About

This event is part of the VA250: The American Revolution speaker series.

Presented by Dr. Porter Blakemore, University of Mary Washington. This talk will answer the following question: How was the most powerful 18th Century Atlantic maritime power beaten by a group of colonial plantation owners, backwoodsmen and city merchants, who started the conflict with no government, no unity, no army, and no navy. Britain had defeated mighty France in the French and Indian War fifteen years earlier, driving France out of North America in a conflict brilliant in its political management and land and maritime execution. Why could they not repeat such success against the American patriots? Was their defeat the result of British incompetence, American talent, American luck, or a combination of all three?

The presentation will be followed by a special screening of the The American Revolution by Ken Burns.
Screening: Military History

Dr. Porter Blakemore holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. He began his career at Mary Washington in 1979 and also has served as a member of the adjunct faculty of the U.S. Naval War College. His areas of academic specialization include military history, European diplomatic history, and modern Germany.

Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.