Silly Reason for War: Difference between revisions

* The First Anglo-Dutch War began because the Dutch fleet refused to doff their flag when passing the English Channel in the presence of the English fleet. In reality, as most such things are, it was a matter of [[Honor Before Reason|honor]] and a country that doesn't take care of it's honor is neglecting it's [[Prove I Am Not Bluffing|first line of defense]] so there is some justification even if it is quite commonly taken to [[Fridge Logic|weird lengths]] as in this case. Another and overlapping reason was rivalry for trade and control of the seas at a time when maritime voyages were bringing high profit, and bringing prosperity to the upper classes of both nations as well as employment to the citizens of the various ports. Furthermore in those times it was considered legitimate to try to control the ocean as if it was cultivated land, and as well, and everyone was frank and enthusiastic about using business as a weapon of power politics or vice-versa at the time(that is still done of course, but it is sometimes felt awkward now). All those factors surrounded the Anglo-Dutch wars. But the spark that set off the fire that was a-building was the Dutch refusing to doff their flag.