Synopses & Reviews
One of the half dozen most important books ever written about the American Revolution.
New York Times Book Review
During the nearly two decades since its publication, this book has set the pace, furnished benchmarks, and afforded targets for many subsequent studies. If ever a work of history merited the appellation 'modern classic,' this is surely one.
William and Mary Quarterly
[A] brilliant and sweeping interpretation of political culture in the Revolutionary generation.
New England QuarterlyThis is an admirable, thoughtful, and penetrating study of one of the most important chapters in American history.
Wesley Frank Craven
Synopsis
This classic work explains the evolution of American political thought from the Declaration of Independence to the ratification of the Constitution. In so doing, it greatly illuminates the origins of the present American political system.
About the Author
Gordon S. Wood is Alva O. Way University Professor and Professor of History at Brown University.
Table of Contents
Contents
Preface to the 1998 Edition / v
Preface / xv
Part One: The Ideology of Revolution
Chapter I. The Whig Science of Politics / 3
Chapter II. Republicanism / 46
Chapter III. Moral Reformation / 91
Part Two: The Constitution of the States
Chapter IV. The Restructuring of Power / 127
Chapter V. The Nature of Representation / 162
Chapter VI. Mixed Government and Bicameralism / 197
Part Three: The People against the Legislatures
Chapter VII. Law and Contracts / 259
Chapter VIII. Conventions of the People / 306
Chapter IX. The Sovereignty of the People / 344
Part Four: The Critical Period
Chapter X. Vices of the System / 393
Chapter XI. Republican Remedies / 430
Part Five: The Federal Constitution
Chapter XII. The Worthy against the Licentious / 471
Chapter XIII. The Federalist Persuasion / 519
Part Six: The Revolutionary Achievement
Chapter XIV. The Relevance and Irrelevance of John Adams / 567
Chapter XV. The American Science of Politics / 593
A Note on Sources
Select List of Full Titles
Index