The Decision to Hire German Troops in the War of American Independence: Reactions in Britain and North America, 1774–1776

The Decision to Hire German Troops in the War of American Independence: Reactions in Britain and North America, 1774–1776

“The Decision to Hire German Troops in the War of American Independence: Reactions in Britain and North America, 1774–1776” by Friederike Baer, published in Early American Studies (Vol. 13, No. 1, Winter 2015, pp. 111–150), examines the political, social, and public reactions to Britain’s decision to employ German auxiliaries (commonly called Hessians) during the early years of the American Revolutionary War. Drawing on newspapers, pamphlets, parliamentary records, and private correspondence, Baer analyzes how this decision was debated and perceived on both sides of the Atlantic. The article explores the rationale for hiring German troops, concerns about mercenary forces, and the influence of public opinion on policy, shedding light on the transatlantic political and cultural context surrounding Britain’s controversial military strategy.