Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

The Compleat Victory

Read an excerpt from Kevin J. Weddle's The Compleat Victory: Saratoga and the American Revolution.

Founding Finance

Read an excerpt from William Hogeland's book, Founding Finance: How Debt, Speculation, Foreclosures, Protests, and Crackdowns Made Us a Nation.

A Bard of Wolfe's Army

Read an excerpt from the book, A Bard of Wolfe’s Army: James Thompson, Gentleman Volunteer, 1733-1830, edited by Earl John Chapman and Ian Macpherson McCulloch.

Indigenous Continent

Read an excerpt from Pekka Hämäläinen's book, Indigenous Continent: The Epic Contest for North America.

Unveiling Memories

Read an excerpt from Iberdrola's book Unveiling Memories: Spain and the Hispanic Contribution to American Independence edited by José Manuel Guerrero Acosta.

The Compleat Victory Saratoga and the American Revolution by Kevin Weddle book cover.

Founding Finance book cover by William Hogeland.

Unveiling Memories book Cover by Iberdrola

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

Washington's Spies

Posted: March 16, 2016

This excerpt from Alexander Rose describes the establishment of the Culper Ring and the risks involved with eighteenth century espionage

History

The Road to Guilford Courthouse

Posted: March 02, 2016

This excerpt from John Buchanan examines not only the battlefield strategy made in the Carolinas, but also the military careers of the major characters

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History

Forging Freedom

Posted: February 17, 2016

Read this excerpt from Gary Nash that details generations of free blacks as they pursued a secure and dignified existence based on self-employment.

History

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.

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.

History

Liberty's Exiles

Posted: January 06, 2016

This excerpt from Maya Jasanoff illustrates exiled loyalists' experience and what it meant as an American colonist returning to Great Britain after defeat

History

The American Crisis

Posted: December 23, 2015

Read an excerpt from Thomas Paine's collected writings, including the first in his pamphlet series published on December 19, 1776.

History

Forged in Philadelphia

Posted: November 18, 2015

Read an excerpt from Rebecca Eckfeldt Gibby's children's book where she uncovers the history of her Revolutionary-era ancestor from Philadelphia.

The Last Muster

Posted: November 11, 2015

Read this excerpt from Maureen Taylor’s book that complied over 50 19th-century photographs and shares biographical information for each person.

History

Our Declaration

Posted: October 27, 2015

This excerpt from Danielle Allen examines the Declaration of Independence, the document’s relevance today, and the relationship between freedom and equality

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