Essential Histories on the American Revolution
As we approach the Fourth of July, brush up on your American history.
Published on July 1, 2021
1776
David McCulloughFrom one of America’s most beloved historians comes the essential walkthrough of the pivotal year when the Declaration of Independence was signed, but the Revolutionary War raged on. McCullough focuses his attention on a wide cast of characters, from the US’s not-yet first president George Washington and the ragamuffins who followed him in battle.
The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777
Rick AtkinsonRick Atkinson’s “The British Are Coming” is the first in a trilogy about the American Revolution and lit up the history awards circuit upon its release. Fellow historian Joseph J. Ellis described Atkinson’s account thusly in The New York Times: “It is as if Ken Burns somehow gained access to a time machine, traveled back to the Revolutionary era, then captured historical scenes on film as they were happening.” All-around riveting.
Paul Revere's Ride
David Hackett FischerThink you know all that’s needed about Paul Revere and his legendary midnight ride? Think again. David Hackett Fischer provides not just a well-researched retelling of that mythical event, but also a thorough biography of Revere, a close look at some of his revolutionaries and his foes, and a chronicle of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which kicked off the revolution.
John Adams
David McCulloughMany of our Independence Day commemoration rituals stem from the wishes of Founding Father John Adams, who wrote in a letter to his wife on July 3, 1776, that people should celebrate “with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” In the quieter moments leading up to the celebration, be sure to learn more about Adams, who became the second president of the United States.
Whirlwind: The American Revolution and the War That Won It
John FerlingIf you’re only going to read one book to get an overview of the revolutionary period, John Ferling’s brief but powerful history is the best. It will touch on familiar territory, of course, but also take you to new places, giving a broader perspective on what was going on in Britain at the time, and emphasizing the contributions of minorities in the revolution.
Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America's Independence
Jack KellyPatriots fighting the British faced horrid conditions: No good equipment, leaders who were almost equally inexperienced as them in warfare, and lack of food are just a few of the issues they faced. Yet this rag-tag army managed to beat the most well-trained and well-stocked militias in the world. “Band of Giants” goes battle by battle and blow by blow to tell the rousing story of how a bunch of upstarts defeated a superpower.
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States
Sarah VowellFor anyone who can only take a history lesson if it’s full of humor. Also for anyone who’s watched “Hamilton” more times than they would like to admit. Sarah Vowell gives a detailed revolutionary history, with a particular focus on the young French general who joined the colonists’ cause, Marquis de Lafayette. The audiobook version has many famous actors playing our favorite Revolutionary War heroes — John Slattery voices Lafayette and Nick Offerman plays George Washington.
American Insurgents, American Patriots: The Revolution of the People
T. H. BreenIn retrospect, the American Revolution always looks like a logical, perfectly aligned series of events, led by some of the most brilliant minds of a generation coming together to lead the rebels. But T.H. Breen’s book shows how that was anything but the case: Initial dissent and skirmishes were carried out by laypeople, and they became insurgents. “American Insurgents, American Patriots” turns our logic upside down and makes us see history — from hundreds of years ago and of recent decades — in a new light.
Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin
Jill LeporeJane Franklin Mecom was Benjamin Franklin’s favorite sibling, yet until Jill Lepore’s “Book of Ages,” Jane received little to no attention from historians. This venture into women’s history is one of Lepore’s most engaging and successful works, as she contrasts Benjamin’s brilliance and rags-to-riches narrative with his sister’s continuously impoverished life, even as the two remained forever in close contact via letters.
The American Revolution: Revised Edition
Edward CountrymanA quick summary of the American Revolution that shows how the rebellion was started by everyday colonists who felt that their lives and lifestyle had diverged from the British empire at the time. Synthesizes a ton of information into a relatively short read.
Nautilus5 min read
How Science Helped Write the Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, representatives of thirteen colonies on the eastern shores of North America signed a Declaration of Independence from England. Winning independence was still a bloody war ahead, an unlikely outcome. Declaring independence was rashnes
For all the word nerds out there, learn why Thomas Jefferson changed a line in the Declaration of Independence to read “We hold these truths to be self-evident…” instead of “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable…,” and what science has to do with any of it.