
Declaring Independence
Why 1776 Matters
Edward J. Larson(Author)
WW Norton & Co (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 6. January 2026
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-1-324-07897-5 (ISBN)
Description
The self-evident truths of 1776 hover over America's divisions-as inspiring ideals, as measures of how far the nation still must come, as the hypocrisy of slaveholders, as intrusions on local traditions. The revolutionary politics of 1776 turned from securing the rights of Englishmen to establishing the authority of an independent nation. The battlefields of 1776 cast the military mould for the war years to come and gave an enduring symbol of gritty determination. Drawing together the eloquence of Jefferson and the insistence of Paine, the strategies of generals and the audacious tactics of armies on the move and the powerful political movement that transformed colonies into states, this history of 1776 is a leading scholar's distillation of the pivotal events that must be reckoned with two hundred and fifty years after the nation's birth.
Reviews / Votes
"At a time when the guardrails of our democracy are being tested, it is vitally important to understand the foundations of American government. Edward J. Larson has written a magnificent book that explains how pivotal 1776 was for liberty, equality, and democracy. This beautifully written history is stunning in its lessons for today." -- Erwin Chemerinsky, author ofNo Democracy Lasts ForeverMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
8 pages of illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
472 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-324-07897-5 (9781324078975)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
11/2025
W. W. Norton & Company
€27.99
Available for download
Person
Edward J. Larson is the author of many acclaimed works of history, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the Scopes trial, Summer for the Gods, and the recent study of liberty and slavery at the founding, American Inheritance. A chaired professor of history and law at Pepperdine University, Larson lives with his family near Los Angeles.