute of Archaeological Research, and the Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies at HSE University Moscow, this session traces how Britain’s political institutions, military might, and national mythology were forged in the crucible of war.
Join us to understand not only the…