Occasionally the best laid plans and intentions are undone. This breakdown is not always due to ill will or bad planning. Sometimes a leader can have the desire to do good and even attempt to achieve a virtuous goal and still fail. An example of such a failed ruler is King George III of Great Britain at the time of the American Revolution. George III wants to be a good leader. The policies that he creates make sense to him. Surely the American colonies will see his modest taxation plans as beneficial and support the policies. When the Americans revolt against his government, the King is vexed. Why don’t those troublesome Americans just behave? Jean Fritz has written a humorous, informative biography of King George III and his American subjects. The name of this work is “Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George?”
As a young boy, George trains to be the next king. His mother teaches him to be orderly, moral, frugal, honest and punctual. These traits form the young boy. He carefully studies and lives an honest, virtuous life. George refuses to spend money foolishly, and lives a very simple life style. After he becomes King of Great Britain, a number of serious issues arise. The most important is the length and cost of the French and Indian War in North America. This war lasts from 1754-1763. Although the war ends with Britain and its American colonies defeating the French, the costs of the victory are enormous. Since the King is orderly and frugal, he decides that the Americans should help pay the war debt. The British Government begins imposing a series of taxes on the colonies to service this debt. Unfortunately, George III does not feel that he needs to consult with the Americans on their view of his tax project. The war has been costly for the Americans as well, and these new taxes seemed designed to keep the colonies in perpetual adolescence. These unruly Americans appear to be very disobedient children to George III. Why should they object to a few taxes? After all, he is their benevolent father. When the Americans dump all the tea he had allowed to come to Boston in the harbor, he becomes furious. The King decides to show those colonists a thing or two. He will give them a good punch in the nose. After that, they will learn to obey.
What actions did George III take during the American Revolution? Why didn’t the colonists give up after the fall of Philadelphia and New York? Why do these Americans continue to misunderstand and disobey his good plans and intentions? After all, a father should always make his children obey. These Americans were going to learn this important point or else get a bloody nose. How does all this turn out for King George III? To find out, go to the library and check out this well written, funny biography, “Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George?” by Jean Fritz.
Jean Fritz is a prolific writer of children’s literature. She has written historical fiction and historical biographies. Her writing is entertaining and informative. In this biography, she cleverly takes the point of view of George III. From the King’s viewpoint, the Americans are ungrateful and parsimonious. Since they are colonists, it is necessary for a king to take care of them. Otherwise, they will make bad decisions and spend money foolishly. By examining the American Revolution from George III’s side, Fritz makes the reasons for the Revolution more obvious. The Colonies are growing up, and the King wants them to remain in infancy. They want to manage their own affairs, but George III doesn’t see how this can ever be possible. Rather than a traditionally violent revolution, Fritz views the American Revolution more as a country growing into adulthood and away from its parent. But since King George III wants to remain the benevolent father of the colonies, friction is unavoidable. This book is a fun read. I hope you go to the library and check it out. Enjoy!
