Celebrate Women's History Month with our new Black Founders exhibit, a special March 24 event, and more this March. Plan Your Visit

Dismiss notification

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.

Subscribe Now

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 21–30 of 181 items
Band of Giants book cover

Band of Giants

Posted: July 29, 2014
This excerpt from Jack Kelly describes the circumstances surrounding Washington's important decision to march his troops to Virginia in the summer of 1781.
Read More
Image Rtr A Devil Of A Whipping

Battle of Cowpens

Posted: January 20, 2015
This excerpt from Lawrence Babits transports us to 1781, when Americans finally achieved victory at the Battle of Cowpens after a series of southern losses.
Read More
 Rtr Battle Of Paoli

Battle of Paoli

Posted: October 23, 2019
Read an excerpt from Thomas J. McGuire's book, Battle of Paoli.
Read More
Belonging to the Army Book Cover

Belonging to the Army

Posted: March 22, 2017
This excerpt by Holly Mayer introduces different types of camp followers and the services they provided to the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War
Read More
Betsy Ross Book Cover

Betsy Ross

Posted: May 24, 2017
Read an excerpt from Marla Miller who breaks through the myths and weaves Betsy Ross's life story with that of the nation's.
Read More
Black Patriots and Loyalists Book Cover

Black Patriots and Loyalists

Posted: February 08, 2016
This excerpt from Alan Gilbert details the creation of one of one of the most distinguished regiments comprised of both white and black soldiers.
Read More
Image 101920 330x499 Braddocks Defeat

Braddock's Defeat

Posted: October 11, 2017
Read this excerpt by David Preston that summarizes the challenges of a pivotal battle and its impact on the Revolutionary War two decades later.
Read More
 Rtr Britons Forging The Nation

Britons

Posted: August 28, 2019
Read an excerpt from Linda Colley's book, Britons: Forging the Nation, 1707-1837.
Read More
This image shows the book cover of Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick. It shows a picture of a cannon going off during a nighttime battle. There are Revolutionary soldiers behind the cannon and the fire and sparks fill the dark.

Bunker Hill

Posted: June 17, 2014
This excerpt from Nathaniel Philbrick describes the uncertain, dramatic start to the legendary Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolution.
Read More
Cabal! The Plot Against General Washington book cover

Cabal! The Plot Against General Washington

Posted: April 08, 2020
Read an excerpt from Mark Edward Lender's Cabal! The Plot Against General Washington on the challenge to Washington’s command known as the "Conway Cabal."
Read More
3 of 19 pages