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The contrarian historian and analyst upends the conventional reading of the American Revolution
In 1775, iconoclastic historian and bestselling author Kevin Phillips punctures the myth that 1776 was the watershed year of the American Revolution. He suggests that the great events and confrontations of 1775—Congress’s belligerent economic ultimatums to Britain, New England’s rage militaire, the exodus of British troops and expulsion of royal governors up and down the seaboard, and the new provincial congresses and hundreds of local committees that quickly reconstituted local authority in Patriot hands—achieved a sweeping Patriot control of territory and local government that Britain was never able to overcome. These each added to the Revolution’s essential momentum so when the British finally attacked in great strength the following year, they could not regain the control they had lost in 1775.
Analyzing the political climate, economic structures, and military preparations, as well as the roles of ethnicity, religion, and class, Phillips tackles the eighteenth century with the same skill and insights he has shown in analyzing contemporary politics and economics. The result is a dramatic narrative brimming with original insights. 1775 revolutionizes our understanding of America’s origins.
Iconoclastic historian and analyst Kevin Phillips (American Theocracy; Cousins' War) punctures myths about the Revolutionary War with a gripping, multi-dimensional narrative that reveals that 1775, not 1776 was really the watershed year for our independence movement.
Kevin Phillips has been a political and an economic commentator for four decades. This is his fifteenth book. The predecessor to this book, The Cousins’ Wars, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1999. He lives in Connecticut.
Anonymous
Posted December 5, 2012
I have been doing genealogy research this past year. As I read the local histories and documents, I am discovering US history is more complicated than the story in the average history book. I am suspicious American understanding of our history may be more biased than is assumed. This bias may be a large influence in how we perceive American identity, historical goals, reality, and even our documents.
In his introduction, Phillips makes reference to this disparity between facts and myths. I am interested in reading his position and comparing it to the original facts and the common interpretation of the facts. There is a bibliography to assist readers to find and read documents that influenced Phillips research. For those serious about learning the real American history, this book may provide a framework for more study. That is the reason I will read it.
2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 2, 2012
Pigeon hole one year without describing why it's abundantly more crucial than '74 or '76? Historically accurate but definitely more opinion than history. This book wasn't bad, but for $20 bucks, i expect a lot better.
1 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 3, 2013
Highly recommend.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 16, 2013
If you want add view of how the American Revolution came to pass, should read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.bama81
Posted January 18, 2013
as above. 81BAMA
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 14, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
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Posted January 5, 2013
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Posted December 25, 2012
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Overview
The contrarian historian and analyst upends the conventional reading of the American Revolution
In 1775, iconoclastic historian and bestselling author Kevin Phillips punctures the myth that 1776 was the watershed year of the American Revolution. He suggests that the great events and confrontations of 1775—Congress’s belligerent economic ultimatums to Britain, New England’s rage militaire, the exodus of British troops and expulsion of royal governors up and down the seaboard, and...