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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

Showing 121–130 of 199 items
 Rtr Revolution Song

Revolution Song

Posted: March 28, 2018
This excerpt from Russell Shorto weaves together the life stories of six historical figures against the backdrop of the American Revolution.
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Image Rtr177 Revolutionary Backlash

Revolutionary Backlash

Posted: August 26, 2020
Read an excerpt from Rosemarie Zagarri's Revolutionary Backlash: Women and Politics in the Early American Republic.
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Image 10152020 Readtherevolutionbookcover Revolutionarycharacters 0

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.
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This image depicts the book cover of Revolutionary Conceptions: Women, Fertility, and Family Limitation in America, 1760-1820 by Susan E. Klepp. The image is a light blue color with a  circular image of a black haired woman holding a blonde haired baby. She is looking at the viewer and the baby is looking to the side.

Revolutionary Conceptions

Posted: March 08, 2017
In this excerpt, Susan Klepp discusses how the terms "virtue" and "prudence" came to be associated with women during the American Revolution.
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Revolutionary Dissent book cover

Revolutionary Dissent

Posted: May 09, 2018
This excerpt from Stephen Solomon explores how early Americans used technology and communication networks to expand participation in political discussions
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Revolutionary Friends Book Cover

Revolutionary Friends

Posted: November 09, 2016
Read an excerpt from Selene Castrovilla's children's book that tells the story of the enduring friendship of George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette.
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Revolutionary Medicine book cover

Revolutionary Medicine

Posted: May 06, 2014
Read an excerpt from Jeanne Abrams to learn how Washington's effort to prevent smallpox represents one of the first American public health initiatives
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Revolutionary Mothers by Carol Berkin

Revolutionary Mothers

Posted: March 13, 2019
This excerpt from Carol Berkin shows that while women different experiences of the American Revolution, they each played a unique role in its efforts.
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Revolutionary Summer book cover

Revolutionary Summer

Posted: July 13, 2013
This excerpt from Joseph Ellis explains how the success of the Battle of Long Island came from the combined result of lucky breaks for the Americans.
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Rum Punch and Revolution Book Cover

Rum Punch and Revolution

Posted: March 30, 2016
This excerpt from Peter Thompson highlights the changing culture surrounding taverns and political life on the eve of the American Revolution
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