An intriguing study of the revolutionary army as a powerful and yet contested symbol of nascent national identity among the American colonies.

The Schlager Anthology of the American Revolution offers a modern, original sourcebook covering the movement for American independence. From the creators and publishers of Milestone Documents in American History, this new title is built on the principles of inclusivity and accessibility. Along with essential primary sources from the era, including Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death," Thomas Paine's Common Sense, and Abigail Adams's "Remember the Ladies," this anthology also includes often-marginalized voices, from women to Native Americans to African Americans. These documents have been abridged and edited to make them more accessible to students of differing reading levels. Additionally, each source is followed by a series of questions that prompt readers to use their higher order thinking skills and engage with primary texts in a deep way. Edited by Jon Chandler (University College London lecturer and author of War, Patriotism and Identity in Revolutionary North America) and featuring contributions from numerous scholars, The Schlager Anthology of the American Revolution includes more than 80 textual and visual sources from this historical period. It marks the 2nd installment in the "Schlager Anthologies for Students" reference series.

The reader is offered a fresh perspective on the “Ten Crucial Days” of the American Revolution, during which the Continental Army won its first three significant victories of the war. This book offers a concise but detailed account of a critical moment in our national saga by focusing on the exploits of several obscure individuals and their importance to the momentous events that altered the course of the conflict. These nine men and one woman distinguished themselves in the service of what George Washington famously termed “the glorious cause,” and the author shares their stories in an engaging and inspirational narrative. The unsung heroes that are the subject of this chronicle include the following: Captain William Blackler of Massachusetts, who commanded the boat that carried George Washington across an ice-choked Delaware River on Christmas night 1776 to attack the Hessian brigade occupying Trenton. Joseph Trumbull of Connecticut, Commissary General of the Continental Army, who kept its weary soldiers from starving during the dark days of 1776. Colonel Samuel Griffin of Virginia, who together with a woman known as the “Mysterious Widow” (whose identity is still unknown to us), managed to divert Hessian troops who were posted south of Trenton away from the scene of the battle on December 26, 1776, when Washington’s army attacked the Hessians stationed in Trenton, so that the enemy brigade there could not be rescued from the American assault. Dr. John Riker of New Jersey, who saved the life of a future President, James Monroe, during the December 26thbattle at Trenton. Joseph White of Massachusetts, a young sergeant whose artillery crew captured two enemy cannons aimed at American troops at Trenton on December 26thand then retrieved a damaged cannon that might otherwise have been lost to the enemy. Colonel Edward Hand of Pennsylvania, who commanded a vastly outnumbered force of American skirmishers that fought a daylong running battle against British and Hessian troops marching from Princeton to Trenton on January 2, 1777 and thereby gave Washington the time he needed to organize his defenses and fight off the enemy attack at the Second Battle of Trenton (or the Battle of Assunpink Creek). Colonel Charles Scott of Virginia, whose brigade manned the front line of defense against the enemy assault at Assunpink Creek during what may have been the most underappreciated moment of the Revolutionary War. Colonel John Haslet of Delaware, who provided inspirational leadership and survived one danger after another, including an accidental tumble in freezing Delaware River waters, only to make the supreme sacrifice at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, during what became the capstone event of the “Ten Crucial Days.” Captain Joseph Moulder of Pennsylvania, 62 years of age, who commanded a youthful artillery company that stood its ground against an elite force of onrushing British infantry at Princeton and gave Washington the time he needed to organize a counterattack that carried the army to its climactic victory of the “Ten Crucial Days.” Praise forRescuing the Revolution Rescuing the Revolution: Unsung Patriot Heroes and the Ten Crucial Days of America’s War for Independence presents ten unique stories of lesser-known heroes whose courage and patriotism contributed to our nation's quest for independence. Through this informative and well-crafted account, Price provides each of these individuals with an honored place in the history of the American Revolution.” —Jennifer Martin, Executive Director, Friends of Washington Crossing Park “Mr. Price’s deep knowledge and passion for his subject infuses every page and draws the reader into his narrative. I would highly recommend this book both to those who are interested in the Revolutionary War as well as to general readers who will be inspired by the realization that our freedom was won and has been maintained not only by the giants of American history but also by those little-known men and women who were willing to sacrifice everything during our nation's most desperate hours.” — Samuel C. Slaymaker, Executive Director, Rock Ford Plantation, Lancaster, PA (home of Revolutionary War hero Edward Hand) “I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the American Revolution.” — Jeanne Floersheimer, President, North Jersey American Revolution Round Table “Rescuing the Revolution: Unsung Patriot Heroes and the Ten Crucial Days of America’s War for Independenceis a well-crafted narrative, combining impeccable research with great writing to tell the stories of common people whose bravery and patriotism changed the course of history.” — Judi Biederman, Regent, Washington Crossing (PA) Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and Historical Interpreter, Friends of Washington Crossing Park “I was extremely engaged by the author's thorough knowledge of the Revolutionary War and his passion for the ‘Ten Crucial Days’ of that conflict. He is the best, a historian who is bringing history to the people through his work as a historical interpreter, his writing, and his presentations on this terrific book.” —Joseph Garrera, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum, Allentown, PA “This is a solid, workmanlike book that highlights the contributions of ten people who served the Revolution in what historians call the "Ten Crucial Days" from December 25, 1776 to January 3, 1777.” — Daniel Moran, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor of History, Monmouth University

In 1776, thirteen colonies declared their independence from Britain. Although they came together to fight a war, the colonies were far from a unified nation. In George Washington: Uniting a Nation, Don Higginbotham argues that Washington's greatest contribution to American life was creating a sense of American unity. In clear and concise prose, Higginbotham shows that as Revolutionary War commander, proponent of the Constitution, and president, George Washington focused on building national identity and erecting institutions to cement the fledgling nation. The first book on Washington to examine exclusively his role in state formation, George Washington is essential reading for scholars, students, and everyone interested in America's first, and most formative, president.

Since 1783, patriotic societies have become an integral part of American history. The great number of Sons, Daughters, and Dames, and the alphabetical jungle of G.A.R., D.A.R., V.F.W., U.C.V., U.D.C., W.R.D., etc. are well known--and are often subjects of controversy. Wallace Evan Davies here recounts, in fascinating detail, the activities and attitudes of both veterans' and hereditary patriotic societies in America up to 1900. In a lively manner, he explores their significance as social organizations, their concept of patriotism, and their influence upon public opinion and legislation. At the close of the American Revolution a group of officers formed the first patriotic veterans' society, The Society of the Cincinnati--open to all officers who had served for three years or were in the army at the end of the Revolution. Thus it began. Then, after the Civil War, came the numerous organizations of veterans of both sides and of their relatives. And as some Americans became more nationalistic, others, becoming absorbed in family trees, started the many hereditary societies. After discussing the founding of men's, women's, and children's patriotic societies, the author describes their organizational aspects: their size, qualifications for membership, officers, dues, ritual, badges, costumes, and the like. In hereditary groups, membership was deliberately limited, for exclusiveness was often their strongest appeal. The veterans' groups, however, were usually anxious to be as large as possible so as to enhance their influence upon legislators. The appearance, beginning in the 1860's, of nearly seventy patriotic newspapers and magazines testifies to the rising popularity of these groups: prominent publications of the patriotic press included "The Great Republic," "The Soldiers' Friend," "The Grand Army Record," "The Vedette," "National Tribune," and "American Tribune." Many people turned to patriotism as to a sort of secular religion in which their increasing differences--in national origin and in religious and cultural inheritance--could be submerged; many others joined these societies primarily for social reasons. Once members, however, all became devoted campaigners for such projects as pensions for veterans, care of war orphans, and popular observance of national patriotic holidays; they also took to the field over desecrations of the flag, sectional animosity, the teaching of history, immigration policy, labor disturbances, military instruction in schools, and expansionism. In "Patriotism on Parade" we have a cross-section of American social and intellectual history for the period 1783-1900. In writing it, Davies quotes liberally from contemporary letters and newspapers which make lively reading, and he has had access to the many scrapbooks and voluminous papers of William McDowell--prominent in the founding of several hereditary groups--which shed new light on the early years of the D.A.R. and the S.A.R. in particular. His book will be read with interest by the general public, by historians, and especially by persons who have belonged to any of the organizations he describes.

“Excellent . . . deserves high praise. Mr. Taylor conveys this sprawling continental history with economy, clarity, and vividness.”—Brendan Simms, Wall Street Journal The American Revolution is often portrayed as a high-minded, orderly event whose capstone, the Constitution, provided the nation its democratic framework. Alan Taylor, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, gives us a different creation story in this magisterial history. The American Revolution builds like a ground fire overspreading Britain’s colonies, fueled by local conditions and resistant to control. Emerging from the continental rivalries of European empires and their native allies, the revolution pivoted on western expansion as well as seaboard resistance to British taxes. When war erupted, Patriot crowds harassed Loyalists and nonpartisans into compliance with their cause. The war exploded in set battles like Saratoga and Yorktown and spread through continuing frontier violence. The discord smoldering within the fragile new nation called forth a movement to concentrate power through a Federal Constitution. Assuming the mantle of “We the People,” the advocates of national power ratified the new frame of government. But it was Jefferson’s expansive “empire of liberty” that carried the revolution forward, propelling white settlement and slavery west, preparing the ground for a new conflagration.