Anti-Catholicism Catholics, and his replacement by a Dutch Protestant. For decades the Stuarts were supported by France in plots to invade and conquer Britain, and anti-Catholicism persisted. The Gordon Riots of 1780 were a violent anti-Catholic protest in London against the Papists Act of 1778, which was intended to reduce official discrimination against British Catholics. Lord George Gordon, head of the Protestant Association warned that the law would enable Catholics in the British Army to become a dangerous threat. The protest evolved into riots and widespread looting. Local magistrates were afraid of reprisals and did not issue the riot act. There
Battle off Halifax (1780) Battle off Halifax (1780) The Battle off Halifax took place on 10 July 1780 during the American Revolutionary War. The British Brig "HMS Resolution" fought the American USS Viper and heavy casualties happened on both sides. The battle was "one of the bloodiest battles in the history of privateering... a loss of 51 lives in a single battle was virtually unheard of." During the American Revolution, Americans regularly attacked Nova Scotia by land and sea. American privateers devastated the maritime economy by raiding many of the coastal communities, such as the numerous raids on Liverpool and on Annapolis Royal. A