Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

Captives of Liberty

Read an excerpt from T. Cole Jones's book, Captives of Liberty: Prisoners of War and the Politics of Vengeance in the American Revolution.

Black Founders

Read an excerpt from the Museum of the American Revolution's exhibit book, Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia.

The Cutting-Off Way

Read an excerpt from Wayne E. Lee's new book, The Cutting-Off Way: Indigenous Warfare in Eastern North America, 1500–1800.

The Words That Made Us

Read an excerpt from Akhil Reed Amar's book, The Words That Made Us: America's Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840.

Until Justice Be Done

Read an excerpt from Kate Masur's book, Until Justice Be Done: America's First Civil Rights Movement, from the Revolution to Reconstruction.

Book cover for Captives of Liberty features a painting that depicts a Hessian soldier and a British redcoat leading a Continental soldier away as a prisoner.

Black Founders Exhibit Catalog Cover featuring a portrait of James Forten.

Book cover for Wayne Lee's The Cutting-Off Way.

Book cover for Akhil Reed Amar's The Words That Made Us with black font on parchment colored background.

Until Justice Be Done by Kate Masur teal book cover with white text.

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

An Empire on the Edge

Posted: July 28, 2015

Read an excerpt from Nick Bunker as he describes the Rhode Island colonist attack on a British ship which widened divisions between colonists and the Crown.

History

Kidnapping the Enemy

Posted: July 14, 2015

This excerpt from Christian McBurney shows Lieutenant Colonel Barton preparing for the successful July 10, 1777 raid on General Prescott's sleeping quarters.

History

Monmouth Court House

Posted: June 23, 2015

This excerpt from authors Joseph Bilby and Katherine Bilby Jenkins shows George Washington receiving recommendations from his generals regarding the readiness of American troops

History

Founding Friendships

Posted: June 09, 2015

This excerpt from Cassandra Good shows how women gained political access, influence, and information through their male friends in political office.

History

Desperate Sons

Posted: May 26, 2015

This excerpt from Les Standiford describes America's growing number of grievances with its mother country and Britain's indifference to colonists' complaints

History

Philadelphia

Posted: May 12, 2015

This excerpt from a multitude of authors shows how the events of 1776 led an uneasy population to shore up their defenses and eventually flee.

History

Paul Revere's Ride

Posted: April 07, 2015

This excerpt from David Hackett Fischer delves into Paul Revere's history as well as the tumultuous world he lived in, and highlights that fateful day.