[arethuza]

Was lack of food a factor in either the English Civil War or the American War of Independence?

[NB I'm listening to the excellent "Revolutions" podcast at the moment http://www.revolutionspodcast.com/]

[hackinthebochs]

I know little about European history, but I would argue that the American War of Independence was more a formality than anything. Britain's influence was already waning and the colonies were mostly self-sufficient at that point. The hand that fed them wasn't Britain, so independence was simply a matter of not letting a third party take money out of your pocket any longer.

[arethuza]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_taxation_without_representat...

My understanding that it wasn't the amount of tax - which was actually quite low, but the fact that they did not (and arguably, could never have) any meaningful representation within the power structures that raised these taxes.

[croggle]

This doesn't necessarily mean food.

It also doesn't apply 100% of the time. Does anything?

[dllthomas]

"It also doesn't apply 100% of the time. Does anything?"

Yes. Either this maxim applies 100% of the time, or there is some other statement that does.