"The Real History of the Revolutionary War"

[Sequoia]

by Alan Axelrod



Book Description
Ask most Americans why their forefathers started the Revolution, and they’ll likely mention “no taxation without representation” or the belief in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as inalienable rights. But that’s just the start of the story, as historian Alan Axelrod so brilliantly shows in this eye-opening book. Axelrod offers a fascinating examination of what really caused the breach across the Atlantic and how the revolutionary movement began. The American Revolution brought something unique to the world: an entirely new kind of nation, founded on a set of ideas. In engrossing, conversational prose, Axelrod brings the birth of America to life by digging beneath the classically taught history to explore everything from little-known facts to alternate realities, along with the eyewitness testimony, pop culture, and art of the period. From the seeds of dissent through the long fight to glorious victory, the astonishing story of America’s revolution finally comes fully to light.

amazon.com

This book is just wonderful! Not only is it beautifully put together with cream thick and smooth pages with a great cover and all the sidebars and pictures, but protrays the people involved as people like you and me. It weighs a ton but I carted it on the bus and after I finished it had to take a brain break from reading for a day. I highly recommened it to all American History buffs.

[Demeter]

1. Not My Forefathers

Mine were in Poland, getting absorbed by Russia, Prussia and the Austrain-Hungarian Empire. That took care of Central Europe's "experiment in democracy" for a hundred years.

But somehow the idea lived on. And here we are, fighting yet again for the basic freedoms.

[mac2]

4. I never realized that countries all over the world tried

to get out of serfdom after our revolution. I read a book about the Polish revolution which was the setting for a historical novel.

I agree, today that struggle once again visited against the World Order Unions. Jefferson and Paine believed freedom is a human right...if not a human need. To be happy man (and woman) has to have his freedom to determine his own future.

As tryanny and abuse rise so does the discussion about Thomas Paine beliefs.

[winter999]

5. Yep, the French Revolution was a direct result of our revolution.

Thomas Paine even wrote the "Rights of Man" just for the French - their "Common Sense".

[mac2]

8. Right

[Sequoia]

9. Oh yes, there was a Polish hero in the Revolutionary War

Russian too. Many other men from other countries came and fought for the "idea" of a new country. The French joined just to up the ante on the British whose navy was in disarry thanks to the Earl of Sandwich.

[meegbear]

2. Isn't that "The Real History of the American Revolution"?

[mac2]

7. Howard Zinn also talks about the revolution and how

the citizens felt about it.

John Adams didn't think the ordinary, uneducated person could understand politics. He didn't approve of the royals but of the few elite. It has been proven the people see it in their everyday life so they do.

The People's History of the United States from 1492 to the Present by Howard Zinn. It is a famous history book.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=The+People+History+of+the+United+States

Over time, I keep referring to it. I gave it to a relative and wish I had saved it for myself.

[Sequoia]

10. Oops...I had a "duh" moment in my excitement! Thanks!

[supernova]

3. Thank you. I love books

written this way. Complex subjects written in a way that is engaging for the general reader without dumbing down the material.

[mac2]

6. The new computer e-books seem a great idea to me.

It certainly would save trees. Readers would find the purchase of the e-books cheaper in the end (except for the up front cost of the computer e-book reader).

I am torn between the need to have a hard copy to look at various passages, feel the book, etc. I'd like to be able re-read and look at some pictures and photos I love.

If book stores were smart they would contract with publishers to purchase e-books which could be sold to customers (downloaded right there at the e-book section from a computer). All done by the Internet.

And if e-book computer manufacturers were smart they would have functions and indexes so readers could save certain photos, passes, etc. from the e-books that they purchased.

Right now I have political books, coffee table books, and various hobbie books which I can't part with even though we move frequently. I donate to the library ones I have read and no longer need so others can read them.