The American Revolution

A History in Documents

Steven C. Bullock

Pages from History

Vividly illustrates the American Revolution through a collection of fascinating primary documents
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
Includes such documents as Common Sense, the Declaration of Independence, diaries, newspaper debates, slave petitions, and a pictorial essay on Paul Revere

The American Revolution

A History in Documents

Steven C. Bullock

Description

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.

The American Revolution

A History in Documents

Steven C. Bullock

Pages from History

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

The American Revolution

A History in Documents

Steven C. Bullock

Pages from History

Author Information

Stephen C. Bullock is Associate Professor of United States History at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The American Revolution

A History in Documents

Steven C. Bullock

Pages from History

Reviews and Awards

"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 & Reference Book News

"Innovative and admirable." -- Church History

"Interesting." -- Education Digest