Brian Klaas

And all of a sudden, people realize the answer is America. And they think, okay, we've got this huge continent, these enormous what they call cloud-kissing pines in places like Connecticut. And so, you know, the settlers began to cut these trees down because, of course, they're really good for building houses. But the king wants them to build ships.

And so they have this sort of moment where the finest specimens were supposed to be reserved for the king. And they made this sort of etching onto the bark with what was called the king's mark, this broad arrow shape that was imprinted on these trees with three blows from a hatchet. And it was marked as the king's trees, right?

And so they have this sort of moment where the finest specimens were supposed to be reserved for the king. And they made this sort of etching onto the bark with what was called the king's mark, this broad arrow shape that was imprinted on these trees with three blows from a hatchet. And it was marked as the king's trees, right?

And so they have this sort of moment where the finest specimens were supposed to be reserved for the king. And they made this sort of etching onto the bark with what was called the king's mark, this broad arrow shape that was imprinted on these trees with three blows from a hatchet. And it was marked as the king's trees, right?

And of course, this produces an illicit trade because the settlers in America want to use these trees and they sort of hope they can get away with it. Now, eventually, this all comes to a sort of showdown because the resentment between the king claiming the trees and the settlers wanting them and the colonies...

And of course, this produces an illicit trade because the settlers in America want to use these trees and they sort of hope they can get away with it. Now, eventually, this all comes to a sort of showdown because the resentment between the king claiming the trees and the settlers wanting them and the colonies...

And of course, this produces an illicit trade because the settlers in America want to use these trees and they sort of hope they can get away with it. Now, eventually, this all comes to a sort of showdown because the resentment between the king claiming the trees and the settlers wanting them and the colonies...

They eventually have this big sort of showdown in a place called the Pine Tree Tavern in New Hampshire. This happens in April of 1772. And the king's sort of, you know, enforcer gets attacked by this violent mob. And so this spurs what's called the Pine Tree Riot. And it's the hidden story that many people don't know about that's sort of this precursor to the Boston Tea Party.

They eventually have this big sort of showdown in a place called the Pine Tree Tavern in New Hampshire. This happens in April of 1772. And the king's sort of, you know, enforcer gets attacked by this violent mob. And so this spurs what's called the Pine Tree Riot. And it's the hidden story that many people don't know about that's sort of this precursor to the Boston Tea Party.

They eventually have this big sort of showdown in a place called the Pine Tree Tavern in New Hampshire. This happens in April of 1772. And the king's sort of, you know, enforcer gets attacked by this violent mob. And so this spurs what's called the Pine Tree Riot. And it's the hidden story that many people don't know about that's sort of this precursor to the Boston Tea Party.

It's one of these parts of sort of an initial defiance of the crown in America. And because they were treated with a relatively light slap on the wrist, it emboldened those who wanted to sort of challenge the sort of royal power. And so it's viewed as one of these sort of catalysts of the Revolutionary War.

It's one of these parts of sort of an initial defiance of the crown in America. And because they were treated with a relatively light slap on the wrist, it emboldened those who wanted to sort of challenge the sort of royal power. And so it's viewed as one of these sort of catalysts of the Revolutionary War.

It's one of these parts of sort of an initial defiance of the crown in America. And because they were treated with a relatively light slap on the wrist, it emboldened those who wanted to sort of challenge the sort of royal power. And so it's viewed as one of these sort of catalysts of the Revolutionary War.

And when you think about this, I mean, if we sort of zoom out from what's going on here, there's this aspect in history where to tell this story, you need to have the history of sort of Doggerland, this aspect of why Britain gets cut off and becomes an island. You have to have the story of empire. You have to have the story of the sort of geography of Britain's forests.

And when you think about this, I mean, if we sort of zoom out from what's going on here, there's this aspect in history where to tell this story, you need to have the history of sort of Doggerland, this aspect of why Britain gets cut off and becomes an island. You have to have the story of empire. You have to have the story of the sort of geography of Britain's forests.

And when you think about this, I mean, if we sort of zoom out from what's going on here, there's this aspect in history where to tell this story, you need to have the history of sort of Doggerland, this aspect of why Britain gets cut off and becomes an island. You have to have the story of empire. You have to have the story of the sort of geography of Britain's forests.

the geography of America's forests, the colonization of America, and then this little trigger, which is the Pine Tree Riot, along with the sort of resentment and the need for trees. And all of them combine, right? And the reason I tell stories like this is because any one of these factors being different might have created a different trigger for war.

the geography of America's forests, the colonization of America, and then this little trigger, which is the Pine Tree Riot, along with the sort of resentment and the need for trees. And all of them combine, right? And the reason I tell stories like this is because any one of these factors being different might have created a different trigger for war.

the geography of America's forests, the colonization of America, and then this little trigger, which is the Pine Tree Riot, along with the sort of resentment and the need for trees. And all of them combine, right? And the reason I tell stories like this is because any one of these factors being different might have created a different trigger for war.

I mean, eventually you may have had the Revolutionary War anyway, but it might have started differently. And of course, one of the things that I think is really profound about this example is that the initial American Navy sailed under a white flag with a pine tree on it. And so if you look it up, you'll see this as this is the first naval flag for the United States.