The Col. Burton C. Quist Lecture Series Christian McBurney: Causes of the American Revolution

Premiere of Documentary Film: “1778: Battle of Rhode Island”

This 18-minute film will be shown before Christian McBurney’s talk at the Portsmouth Historical Society. The film was funded by the BoRIA, RI250 Commission, and the Pappito Opportunity Fund. It was produced by Fresh LLC and ParMedia.

The film traces Rhode Island’s path from a colony anchored by the bustling seaport of Newport and the communities around Narragansett Bay to a society transformed by the American Revolution. Beginning before the British occupation, it highlights a thriving Newport and Narragansett Bay, where intense Atlantic trade collides with rising tensions with the Crown. As British troops seize Newport and Aquidneck Island, the story moves into years of occupation and upheaval—fortified streets, divided neighbors, and the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island that brings the war directly to Aquidneck Island. Featured are the contributions of the First Rhode Island (Black) Regiment, a unique Continental regiment of formerly enslaved men who gained their freedom by enlisting, and bravely fighting, for the duration of the war. This battle marked the first engagement of the American and French alliance, which was key to the Revolution's victory.

The film relies heavily on McBurney’s book, The Rhode Island Campaign: The First French and American Operation in the Revolutionary War. Narration is by Michelle Girasole, Christian McBurney, Rebecca Sattel, and Jim Stearns.

The Col. Burton C. Quist Lecture Series: Christian McBurney: Causes of the American Revolution

On Thursday July 16th at 6:30 PM, the BoRIA alongside our partner the Portsmouth Historical Society (PHS) present the annual Col. Burton C. Quist Lecture Series at the PHS Museum, 870 East Main Rd. in Portsmouth. This year, historian and author, Christian McBurney will present "Causes of the American Revolution: Why did the thirteen colonies declare their independence 250 years ago?" Yes, “no taxation without representation” was a real thing, but there was much more too. This talk is intended to address the underlying causes of the American Revolution by looking at political, economic, social, demographic, geographical, immigration, racial, and ideological factors.

Christian McBurney is the author of eleven books, six on the American Revolutionary War and nine on Rhode Island (four are on both). His next book will be on Rhode Island's "Black Regiment." He is also the editor and publisher of a leading Rhode Island history blog at smallstatebighistory.com. Christian resides with his wife near Bethesda, Maryland, and they have a second home in West Kingston, Rhode Island.

This talk is our fourth annual under the banner of “The Col. Burton C. Quist Lecture Series”, in memory of our late founding Director, friend, and mentor who passed away in January, 2023. This event is free and open to the public and will be filmed for our website and YouTube channel.