The Parliamentary background to the American Revolution

On Sunday morning I had a long lie in - I wasn't sleeping, but listening to a fascinating audio presentation in Stanford University's "The American Founders and their World". The third presentation in the series - which is available free at iTunes is called "When Abigail and John met George and Charlotte, or, the American Rebellion Viewed from London"

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=384234030

Andrew O'Shaughnessy explains the parliamentary background to the American Revolution - painting pictures in words of four of the key players - George III, Lord North, Charles James Fox and Edmund Burke. He describes the mood and politics of the House of Commons at the time - and the constitutional issues governing their behaviour. Other figures are also introduced. Well worth listening to!

The whole series is worth downloading and listening to. In the third presentation Edith Gelles discusses the travels of John and Abigail Adams.