S8 Ep587: 7. Joseph Ellis, *The Cause: The American Revolution and Its Discontents, 1773 to 1783*. The entry of France and Spain transformed the rebellion into a global war, forcing Britain to prioritize its Caribbean sugar islands. Despite political pressure, Geor

7. Joseph Ellis, *The Cause: The American Revolution and Its Discontents, 1773 to 1783*. The entry of France and Spain transformed the rebellion into a global war, forcing Britain to prioritize its Caribbean sugar islands. Despite political pressure, George III and George Germaineremained stubbornly committed to the war. Washington simultaneously faced internal threats, including the betrayal of Charles Lee, who shared secrets with the British while in captivity. On the frontier, Washington authorized a "dirty war" led by John Sullivan, which destroyed the Iroquois Confederation after they aligned with the British, who had incentivized them with "scalping knives" and payments for American scalps. (7)

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