The History of the American Revolution: In Two Volumes (v. 1&2) [Paperback]

David Ramsay (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0865970815 | ISBN-13: 978-0865970816 | Publication Date: July 1, 1990 | Edition: Revised

David Ramsay's premier work of American historiography is now available for the first time in a well-edited reprint. Lester Cohen's foreword is an invaluable guide.

—Arthur H. Shaffer, University of Missouri

David Ramsay's History of the American Revolution appeared in 1789 during an enthusiastic celebration of nationhood. It is the first American national history written by an American revolutionary and printed in America. Ramsay, a well-known Federalist, was an active participant in many of the events of the period and a member of the Continental Congress from South Carolina.

Ramsay discusses the events and ideas of the American Revolution (from the outbreak of turbulence in the 1760s to the onset of Washington's administration) and makes an ardent Federalist defense of the Constitution of 1787.

Based on the original and authorized 1789 version, this is the first new modern edition of the work.

Lester H. Cohen taught history and American Studies at Purdue University.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Ramsay

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 755 pages
• Publisher: Liberty Fund Inc.; Revised edition (July 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865970815
• ISBN-13: 978-0865970816
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,758,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE VERY BEST HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION..., October 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The History of the American Revolution, Two Volume Set (Paperback)

Despite this book being written just shortly after the American Revolution, it is surprisingly modern in thought and attitude. It is also the very best book I've ever read on the American Revolution and really helped me to understand it much more clearly. Here is why I liked it: 1) Ramsay gives you a very clear and understandable situation of the colonies prior to the Revolution; it all now becomes crystal clear in the reader's ming; 2) he also gives you a very easy understanding of the events that led up to war and why they occurred; 3) he provides a good account of what our political leaders were doing during the war, and he provides an equally clear picture of the English king and politicians, especially the British Parliament; 4) he never says Benjamin Franklin but always Dr. Franklin, and makes you realize the power and respect that, may I say it, Ben Franklin had at the time both here and in England, making you wonder why he wasn't elected the first president; 5) he shows you the power of lawyers (no lawyer jokes here) and how, without them, we would never have gotten our independence; 6) he wonders about the same environmental problems we worry about today, causing the reader to feel he is ahead of his time, and, 7) most importantly, the accounts of battles, big and small, and especially how the civil population tolerated all this goings-on or opposed it... Despite some of his contemporaries saying Ramsay plagerized [sp] parts of the book, I really didn't care since it flows so well, presenting so clear a picture of events and an understanding of those events.

5.0 out of 5 stars breadth of perspective, March 28, 2011

By 

Daniel P. Liderbach - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The History of the American Revolution (Revolutionary War) (Paperback)

My hope was to learn about the major battle.
This book provides far more than that; namely,
a breadth of context that situates the war within
the situation that permits its meaning to emerge.

3.0 out of 5 stars Well written account of the events leading up to the war..., February 21, 2011

By 

Jelz - See all my reviews

This review is from: The History of the American Revolution (Revolutionary War) (Paperback)

As stated in the title, what the book covered in almost its entirety were the major events leading up to the beginning of the American Revolution. Although the book was written in 1789 by an American colonist his opinions on such matters as taxation and the various legal issues that were the seeds of the conflict are unbiased. He does a great job of relaying the mixed feelings of the colonists and the native peoples of the "mother country". Excellent perspective from which to study the conflict and its key actors. The type takes a little getting used to because of the grammar and the use of the letter "f" in place of "s" but after a few pages you don't even notice. I would not recommend this book for the average reader looking for information on the war but if you are interested in a well researched and first hand account of the details then its the book for you.

The author was a member of congress and professes that he had access to documents and information that was essential to writing an accurate account. Be advised though, I ordered this book not knowing that it is only volume one of a two volume collection.