# Britain — The American Crisis character guide

> Britain in The American Crisis by Thomas Paine.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** England, the English

**First appearance:** 0001-the-american-crisis

## Snapshot

The personified adversary — a ministry that Paine insists will always do what it ought not, and never what it promises.

## Who they are

Britain appears here as a collective antagonist: the crown, the ministry, and the commissioners who offer terms while plotting seduction. Paine's portrait is of a power 'forever changing and forever wrong,' too distant to understand America and too proud to foresee its own decline. It matters because the Crisis needs a villain whose bad faith justifies irrevocable separation.

## Relationships

### [America](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/america)

_rivalry_

America is engaged in a revolutionary war against Britain, seeking independence from colonial rule.

### [Tories](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/tories)

_friendship_

Britain relied on the Tories as loyalist allies within the American colonies during the war.

## In the story

### [Editor’s Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/editor-s-introduction)

The London publication and the British perspective are contrasted with Paine's American viewpoint.

### [The American Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-american-crisis)

The opposing force in the conflict, characterized as tyrannical and unjust.

### [The Crisis I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-i)

Portrayed as a tyrannical power enforcing slavery through taxation and military force; the king is described as a 'sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man.'

### [The Crisis II: To Lord Howe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-ii-to-lord-howe)

Represented by Lord Howe and the monarchy, depicted as tyrannical and misguided.

### [The Crisis III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-iii)

Described as a gamester nearly ruined, unable to conquer or govern America, and now playing a desperate game.

### [The Crisis IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-iv)

Implied as the enemy force led by Howe, characterized as robbers and plunderers.

### [The Crisis V: To Gen. Sir William Howe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-v-to-gen-sir-william-howe)

Portrayed as brutal, deceitful, and self-destructive; accused of atrocities in India and America.

### [To the Inhabitants of America](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/to-the-inhabitants-of-america)

Portrayed as corrupt and tyrannical, having lost its own freedom and now attempting to enslave America.

### [The Crisis VI: To the Earl of Carlisle, General Clinton, and William Eden, Esq., British Commissioners at New York](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-vi-to-the-earl-of-carlisle-general-clinton-and-william-eden-esq-british-commissioners-at-new-york)

Accused of tyranny, cruelty, and infidelity; warned of potential retaliation.

### [The Crisis VII: To the People of England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-vii-to-the-people-of-england)

The nation being addressed, depicted as deluded, wasteful, and on the verge of defeat.

### [The Crisis VIII: Address to the People of England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-viii-address-to-the-people-of-england)

Portrayed as a prodigal nation, insensible to its own decline, having desolated the world for dominion and now facing the prospect of invasion.

### [The Crisis IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-ix)

Portrayed as malicious, avoiding direct conflict with France and Spain, and pursuing a war of aggravations.

### [The Crisis Extraordinary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-extraordinary)

Portrayed as a covetous and rapacious conqueror, waging war for avarice and seeking to impose heavy taxes.

### [The Crisis X: On the King of England’s Speech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-x-on-the-king-of-england-s-speech)

Portrayed as hypocritical, desperate, and dependent on America; its king and ministry are condemned for starting the war.

### [The Crisis XI: On the Present State of News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-xi-on-the-present-state-of-news)

The enemy power whose shifting and dishonorable policies Paine exposes.

### [A Supernumerary Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/a-supernumerary-crisis)

Portrayed as a barbarous enemy whose army commits atrocities.

### [The Crisis XII: To the Earl of Shelburne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-xii-to-the-earl-of-shelburne)

The adversary in the war, criticized for its wasteful and delusional efforts to retain America.

### [The Crisis XIII: Thoughts on the Peace, and Probable Advantages Thereof](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-xiii-thoughts-on-the-peace-and-probable-advantages-thereof)

Britain is referenced as a former domineering master, now an ally whose 'exemplary greatness' has been acknowledged.

### [A Supernumerary Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/a-supernumerary-crisis)

Depicted as a selfish nation attempting to monopolize the carrying trade and undermine American unity.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/britain
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters