Synopses & Reviews
The American Revolution vividly illustrates through a collection of fascinating primary documents how, in the space of a few hundred years, contented colonists -- the majority of whom were transplanted English citizens -- would form an independent country that could challenge the greatest world power of the time -- and win. The American Revolution explores the colonies' break with Great Britain, the resulting war to gain independence, and the struggle to create a successful government for the new United States. Steven C. Bullock turns to such documents as Common Sense, the Declaration of Independence, diaries, newspaper debates, slave petitions, and a pictorial essay on Paul Revere, showing that the words and actions of common men as well as great men played important roles in making the Revolution not just a coup d'État, but a genuine change that shook the foundations of authority and dramatically changed American society.
Review
"Bullock succeeds quite well in making history important and vital to today....In the documents, one can see both famous players and the not so famous. John Adams is here, as well as Abigail Adams. Patrick Henry and Benjamin Rush play their part, as do Mercy Otis Warren and Benjamin Franklin....Bullock has managed to breathe new life into what for many are dry and dusty documents of a bygone time." -- American Reference Book Annual
"Diaries, newspaper debates, Tom Paine's Common Sense, slave petitions, and The Declaration of Independence are among the documents Bullock uses to anchor his account for high school students and general readers of the movement and war for independence that led to the U.S." -- Research and Reference Book News
"Innovative and admirable." -- Church History
"Interesting." -- Education Digest
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 194-199) and index.
About the Author
Stephen C. Bullock is Associate Professor of United States History at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Table of Contents
What is a Document?How to Read a Document
Introduction: Madness and Revolution
Chapter 1: The Family Quarrel: The Coming of the Revolution
Growing Children
Raising Money and Rising Anger
We Are Therefore - SLAVES
Violence in the Streets
Tea in the Harbor
Chapter 2: Breaking the Bonds: War and Independence
The Road from Lexington and Concord
Causes and Necessities
Free and Independent
Was Washington Good Enough?
Little Successes - and Big Ones
Chapter 3: Taking Sides: The Experience of War
Problems of Loyalty
Friends, Families, and Fighting
Divided Loyalties
he Fortures - and Misfortunes - of War
Women and the War
Chapter 4: Building Governments: Revolutions in Government
The Problems of Peace
Economic Successes and Failures
Constructing and Reconstructing Governments
Reconstituting the Federal Government
Chapter 5: The Limits of Liberty: Revolutions in Society and Culture
The Religious Revolution
Changing Ways of Worship
Liberty, But Not for All
Honorable Daughters of America
Chapter 6: Paul Revere: Craftsman of the Revolution
The Making of an Artisan
The Making of a Revolutionary
The Midnight Ride
The Post-Revolutionary Businessman
Chapter 7: The Living Revolution: The Revolution Remembered
Commemorations and Celebrations
American Anniversaries
The Political Uses of the Revolution
The American Revolution Beyond America
Timeline
Further Reading
Text Credits
Picture Credits
Index