Customer Reviews

Origins of the American Revolution

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This is perhaps one of the best books on the Revolution I have ever read. It is well documented, very well written, and inspired me. I love this country! There are many things in this book I'm sure you'll not find anywhere else. If you are even mildly interested in why the American Revolution happened, you should read this book. It's truly fantastic. It's one book I am going to be gifting to many people over the years.

It might be hard to believe that a book with a title like "Origins of the American Revolution" could be such a compelling read. But Miller has written a history that is at once scholarly and full of the color and flavor of the age. His grasp of the large picture is combined with a knack for summing up that large picture in concrete, well-worded language, and he doesn't leave the reader in a fog of political theory. It's full of vivid accounts of Colonial and British action, peppered with quotes, and Miller's wry sense of humor evident throughout. For instance, "Nor was Colonel James forgotten by the mob...the patriots had the satisfaction of wrecking his furniture, burning his library, and drinking up his cellar. In fact, the only article saved from the ruin was a red curtain which the mob hoisted as a flag." Footnotes are abundant, and Miller has largely used primary sources. Chapters are "The Economic Background", "The Political Background", "England and America on the Eve", "The Quest for Colonial Revenue: The Sugar Act", "The Quest for a Colonial Revenue: The Stamp Act", "The Stamp Act Crisis", "The Repeal of the Stamp Act", "The American Mind", "The English Mind", "The Townshend Duties", "The Growth of Colonial Opposition", "The Collapse of Colonial Opposition", "The Decline of the Revolutionary Movement", "Tea Revives the Dispute", "The Coercive Acts", "The Continental Congress", "Lexington and its Aftermath", "The Empire in the Balance", "The Movement Toward Independence", "The Declaration of Independence", and "The American Revolution as a Democratic Movement". One of the staples in my library on the Revolution. A pleasure to read, and a solid factual resource.