Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

Black Jacks

Read an excerpt from W. Jeffrey Bolster's book, Black Jacks: African American Seamen in the Age of Sail.

Liberty's Daughters

Read an excerpt from Mary Beth Norton's groundbreaking book, Liberty's Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women, 1750-1800.

Summer Reading List: 2023 Young Readers Edition

See our summer reading list of Revolutionary books that will encourage young readers to explore the past and the people who shaped it.

A Gentleman of Color

Read an excerpt from Julie Winch's groundbreaking book, A Gentleman of Color: The Life of James Forten.

The Grimkes

Read an excerpt from Kerri K. Greenidge's book, The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family.

Cover of W. Jeffrey Bolster's book Black Jacks.

Image 091520 1776x2652 Libertysdaughters

A collection of books featured in the Museum's 2023 summer reading list for young readers.

The Grimkes by Kerri Greenidge Book book cover.

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

Power and Liberty

Posted: October 20, 2021

Read an excerpt from Gordon S. Wood's new book, Power and Liberty: Constitutionalism in the American Revolution.

Reading List

Reading List: Authors Featured at 2022 Conference on Collecting the Revolutionary War

Posted: April 06, 2022

Read a selection of excerpts from books written by 2022 Conference on Collecting the American Revolution presenters.

Reading List

Reading List: Read the Revolution 200th Edition Staff Picks

Posted: August 11, 2021

To celebrate the our 200th edition of Read the Revolution, Museum staff picked their favorite books about the American Revolution.

History

Reading List: The Role of Cities in the American Revolution

Posted: June 17, 2020

Check out nine suggested readings from our collection of Read the Revolution book excerpts addressing the role of cities in the American Revolution.

History

Rebels Rising

Posted: February 24, 2015

This excerpt from Benjamin Carp explains the role of colonial meeting spaces as opinions of everyday people gained increasing political influence.

History

Rebels at Sea

Posted: June 22, 2022

Read an excerpt from Eric Jay Dolin's book, Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution.

History

Remarkable Women of New England

Posted: August 18, 2020

This excerpt from Carole Owens explores women’s various roles and responsibilities between 1754 and 1787, including those of laborers and business owners.

History

Renegade Revolutionary

Posted: June 03, 2014

This excerpt from Phillip Papas shows the tension building between George Washington and General Charles Lee and their very different military ideologies.

History

Reporting the Revolutionary War

Posted: September 15, 2015

This excerpt tells how a British decision to confiscate gunpowder from Williamsburg's magazine provoked outrage and action by the city's patriots.

History

Revolution Against Empire

Posted: November 08, 2017

Read this excerpt from Justin du Rivage that introduces the competing ideological groups who shaped and reshaped the debates during the American Revolution

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