tjadams

I've been watching "The Tudors" with Jonathan Rhys Meyers and I really enjoy the show. I know its not 100% accurate, but its close enough for me. My question is,
"If Henry VIII was king during the American Revolution, how would he have handled the situation."?
Would he have been more compromising? More aggressive? Created an alliance with France? What say ye your grace?

Linschoten

Not 100% accurate? One might say! Any monarch of that time would simply have regarded it as an illegitimate revolt against his monarchical authority and have suppressed it with all possible force. In the 18th Century, and especially in view of the British system of government, things were rather more complicated!

tjadams

With the death of Cardinal Wolsey they had him committing suicide which I don't believe he did. I'm assuming he died in route to the Tower at Leicester Abbey of natural causes.

Linschoten

Almost certainly of natural causes. I think suicide was suggested in one or two C16 accounts, and assassination in rather more, but doubtless on no sound basis.

Nick

More Americans would have opposed the revolution. Even during the 18th century most were still loyal to the king and sought greater autonomy, not independence. If Henry was king the rebels would have been quickly defeated and beheaded, especially if English relations with France were good at the time

Linschoten

Nothing like a few beheadings to settle a little disagreement of that kind!

tjadams

Would beheading an Adams, Paine or a Henry make the colonists angrier? Or would in make them all milquetoast rebels?

Nick

It would anger the more educated urban elites but most colonists would be more concerned about surviving the winter. Even the rich and powerful saw rebellion as a crime against God and were unwilling to anger him