Sound Familiar?

On April 19th, 1775 and continuing until September 3, 1783, the colonists fought to rid our shores of the oppressive, strangle hold on us by the British Empire. But, it is hard to break old habits.

This past week we have heard the song “God Save the King” many times from just commoners on the street to formal church services. Does the music to this song sound very familiar? It should. Substitute the words, “God Save the King” with our song, “My Country Tis of Thee.” Yes, the words are different, but the same music.

Not only songs, but many of our cities are mirrored in Great Britain. New York City was originally part of a colony called New Amsterdam, but King Charles II (second) gave this land and more to his brother, the Duke of York So, it was a “new city” for York within what was called the Middle Colonies. Today, Prince Andrew, brother of King Charles III, is now Duke of York.

Our own state, Georgia, was named after King George II when he supported founder, James Oglethorpe, who brought a ship full of British imprisoned debtors to basically give them a chance to turn their lives around and also form a colony that could protect colonists from the Spanish who occupied Florida.

Charlotte, North Carolina, was named for the queen consort of King George III. Charlotte is nicknamed, “Queen City”.

There are 32 United States cities named Manchester after Manchester, England.

We don’t have a king, thanks to George Washington refusing the title, but our government structure is much like the British Parliament, Houses of Commoners and Lords.

Much of our Constitution was influenced by the British Magna Carta especially the first 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights and also the Declaration of Independence.

Although we, Great Britain and the United States, are geographically divided by 4,244 miles of ocean, and hundreds of years, we still have a strong connection to each other, mainly our language and millions who made the long trip across the ocean to find a better life.

To understand our background better, let’s all just have a spot of tea.