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The Civil War and Reconstruction was a pivotal era in American history.

When a war was fought to save the Union and to free the slaves,

and when the work to rebuild the nation after that war was over

turned into a struggle to guarantee liberty and justice for all Americans. I'm

I'm Tracey and I'm rich and we want to invite you to join us as we take an in-depth look at this

pivotal era in American history.

Look for the Civil War and Reconstruction,

wherever you find your podcasts. Hello and thank you for joining the American Revolution. This week episode 252, the Gordon Riots.

We're returning to England this week to go over some important events of 1780.

The American Revolution was beginning its sixth year and had only

become more of a mess with the entry of France and Spain into the war. As with any

war, the cost of fighting this one caused pain and sacrifice among the people.

Taxes were up to pay for a large army and navy, trade was risky due to privateers and enemy naval vessels.

After years of pain and sacrifice for the war effort, people begin asking each other,

what are we really fighting for and is it worth it?

More and more criticism circled around King George

the third. It was literally treason to criticize the king directly. For decades there had been

an understanding that the king would remain aloof from politics and that criticism for bad policy would be directed at his ministers only.

But George was much more involved in policy than his predecessors, and he saw maintaining

control of his North American colonies as something that he had to advocate.

As the war's popularity fell, the King's reputation sank along with it.

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