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Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

African Founders

Read an excerpt from Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Hackett Fischer's book, African Founders: How Enslaved People Expanded American Ideals.

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The Journal of Charlotte L. Forten

Read an excerpt from The Journal of Charlotte L. Forten, edited by Ray Allen Billington.

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The Grimkes

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

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Double Feature: First Martyr of Liberty and The Remarkable Cause

Read excerpts from Mitch Kachun's First Martyr of Liberty: Crispus Attucks in American Memory and Jean O'Connor's The Remarkable Cause: A Novel of James Lovell and the Crucible of the Revolution.

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Flora MacDonald: "Pretty Young Rebel"

Read an excerpt from Flora Fraser's new book, Flora MacDonald: “Pretty Young Rebel”: Her Life and Story.

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    African Founders book cover by David Hackett Fischer
    Cover of The Journal of Charlotte L. Forten featuring a photograph of an older Charlotte.
    The Grimkes by Kerri Greenidge Book book cover.
    Book covers for First Martyr of Liberty and The Remarkable Cause.
    Flora Macdonald Pretty Young Rebel book cover by Flora Fraser

    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 231–236 of 236 items
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    History

    West of the Revolution

    Posted: January 20, 2016
    Read this excerpt from Claudio Saunt to learn about an ambitious, yet illegal under British law, land scheme to settle a fourteenth colony on the West Coast.
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    Image 101220 Rtr Wwltv Young Readers List
    Children & Young Adults

    When Women Lost the Vote: Young Readers Edition

    Posted: October 14, 2020
    View a reading list of books for young readers inspired by our special exhibition, When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776-1807.
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    Whirlwind: The American Revolution and the War That Won It book cover
    History

    Whirlwind

    Posted: August 11, 2015
    This excerpt from John Ferling shows the trials and tribulations women faced during the long conflict of the American Revolutionary War.
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    This image depicts the Winning Independence: The Decisive Years of the Revolutionary War, 1778-1781 book cover by John Ferling. Hi name is written on the bottom of the cover. The title of the book is written in black with an off yellow background. And the top of the cover shows a portrait of George Washington on horseback with soldiers surrounding him and smoke filling the air behind them. There are three red coated solders standing to the right of Washington.
    History

    Winning Independence

    Posted: May 26, 2021
    Read an excerpt of John Ferling's new book, Winning Independence: The Decisive Years of the Revolutionary War, 1778-1781.
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    Rtr With Zeal And With Bayonets Only
    History

    With Zeal and With Bayonets Only

    Posted: September 11, 2019
    Read an excerpt from Matthew H. Spring’s With Zeal and With Bayonets Only: The British Army on Campaign in North America, 1775-1783.
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    Women of the Republic Book Cover
    History

    Women of the Republic

    Posted: August 17, 2016
    This excerpt from Linda Kerber explains the concept of "Republic Motherhood" during the Revolution and explores its lasting legacy on the American Republic
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