Revolutionary America, 1750-1815: Sources and Interpretation [Paperback]

Cynthia A. Kierner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130898678 | ISBN-13: 978-0130898678 | Publication Date: August 30, 2002 | Edition: 1

A core text or supplementary reader for advanced undergraduate courses on the era of the American Revolution.

 

Unique in both coverage and focus, this collection of primary documents and original interpretive essays provides an unusually well-balanced introduction to the era of the American Revolution. Chronologically, the text explores the period from 1750 to 1815—examining sources of both stability and discontent within the British Empire (and thereby discouraging students from assuming the inevitability of the Revolution), and ending with the War of 1812 (which many Americans saw as securing independence and the ideals of the Revolution). Topically, the text covers traditional political and military subjects as well as the newer social and cultural history of the era—providing students with a broad understanding of the Revolution as both a war for independence and an occasion for political, social, and cultural conflict and transformation. The wide variety of documents range from classic texts—such as Common Sense and the Federalist—to excerpts from diaries and travelers' accounts to newspapers advertisements and selections from contemporary histories and novels.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Cynthia Kierner's excellent new collection of primary sources on the American Revolution fills a great gap in the literature. Expertly introduced by short interpretative essays that reflect the latest historiographical developments, Kierner's chapters provide rich source material for advanced courses on revolutionary America and for teachers and scholars looking for a convenient compendium of the key texts. A fine achievement." — Peter Onuf, University of Virginia

"Kierner has created well-conceptualized chapters that synthesize an enormous amount of material, and she has done so in more engaging ways than one typically finds in comparable treatments of the Revolution." — Jean B. Lee, University of Wisconsin

From the Back Cover

Revolutionary America combines primary documents and original interpretive essays to provide a balanced introduction to the revolutionary and early republican periods. Covering traditional political and military subjects, along with the social and cultural history of the era, documentary selections range from classic texts like Common Sense and The Federalist to excerpts from contemporary travelers' accounts, diaries, and novels. Complemented by a rich assortment of maps and illustrations, Revolutionary America offers flexibility and insight for students and teachers alike.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 404 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (August 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130898678
• ISBN-13: 978-0130898678
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #434,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very good reference book, October 27, 2009

By 

Thamanjimmy (Jacksonville, Florida) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Revolutionary America, 1750-1815: Sources and Interpretation (Paperback)

This is a great book for anyone who enjoys the Revolutionary period. The author provides a brief history of the era and then provides literature, written during that time, to show how people thought.

Buy it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A little bias, October 27, 2008

By 

Cynthia M. Morel "Cyndi Morel" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Revolutionary America, 1750-1815: Sources and Interpretation (Paperback)

I am a college student at GMU... The author is actually my teacher and obviously this is a required text. I enjoy the book, I think due to beging able to listen to the Cynthia K's voice and see her personality brings the book a to life. The person whom left the comment before states that most history required text are boring. I am not a History major thus the amount of actual history books I have been required to read are limited, however I have rareky found them dull. I think you need a very active imagination to fully enjoy a history book. I believe that is why a lot of actor's fav subject is academics is History. Anyhow, the book is good. I just had to repurchase it because I lost mine.

Over all a good text book.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Le Snore (I got a B- in French), April 13, 2008

By 

Flannery - See all my reviews

This review is from: Revolutionary America, 1750-1815: Sources and Interpretation (Paperback)

So this is the required text for a class that I am taking at my local community college. Predictably, this class revolves around the Revolutionary War era. In a word this book is... typical. I mean rarely is a textbook interesting. Most students anticipate that whatever they are required to read will be exceedingly boring. Well at least I can say that this book fulfilled my every expectation. I don't understand. If teachers want their students to do well and be engaged, why don't they give them something more stimulating to read? Look the author does not have the worst writing voice. Her choice of words are usually clear without alot of extra jargon. The problem is that the text just shuffles along. History even in writing can be intresting. Don't tell me that it can't. The Revolutionary War Era is an incredibly exciting time period. This reality can be translated from pen to page. I understand that the utter and complete boredom that I experienced while reading the primary source documents cannot be be attributed to the author's lack of talent. After all she didn't write 'em. I am willing to accept the fact that translating the language of Coloniel America into our Modern Day vocabulary is a taxing and ultimatly fruitless task. However, I am NOT willing to accept the fact that the author is unable to make the magic of the Revolutionary War come to life. Kiddles unless this is required reading SKIP IT.