Edmund Burke

Overview

Edmund Burke, born in 1729, was an influential Irish-born British statesman, political philosopher, and orator, whose ideas and contributions greatly impacted the American Revolution. Burke served as a member of the British Parliament and became known for his eloquent speeches and writings advocating for the rights of the American colonies. In his seminal work, “Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies” (1775), Burke argued against the heavy-handed policies of the British government and emphasized the importance of recognizing the colonists’ grievances and granting them greater autonomy. He believed that reconciliation with the colonies was possible through compromise and understanding, rather than through forceful suppression.

Burke’s contributions during the American Revolution extended beyond his advocacy for the colonists. He played a crucial role in the impeachment trial of Warren Hastings, the former Governor-General of Bengal, in 1788. Burke was a strong critic of the British East India Company’s abuses of power in India, and his efforts to hold Hastings accountable for corruption and misconduct were instrumental in establishing the principle of parliamentary oversight over the British Empire’s actions abroad. Burke’s belief in the importance of constitutional governance and the rule of law, as demonstrated in his support for the rights of the American colonists and his pursuit of justice in the Hastings trial, solidified his reputation as a champion of liberty and a key figure in the intellectual and political discourse of his time.

Primary Sources and Political Writings

Burke, Edmund. On Conciliation with the Colonies and Other Papers on the American Revolution. Edited by Peter J. Stanlis. Lunenberg, Vermont: Stinebour Press, 1975.

Burke, Edmund. Speeches and Letters on American Affairs. Everyman’s Library. London and New York: E. F. Duttone & Co., Ince, 1931.

Secondary Sources

Derry, John Wesley. English Politics and the American Revolution. London: J.M. Dent and sons, 1976.

John Derry is a University of Newcastle professor specializing in eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century British politics. In English Politics and the American Revolution, Derry recounts the intense political debates over the American war in the British Parliament. Led by King George III, the Torys confronted Whigs over their support for the Americans and their challenges to the entrenched powers. The book opens with a context-setting chapter on the roots of the conflict, which explores the historiography of various interpretations. This chapter is an excellent overview for those new to the ideological origins of the American War for Independence.

Continuing, Derry describes the parliamentary debates over taxing the American colonies, which, in his view, led to a drift into war. After the conflict erupted, he recounts the efforts of some British politicians to be friendly toward the Americans. Finally, he exposes vexing contradictions within the British political system and concludes with an assessment of the impact of the war and its legacy. Derry believes the American Rebellion was the most critical test of the British government during the eighteenth century (197).