As I tell my students, the word "Revolution" is a bit of a misnomer, as it was in fact, America's first Civil War
While discussing the incidents that precipitated the War of Independence, my American friend was taken aback at my knowledge and commented that 'how does a Canadian know so much about us'. She was even more taken aback when I replied that we were actually discussing British history and the consequences of the War were just as far reaching on the British side.