The American Revolution

Contemporaries and historians alike have disagreed strongly over the character of the Revolution. Some see it principally as a nationalist movement and equate it with the war; others argue that the war was only the first stage of a much longer internal revolution; while still others insist that the 'real' Revolution took place in the minds and hearts of the people long before fighting began.

Colin Bonwick suggests that there were possible alternatives at each stage. He explores the evidence that Americans were contented members of the British Empire before the crisis exploded, and argues that independence was neither certain nor sufficient in itself. Instead, Bonwick suggests that internal changes (both successes and failures) were at the core of the Revolution: the creation of a republic, social reform, and the construction of a federal union which implemented a burgeoning sense of 'nationhood'.

Building on the success of the first edition, this second edition has been extensively revised and expanded in the light of recent research. It now includes illustrations and greater treatment of, in particular, African Americans, Native Americans, and women.