"The year was 1776 and Paddy's Pub — then known, of course, as Patrick's Pub — was a hotbed of revolutionary activity..."
— Dennis
In an attempt to turn their bar into a Philadelphia landmark, the gang tells the story of how Paddy's Pub was historically relevant during the Revolutionary War and was the place where the Liberty Bell got its famous crack.
This episode provides examples of the following tropes:
- Anachronism Stew: The entire episode is filled with this, as the characters wear historical dress but frequently use 21st century colloquialisms and slang in their dialogue. Justified since it's a story being told by Dennis, Mac, and Charlie.
- Artistic License – History:
- Dennis claims he saved Dee from being burned for being a witch. Witches weren't burnt in British North America. They were generally hanged or occasionally the victims of mob violence, but they were not burnt at the stake. Moreover, 1776 is far too late in the British Empire for an official criminal accusation of witchcraft. It's possible that a mob would have carried out Dee's execution, but it's unlikely that a mob would burn someone at the stake. note Since Mac, Charlie, and Dennis are telling the story, it's possible this was intentional.
- The Liberty Bell cracked in the middle of the 1800s note and not in 1776.
- Bilingual Backfire: Frank and Charlie insult a couple of Native American men to their faces, only for one of them to state that they speak English.
- Burn the Witch!: Discussed; Dee claims that Dennis started a rumor that she was a witch and blackmailed her into acting as his personal slave by threatening her with this.
- Butt-Monkey:
- At first it seems like this will actually be subverted with Cricket, as he's playing the part of a successful colonel in the British army... but then he gets repeatedly rejected and spat on by Dee, ends up on the losing side of the war and eventually gets his head blown off with a musket.
- Also Dee, who's accused of being a witch and treated as a personal slave by the rest of the gang.
- Camp Straight: Dennis is campier than ever when he dresses up as a "British nobleman", complete with powdered wig and heavy makeup. He later persuades Mac to do the same.
- Chekhov's Gun: A literal example. Frank acquires several guns near the beginning of the episode, but is dismayed to find that they're all jammed. He later sells them to Cricket, and the faulty guns are implied to be at least partly responsible for the British getting their asses kicked so badly.
- Costumer: Aside from the opening and closing scenes, which act as framing devices for the gang to tell the story to the historical association, the entire episode takes place in a fictionalized version of the year 1776, with the gang playing the parts of colonial Americans trying to prove their loyalty to the crown.
- Dirty Coward: 1776!Dennis and MacDonald really don't care what happens to the American colonies either way, but they are afraid of getting killed by the British, who are "definitely gonna win this thing".
- Fake Brit: In-Universe example: American Rickety Cricket is cast as the British Colonel Cricket in the gang's version of events.
- Fang Thpeak: A variation occurs where Mac gets a set of George Washington-style wooden teeth to pose as a revolutionary and ends up speaking with a lisp for the rest of the episode.Dennis: No more 'S's for you.
- Funny Background Event: When Cricket's pumpkin-headed body is riding across the town on a horse, Dee is shown taking off flying on a broom while cacking, proving everyone's claims of her being a witch true.
- Gold Digger: Dee suddenly becomes a lot more interested in marrying Cricket after he mentions his "sprawling manor".
- Headless Horseman: Played for laughs; in an attempt to get rid of Cricket's headless body without arousing suspicion, Charlie puts it on a horse with a jack-o-lantern where his head should be.
- Here We Go Again!: After the Historical Society lady has had enough of the gang's story right after they reveal how the Liberty Bell was allegedly cracked and tells them to leave, they think she didn't understand the story and start telling it again, except with even more pointless detail.
- He's Dead, Jim: Inverted; Charlie suggests that they check Cricket for a pulse despite the fact that he no longer has a head.
- Historical In-Joke: The gang claim that their ancestors had a direct involvement in the cracking of the Liberty Bell, which supposedly happened when the men carrying it witnessed Cricket's pumpkin-headed body riding past them on a horse, scaring them and dropping the bell on the ground.
- Hope Spot: Colonel Cricket promises that, if they shelter him, he will spare the entire gang from the mighty sword of Brit—[Frank's gun discharges and blows Cricket's head off]
- Hypocritical Humor: When Frank and Charlie visit the Native Americans.Charlie: What is the sleeping situation in here? You think this father and son are sleeping on the same bearskin together?
Frank: Probably. Where else are they gonna sleep?
Charlie: What a bunch of losers. - I Just Shot Marvin in the Face: Frank accidentally shoots Cricket in the face while waving his musket around.
- I'm Standing Right Here: Occurs when Frank and Charlie casually discuss beating a pumpkin seller to death and stealing his goods while the man is still stood in front of them.
- Irony: In contrast to the Gang's usual Patriotic Fervor for Eagleland, Mac and Dennis' 1776 counterparts are convinced the American Revolution will fail and subsequently try to become British Loyalists.
- Les Collaborateurs: The 1776 versions of Mac and Dennis are convinced that the Revolution will fail and try to show their loyalty to the British Empire.
- Love at First Sight: Cricket falls for Dee immediately upon seeing her.
- Magical Native American: Frank and Charlie ask two Native Americans to undo the "curse" that Dee placed on their guns.
- Mistaken for Gay: Mac and Dennis are mistaken for "sodomites" after Dennis insists they dress up as foppish British noblemen.
- Nested Story: The portion of the episode set in 1776 is actually a story being told by Dennis, Mac and Charlie to a representative of the historical association in an attempt to establish Paddy's as a Philadelphia landmark.
- Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: Cricket's British accent slips several times, most notably after Charlie spits in his face.
- Politically Correct History: Utterly averted, thanks to the people who are telling the story. Mac and Dennis in particular can't get their heads around Cricket wanting to treat Dee with respect, and casually talk about "chasing women and forcing them to do what you want".Mac: Bro, it's 1776. They don't have any rights.
- Reckless Gun Usage: After finding out that one of their muskets is jammed, Frank and Charlie then decide to test the rest of them by shooting them at each other.
- Sophisticated as Hell: Most of the dialogue ends up being this.Dee: Dear brother, we're witnessing history in the making!
Dennis: I do not give a shit, Deandra. Now get me a flagon of ale.
Dee: Get your own ale, dick. - Spiteful Spit: Both Dee and Charlie spit in Cricket's face several times.
- Tarred And Feathered: Happens to Mac and Dennis after the Mistaken for Gay incident above.
- William Telling: Frank asks Dee if she wants to shoot a pumpkin off his head with a musket.
- Your Head Asplode: Poor Cricket's fate after Frank shoots him in the face.
