What type of history do school children study in the UK?

[Anonymous]

I would imagine they have some sort of UK-equivalent of “national history” and then also world history? That would make the most sense…

I wonder because yesterday we were down by the White House looking at the East Wing demolition, and met a couple from the UK. They were in their 50’s and seemed to be well spoken and intelligent in that way that Brits seem to project.

But both were shocked to learn that the British Army had ransacked and burned down the White House during the War of 1812. They had NO idea Britain had done this.

It seemed pretty surprising to us that this isn’t common knowledge in the UK. I realize it might not be as significant in a country with 2,000 years of history compared to our 400 years as a colony and then independent nation, but still - WTH? How are they not taught this in secondary school history classes?

What ARE they learning instead?

[jsteele]

The War of 1812 was a sideshow for the British who were involved in the Napoleonic Wars at the time. Specifically, when the war broke out, Britain was fighting in the Peninsular War which involved fighting against France in Spain and Portugal. There would be a lot to learn about British actions during that time and the burning of the home of the leader of what they probably considered a provincial backwater was probably not particularly important.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:The War of 1812 was a sideshow for the British who were involved in the Napoleonic Wars at the time. Specifically, when the war broke out, Britain was fighting in the Peninsular War which involved fighting against France in Spain and Portugal. There would be a lot to learn about British actions during that time and the burning of the home of the leader of what they probably considered a provincial backwater was probably not particularly important.

And yet I was taught about ALL those European wars, in addition to our own. In PG County Public Schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:The War of 1812 was a sideshow for the British who were involved in the Napoleonic Wars at the time. Specifically, when the war broke out, Britain was fighting in the Peninsular War which involved fighting against France in Spain and Portugal. There would be a lot to learn about British actions during that time and the burning of the home of the leader of what they probably considered a provincial backwater was probably not particularly important.

And yet I was taught about ALL those European wars, in addition to our own. In PG County Public Schools.

np.. that is because US history is like an infant compared to the rest of European history. We can cover the majority of US history in one year.

Also, this event is meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

British history is taught starting from when the Romans conquered England. That's how far back they go. Their history is so long that some British students who stop taking history before O levels (13 or 14 years of age) don't even get to WWII (which, IMO, is a shame). This was 50 years ago, so maybe things have changed since my Brit spouse when to school. But, imagine if you had to study history starting from ancient times. How much do you think you could learn in history class covering that length of period?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would imagine they have some sort of UK-equivalent of “national history” and then also world history? That would make the most sense…

I wonder because yesterday we were down by the White House looking at the East Wing demolition, and met a couple from the UK. They were in their 50’s and seemed to be well spoken and intelligent in that way that Brits seem to project.

But both were shocked to learn that the British Army had ransacked and burned down the White House during the War of 1812. They had NO idea Britain had done this.

It seemed pretty surprising to us that this isn’t common knowledge in the UK. I realize it might not be as significant in a country with 2,000 years of history compared to our 400 years as a colony and then independent nation, but still - WTH? How are they not taught this in secondary school history classes?

What ARE they learning instead?

They do a lot of ancient history, medieval history, and early modern to post Cold War Europe as well as some history of their empire over four centuries. However, much of it is just Britain.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm shocked that you are shocked. Even the war of Independence is not a big deal to them in terms of British history. They were involved in so many wars, the war with the US was just one of them and insignificant *to them*.

[Anonymous]

Why would or should the Brits care about this?

[Anonymous]

Also probably taught they won the revolutionary war as well, but decided together give up the colonies because they were populated by a bunch of annoying people.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:The War of 1812 was a sideshow for the British who were involved in the Napoleonic Wars at the time. Specifically, when the war broke out, Britain was fighting in the Peninsular War which involved fighting against France in Spain and Portugal. There would be a lot to learn about British actions during that time and the burning of the home of the leader of what they probably considered a provincial backwater was probably not particularly important.

Agreed. The White House was just a building to them. It's part of our favorite lore because Dolley Madison rescued a Washington portrait, etc.

My son and I were at Edinburgh Castle looking at the exhibits re: regimental actions. There was not a lot on the Revolutionary War. We were looking at history of regiments that had been in areas that we have visited in the US. We wondered if they were being polite because we are allies now or they didn't want to focus on losses.

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/head-tilting-history/culloden-colonies-revolutionary-scots#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20most%20notable,all%20theaters%20of%20the%20war.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:The War of 1812 was a sideshow for the British who were involved in the Napoleonic Wars at the time. Specifically, when the war broke out, Britain was fighting in the Peninsular War which involved fighting against France in Spain and Portugal. There would be a lot to learn about British actions during that time and the burning of the home of the leader of what they probably considered a provincial backwater was probably not particularly important.

And yet I was taught about ALL those European wars, in addition to our own. In PG County Public Schools.

DP here, maybe you got an unusually excellent education, but when I was studying in the UK for a year I found that people had a much deeper knowledge of Napoleonic and WWII history than I did. They knew battles, generals, rivers, etc., where I had done more of a survey. The average U.S. student does not actually study "all" the European wars.

Also, I cut people slack for not remembering what they learned 30 years ago. People in their 50s have devoted brain space to other things and that's ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:The War of 1812 was a sideshow for the British who were involved in the Napoleonic Wars at the time. Specifically, when the war broke out, Britain was fighting in the Peninsular War which involved fighting against France in Spain and Portugal. There would be a lot to learn about British actions during that time and the burning of the home of the leader of what they probably considered a provincial backwater was probably not particularly important.

And yet I was taught about ALL those European wars, in addition to our own. In PG County Public Schools.

The Punic wars too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also probably taught they won the revolutionary war as well, but decided together give up the colonies because they were populated by a bunch of annoying people.

The British went into debt with the French and Indian War were they fought for the ingrate colonists in America.

[Anonymous]

History in general is the least taught and most highly re-written and politicized subject there in schools.

You must learn it on your own, and even then, how can you be sure of what you read being even remotely true?

"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right." - "1984" Orwell

[Anonymous]

My kids attended a British school for two years. The years they were there, they studied the Tudors, Greek and Egyptian histories.

[Anonymous]

I think if you asked a sampling of random Americans in the street, at least half would be likewise shocked.

They might remember something about the White House burning, but probably not who it was Irvin what war.