Guest Lecturer Dr. Steven Pincus Prompts Audience to Reimagine American Origins

On Monday, Oct. 19, Steven Pincus, a professor of British history at the University of Chicago, reframed the origins of the American War for Independence during his lecture for the 29th annual Carl-Schwerdfeger History Lecture Series. His lecture, titled “South Asian Origins of American Independence,” ran from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. and was his second presentation of the day.

University president Dr. Samuel “Dub” Oliver began the event with a brief welcome and opening prayer. Following Oliver was Dr. Keith Bates, chair of the history department and organizer of the lecture series, who gave a warm welcome to the audience and extensive thanks to the event’s contributors. 

“[We] completely misunderstand what the American Revolutionary War was about. It was not a colonial revolt against Britain, it wasn’t a war that fought, in the first instance, for American Independence, it was, instead, part of a global, imperial civil war, that is to say, of a civil war fought within the British Empire,” Pincus said. 

The war’s battlefronts included locations in Ireland, the West Indies, Britain and South Asia, with South Asia being the primary location he focused on, detailing how deeply partisan 18th century Britain, and the Imperial Civil War, ran in the background of the American Revolutionary War. 

“It became part, eventually, of a global war, not just a civil war, but an international war,” Pincus said.

The nations involved were France and Spain, who entered the conflict to exploit Britain and recoup from the Seven Years War, amidst numerous other international interests at play. 

Pincus is the Thomas E. Donnelly professor of British History at the University of Chicago and specializes in 17th and 18th century British and European history.

His book 1688: the First Modern Revolution won the American Historical Association’s Morris D. Forkosch Prize for best book in British history and a bronze medal from the Independent Publisher Book Awards. 

“[Pincus] really reframes American independence in a way that’s not so centered on America,” junior history and English double-major Lydia Agee said.

As a student of history who’s “chronically interested” in human nature, she found this lecture to be a chance to “situate American history better in world history,” and believes the value Pincus’ perspective brings value to attendees. 

There were about 200 in attendance, consisting of Union students, high schoolers, and students from Jackson State, UT Martin, Freed Hardeman, and other local universities, as well as staff and faculty.