Double your impact through the end of the year as every donation is matched dollar-for-dollar up to $75,000. Donate

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 191–200 of 252 items
The Dawn of Detroit by Tiya Miles

The Dawn of Detroit

Posted: February 10, 2021
Read an excerpt from Tiya Miles' recent book, The Dawn of Detroit: A Chronicle of Slavery and Freedom in the City of the Straits.
Read More
The Day the American Revolution Began Book Cover

The Day the American Revolution Began

Posted: April 12, 2017
In this excerpt from military historian William H. Hallahan he recounts April 19, 1775, the Day the American Revolution Began.
Read More
The Declaration of Independence Book Cover

The Declaration of Independence

Posted: June 22, 2016
This excerpt by David Armitage examines how the Declaration of Independence became a political and philosophical model for nations across the globe.
Read More
 Rtr The Disaffected

The Disaffected

Posted: September 25, 2019
Read an excerpt from Aaron Sullivan's book, The Disaffected: Britain’s Occupation of Philadelphia during the American Revolution.
Read More
Image Rtr The Divided Ground

The Divided Ground

Posted: November 18, 2014
Read this excerpt from Alan Taylor that tells of an important ally in the American Revolution: the Oneida Nation, a nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.
Read More
The Expanding Blaze book cover

The Expanding Blaze

Posted: March 14, 2018
This excerpt from Jonathan Israel investigates radical ideas of self-government, liberty, and republicanism that challenged the Old World institutions.
Read More
Image 111320 Rtr First American Brands Cover

The First American

Posted: September 23, 2014
Read an excerpt from H. W. Brands about about Ben Franklin presenting the first draft for the Articles of Confederation to the Continental Congress.
Read More
The First Congress Book Cover

The First Congress

Posted: July 06, 2016
Read this excerpt from Fergus Bordewich that covers the debates over Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan to the simple question of how we address the president.
Read More
The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn Book Cover

The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn

Posted: September 13, 2017
This excerpt from Robert Watson weaves together details of the horrifying conditions experienced aboard the HMS Jersey during the American Revolutionary.
Read More
The Grimkes by Kerri Greenidge Book book cover.

The Grimkes

Posted: March 22, 2023
Read an excerpt from Kerri K. Greenidge's book, The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family.
Read More
20 of 26 pages