A lot of the American Revolution history is told from the viewpoint of our Founding Fathers. There are countless books written about Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin. These were brilliant men, highly capable, excellent leaders, and they deserve the attention. But … when was the last time you read a book about the Revolution from the viewpoint of the ordinary citizen?
American Insurgents, American Patriots by T.H. Breen attempts to tell that story. And it succeeds where other attempts fail. Breen does not lace his book with bias and storylines to prove a point. Instead, he just tells the stories of the ordinary citizens who created committees to seek out Loyalists, formed militias, enforced economic bans on English goods, and stood up to the English bureaucrats who seemed completely unable to read what was happening around them. He acknowledges a few atrocities and some people going overboard, but by and large he’s telling a story of a truly civil demonstration. And by that I mean, a relatively just and honest group of people that had a high degree of respect even for the neighbor that remained a Loyalist. A theme throughout the book was the centrality of religion, and in particular Evangelicalism, to the Revolution.
This is a book that will be popular with all parts of our citizenry today. Political scientists can find things in this book that reflect modern uprisings. Progressives will find a civil and just society that tolerated differences of opinion without resorting to violence. Militia members will hear how their forefathers did it. The Tea Party could learn a few things. That’s what is cool about this book … it will appeal to a wide audience.
If you love history, particularly American Revolutionary history, this is a must read.
