¶ … American Revolution: A History" by Gordon S. Wood. Specifically, it will contain a narrative review of the book. Wood's book is a modern look at history, and at the results of the American Revolution. While there are numerous books on the subject, this one is relatively easy to read and understand, and short enough not to put off the reader. It is an excellent reference for anyone interested in American history.
The author's thesis is set in the Preface of the book, where he notes, "The Revolution, in short, gave birth to whatever sense of nationhood and national purpose Americans have had" (Wood 26). In addition, author Wood believes that as history moves on, the true meaning and how historians view the American Revolution has altered, and this book is an attempt to illustrate these new views of a more than 200-year-old revolt. More than anything else, Wood wants modern readers to understand all aspects of the Revolution, rather than just see it in terms of black and white or right and wrong.
Clearly, there were numerous societal changes brought about by the Revolution. Probably the most important is that Americans were no longer under British rule. They had come to America to create new lives for themselves, but they had still retained a balance of English customs and "traditional patterns of life" (Wood 36). After the Revolution, Americans were no longer British subjects, and they could devise their own, brand new...
Since the author breaks down the book into three main categories, and then further breaks down the categories into chapters, the book has logical breaking points, and follows a rational chronology. It is easy to see, after reading this book, the stages our democracy evolved through, and how these systematic stages clearly affected the ultimate result. From Monarchy to Republicanism to Democracy, each section is like a stepping-stone for
American Revolution, written in 2002 by Gordon Wood on this seminal event, won the Bancroft Prize that is awarded annually by Columbia University for its distinguished portrayal of American history. In a short 166 pages, Wood conquers over 20 years in a very concise and interesting way -- despite the fact that this topic has been covered time and time again, often in a very dry fashion. The American Revolution is
American Revolution Over the past few years, a number of historians have written about the first years of the American experience. In most cases, they either rave about the actions of the patriots: How this was unlike any other time in world history -- when being bullied, it is necessary to take the defensive. Or, they take a much more negative view: This whole event should not be blown out of
American Revolution New American History is full of many relevant events that have made a significant impact on the American History. Despite all the relevant things, it should be noted that America itself might not have been conceived if it had not been for the struggles that took place in the American Revolution. It was the starting point of the American history and the time when people were beginning to find
Regardless of how limited this particular scope lie within colonial society, it set a new precedent for a new form of virtue. The debate over which type of virtue prevailed within the Continental Congress for four years; it seemed as if the classical virtue was diminishing. The notion of classical virtue involved adherence to social norms that were streamlined with an aristocratic government and monarchy. Even Richard Henry Lee conceded that
Whether it was the Spanish that fought to conquer lands in the south, or the Dutch that engaged in stiff competition with the British, or the French that were ultimately defeated in 1763, the American soil was one clearly marked by violent clashes between foreign powers. This is why it was considered that the cry for independence from the British was also a cry for a peaceful and secure
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now