The Era of the American Revolution: A Documentary Reader

The Era of the American Revolution features a collection of more than sixty essential primary documents relating to America's emergence as an independent nation. A close examination of these source materials allows readers to critically interrogate the roots of rebellion, the transformative experience of war itself, and the far-reaching ramifications of revolutionary state-building including the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. The most critical political documents and classic texts of the era are supplemented with edifying letters and papers from the general populace. The everyday voices of farmers and mechanics, women, slaves and free blacks, Indians and Loyalists alike combine to add a rich texture to America's unfolding narrative as they seize upon opportunities and negotiate obstacles inherent in a revolutionary age.

Introductory headnotes by editor Joseph F. Cullon place the documents into their appropriate context while encouraging readers to think creatively about different ways to consider America's revolutionary heritage. By presenting the original documents that helped forge a nation, The Era of the American Revolution offers rich insights into the most pivotal era in America's history.