The main idea of the book was, “The revolution was finished before the war commenced” (2). The Revolution was actually already instilled in the people’s hearts and minds of the people. On the following pages, a social, political, economic and military history was presented where Americans fought for their social and political rights even before the war started. For a couple of chapters, several British political changes in the American society have trigged the American’s change in their opinions and principles.
The British Minister proposed that the “colonial agents” will be heard at the Bar of the House “by counsel” (87). To this, the Americans refused. They meant to protest against the passage of the act, not to petition (87). In implementing the act, the “colonial agents” burned or destroyed the stamp papers. This incident illustrated the sentiments of the Americans regarding their duties and obligations. They rose up to strongly resist this Stamp Act.
There were also a series of essays regarding the repeal of the Stamp Act. Debates regarding the issue were rampant among several locations. There was a growing awareness and hunger for an independent nation. Besides that, there were also several associations that formed other the title of “Sons of Liberty” which comprised of many of the prominent and respectable American citizens (81).
This resistance to the policies via letters, essays, or creating associations were the American Revolution. These series of events and “remonstrances” illustrated where the revolution was going. The war was actually the effect of the revolution and it was not a cause of itself. The revolution was already happening. The opposition that was brewing and growing amongst the heart of the Americans was the revolution. The goal for the Americans was to acquire rights and social justice which fuelled the hearts of the Americans to continue opposing and pursuing their rights.
The events before the American war were described in great detail and there was a separation between the revolution and the war in the book. The real American Revolution was not the war itself but the succeeding events and oppositions that lead to the war.
There was reasonable understanding of the social, military and political and social aspects of the American Revolutionary war. There was a discussion in detail about many political developments during the period 1763-1789 – both in America and in England. The book pointed out several social and political British policies that triggered the opposition the Americans. The book does cover military campaigns in detail but most importantly, it covered other aspects as well. This could be seen as a more balanced written history.
There was a thoughtful analysis of the Revolution and the war that differs from many other views of this event. The book did not focus on the excessive worship and glorification of the Founding Fathers. There was sympathy towards those involved in the conflict. Those nameless people who have joined the opposition, those who have written letters and essays and help create associations to bring people together are the heart of the revolution.
