The headline of this article is in quotation marks since it is part of an interview statement made by the author of ” Counter-Revolution 1776 : Was the United States Independence War a Conservative Revolt in Favor of Slavery ? “.

The author of this book is Gerald Horne of the University of Houston.

Gerald Horne was recently interviewed by the prestigious Democracy Now program.   His interviewers were Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales.

Gerald Horne presents a unique narrative which underlies the developments which lead to the eventual declaration of independence by the US, an event which liberated the country from a monarchy and thereby its ramifications of the sectarian religious wars in Europe.

The independence of the United States provided its people with an inspiring constitution which reflected the need for our nation to have addressed its yearnings that the new republic be based on a democracy whose fundamental  pillars are equality of rights and obligations and freedom – particularly freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion.

Of course, these rights did not apply to either the natives of America at the time the colonists took over the land, and nor did these rights apply to the Africans in America who were literally hunted down in Africa  like animals, chained, and forced to come to this country to be sold as slaves in New York City wherefrom many were then exported to Cuba and Brazil.

Gerald Horne provides a fascinating insight into the genesis which lead to the movement for the declaration of independence,  particularly the emergence in London of the Sommerset case in 1772 which indicated that London was rapidly moving to proclaim the abolition of slavery.    Gerald Horne refers to the 1688 “Glorious Revolt” in London which set the monarchy back a step and which pushed the merchant’s class ahead, and he particularly focuses on the slavery trafficking merchants  who demanded the deregulation of this highly profitable trade which had a margin of profit of $1,600 to $1,700.

To sum up, the author states that the regarding of the 1776 revolution as an all upside event is far-fetched and that a more balanced presentation of the foundation of the United States is necessary.

The interview of Gerald Horne provides an insightful perspective which is substantively documented with events which must be factored into the narrative about this independence phenomenon.