Read the Revolution

A curated collection of thought-provoking books about the American Revolution.

Featured Books

Memory Wars

Read an excerpt from A. Lynn Smith's book, Memory Wars: Settlers and Natives Remember Washington’s Sullivan Expedition of 1779.

The Bill of Obligations

Read an excerpt from Richard Haass's book, The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens.

One Minute A Free Woman

Read an excerpt from Emilie Piper and David Levinson's book, One Minute A Free Woman: Elizabeth Freeman and the Struggle for Freedom.

The Contagion of Liberty

Read an excerpt from Andrew M. Wehrman's book, The Contagion of Liberty: The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution.

Making the Presidency

Read an excerpt from Lindsay M. Chervinsky's book, Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic.

This image shows the book cover for the book Memory Wars with a red background textured with Native American symbols and the book title and author name in white font to the left side.

This image shows the book cover for The Bill of Obligations with black text on a cream background and an American flag sown back together with a needle and thread in the center.

This image shows the book cover for One Minute A Free Woman with the title in large navy blue serif font over script writing on beige paper.

This image shows the book cover for The Contagion of Liberty featuring the book title large in blue and white font over a brown beige background on the top half with an engraving of a crowd of people getting vaccinated against smallpox.

This image shows the book cover for Making the Presidency by Lindsay Chervinsky featuring a portrait of John Adams.

About

Curated by Museum staff since 2013, Read the Revolution features excerpts from thought-provoking books about the American Revolution. Read the Revolution was created with thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Subscribe to get the biweekly Read the Revolution featured excerpts emailed right to your inbox for free.

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Speaker Series

Inspired by the Read the Revolution featured excerpts, the Read the Revolution Speaker Series brings celebrated authors and historians to the Museum for lively, facilitated discussions of their work. Each Read the Revolution Speaker Series program, hosted by Museum President & CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, includes a special talk and audience Q&A.

About the Series

All Books

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History

Forgotten Allies

Posted: March 25, 2014

This excerpt recounts how Oneida tribal members found themselves facing increasing pressure to choose sides as the Anglo-American conflict intensified.

History

The Marketplace of Revolution

Posted: March 11, 2014

This excerpt from T.H. Breen looks at how one city’s rebellion, the Boston Tea Party, became an entire people’s war and created a common cause of America.

History

Founding Mothers

Posted: January 28, 2014

Read this excerpt from Cokie Roberts that offers a comprehensive look at the many roles women played in American Revolutionary War.

History

The Battle for the Fourteenth Colony

Posted: January 14, 2014

This excerpt from Mark Anderson reveals the beginnings of the Quebec Campaign when colonists were trying to bring Canada into the Continental confederation

History

Journal of the American Revolution

Posted: December 17, 2013

Read an excerpt from the Journal of the American Revolution.

History

Turning Point

Posted: December 17, 2013

This excerpt from Todd Andrlik features an article by Thomas Fleming revealing a turning point for General George Washington during the American Revolution

History

The Last Muster

Posted: December 02, 2013

Read this excerpt from Maureen Taylor’s The Last Muster to learn more about three veterans of the American Revolution—Nathaniel Ames, Agrippa Hull, and Ezra Green.

Image 10152020 Readrevolutionbookcover Economy Building

History

Financial Founding Fathers

Posted: November 19, 2013

This excerpt by authors Robert Wright and David Cowen reveals how Robert Morris brought order to the early American economy and created the first national bank.

History

Revolutionary Characters

Posted: November 05, 2013

Read an excerpt from Gordon Wood where he explains the origins of Thomas Paine's radical thinking through Paine's pamphlet Common Sense.

History

The American Revolution

Posted: October 08, 2013

Read this excerpt of a letter by Benedict Arnold 'to the Inhabitants of America' that reveals the ideological shift he experienced over the course of war.

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