Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence

by Joseph J. Ellis

From the award-winning, preeminent American historian: a revelatory portrait of a crescendo moment in American history.

Joseph J. Ellis' focus: the summer of 1776, the most dramatic few months in the story of our country's founding. The thirteen colonies came together and agreed to secede from the British Empire. At the same time, the British dispatched the largest armada ever to cross the Atlantic; it cruised off the coast of Staten Island in early July. The Continental Congress and the Continental Army were forced to make decisions on the run, improvising as history congealed around them. In a brilliant and seamless narrative, Ellis weaves the political and military experiences as two sides of a single story, and shows how events on one front influenced outcomes on the other. Revolutionary Summer enlivens familiar historical events with a freshness at once revelatory and compelling.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American Revolution, American History, American Revolutionary War, Audiobook, Politics

240 pages, Hardcover

First published June 4, 2013

About the author

Joseph John-Michael Ellis III is an American historian whose work focuses on the lives and times of the Founding Fathers of the United States. His book American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson won a National Book Award in 1997 and Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for History. Both of these books were bestsellers.

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Exceptional Book

Without a doubt, “Revolutionary Summer... “Is an outstanding historical reflection on the year 1776.

Joseph J Ellis does a remarkable job of first, explaining the differences and the views of the revolutionary leaders in Philadelphia and George Washington’s troops.

The pace of the book was very balanced and it kept me, the reader, engrossed throughout. This is much different from many other history books that I’ve read.

The references are in the back and well sited throughout the entire book. There are pictures provided in the rear of the book that help supplement the readings.

If you are a history buff, like I am, this book is for you and I highly recommend it

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some reviewers of this book who have stated that Joseph Ellis is retreading old ground here, but I am not sure what they are referring to. The fact that the book covers the American Revolution is similar to Ellis’s other work, but the similarities end there.

Revolutionary Summer covers the time period from about May-October 1776, with Ellis examining the period through his usual method, which involves a political and military lens with a balanced blend of macro- and micro-history, expanding on key people and moments in order to draw conclusions and broaden our understanding of the event as a whole. It is a remarkably succinct analysis, the thesis being that by the fall of 1776, the British could not win the war for political reasons (the unexpected obstinacy of the Continental Congress chief among them) and the Americans could not win the war for military reasons (because the new states, stuck in a mindset of regional loyalties and suspicious of a standing army, refused to supply enough men and money to the Continental Army, keeping them “on the verge of dissolution.”)

The postscript provides an outstanding insight into British national feelings about the war even before its conclusion. The loss of her American colonies shattered the tenuous illusion of unquestioned British superiority, a blow many Britons tried their best to forget. Likewise, Americans attempted to sweep the necessity of the Continental Army under the rug, preferring to believe that the war was won by militia alone and that the republic was born out of “Immaculate Conception,” free from the perceived evils of a standing army. This willful amnesia by both sides is a fascinating aspect of the conflict, one I wish to see expanded upon in another work.

Ellis has always been a master at taking an event which we think cannot be fruitfully analyzed any further and making us look at it in another way, exposing an unexpected angle which allows us a glimpse of new layers of complexity. Revolutionary Summer is proof that there is always more to learn than we thought possible.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Revolutionary Summer by Joseph J. Ellis. I've read quite a few books and biographies of the American Revolution time period and this is one of my favorites.

The best thing about Revolutionary Summer to me is its brevity. It focuses on the eventful summer of 1776 and the political and military hurdles overcome by the Americans. While it is brief this is a gem of a book.

On the political side, John Adams comes out as the unsung hero in this story because he was the civilian workhorse in the Continental Congress (working 18 hours a day, per Ellis) that headed up the Board of War. He had to coordinate and scrap together what he could for the continental army when there really weren't enough resources from which to pull.

Ellis illustrates to us on the military side that the eventual American victory wasn't so much what we (the Americans) did as much as what the British didn't do. The British had at least a few missed opportunities to utterly defeat the outmatched Americans but they let it slip through their fingers many times.

If you enjoy American Revolutionary history written pithily, then this is the book for you. This is my favorite Joseph J. Ellis book that I have read so far and I recommend this audiobook version.

[John Vibber · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a scene! Revolutionary Summer takes you to the months of 1776 that have shaped our destiny and inspired all subsequent republics. The largest invasion fleet in history is sailing into New York City. General George Washington is frantically searching for a strategy that might allow his army to survive the onslaught. The Continental Congress is considering whether or not to unify as States in unique new country. Meanwhile, men and women in each colony are deciding whether they are British or an emergent species called “American.”

This book is the perfect follow-up for Nathaniel Philbrick’s Bunker Hill.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revolutionary Summer by Joseph J. Ellis looks at the summer of 1776 when some of the most consequential events in the founding of the United States occurred. Leading up to and the actual Declaration of Independence many momentous decisions had to be made on the run while the Continental Congress and Continental Army tried to stay one step ahead of the pursuing British army. The author examines the most influential figures in the colonies at that time including George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin for the rebelling colonials as well as Admiral Lord Richard and General William Howe and others for the British. He presents details on the politial and military developments and how one would have influence on the other like two sides of the same story. It does overlap with other books I've read on the American fight for independence from Britain but is more focused on the crucial events and timing during that summer in 1776. I thought it was well written and even with some overlap with other books I learned new information and got a different perspective and some new information.

[Donald Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed explanation and analysis of roughly May to October, 1776. Ellis dives into the events to explain the sentiments of the Americans, the British, the military players and the principal politicians on both sides. This level of detail illuminates much of how and why the revolution started and prevailed, in a way a wider view leaves unexplained. Mr. Ellis writes with clarity, insight and comparison of known facts to make his point. Any student of American History should read this short but detailed compilation of fact.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am often in the fence about the history of Joseph Ellis. He is an excellent writer, he anticipates some previous knowledge from his readers, and thus never simplifies the subject matter.

In this book Ellis tightens the microscope of his preferred subject, the Revolutionary period, and devotes his entire subject matter to 1776. Telling dual histories we follow the Continental Congress as well as General Washington as he awaits the British Invasion of New York.

The decisions of England's Howe brothers who saw themselves as ambassadors for peace as well as Generals might have done as much to create this country as anything General Washington and his armies ever did.

Trudging through well covered material Ellis brings some very interesting points to light. Ellis theorizes that the fear of a standing army led to a post war glorification of the state militias role in the war. When they were in battle they performed poorly, something we know little of from basic American history. The battles over the "militia" that have led to our 2nd Amendment interpretation questions can be traced back to this fear of a standing army.

And in a rebuke to American foreign policy of today, and yesterday for that matter, when the English army lands and captures Long Island, a delegate to the Continental Congress explains it does not matter. If they as an invader have to fight that hard for every mile to be captured the war will be unwinnable. Something the Brits learned then and we have had to be reminded of a few times in our history as well

Overall a quality short read with some thought provoking theories about a period we all think we know about.

[Joseph Sciuto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph Ellis is among a group of historians over the last fifty years who, in my opinion, have rewritten and revised American history, replacing fiction and semi-truths, with facts.

Mr. Ellis' "Revolutionary Summer," is simply another example of replacing fiction with fact. In this book, he takes a short time frame, May, 1776 until October, 1776, to give us a dual perspective of the birth of American Independence. Crosscutting between the Continental Congress and the Continental Army, he gives us the political and the military views of the forming of a nation and the men behind the creation of the American Republic, notably George Washington, Nathanael Greene, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin; and he also gives us brilliant insight into the thinking of Britain's Admiral Lord Richard Howe and his brother General William Howe whose decisions on the battlefield would greatly affect the outcome of the war.

A note of warning: I would not recommend this book to someone with no knowledge of the 'Revolutionary War' (It is not a starter book) but for anyone with knowledge of that period I would highly recommend.

[Aric Cushing]

Gripping from beginning to end. Howe's attack on Kip's Bay:

Washington's midnight escape across the Hudson (and Howe's brilliant undocumented response):

Oh yes, and our brilliant retreat, first to Harlem Heights, then to White Plains:

If you're a history buff, don't miss this one.

[Brian Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will always recommend Ellis for those who want to brush up - or learn - basic American revolutionary era history and personas without having to read hundreds of pages to arrive there.

Like Ellis's previous work, this focuses tightly on certain ideas, and while just over 200 pages, does so in such a brief space with a lot of insight and depth. This time, Ellis covers the timespan of May-October 1776, and his focus is Philadelphia and Washington, the first a city and the second the man. While the Convention in Philadelphia inched their way towards declaring independence, Washington was fighting battles that might have been even more important to the birth of the nation. While Philadelphia reached that decision, Washington was retreating from Long Island and Manhattan in order the preserve his army. Although this covers much of the same material of McCullough's 1776, and could be found in larger surveys of the period, my highest ranking arrives because of the absolute compulsiveness I feel when reading Ellis's prose. That raises it from a 4 to a 5 for me. As always, great stuff.

[Wayland Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot that most people don't know about the Revolutionary War. One of the things that never really gets taught in basic history courses is how close the American side came to losing, several times. This book, focusing on the summer and early fall of 1776, shows the early days of the war, and the reasons behind many of the difficulties faced by the Continental Army.

George Washington is rightly remembered as a hero of American history. What isn't really known is the story behind several of his early mistakes. Washington nearly lost his entire army in the various battle around New York City. When just about everything said he should go, he stayed. And really, he should have gone.

But this isn't only about the military. A good bit of the book focuses on the Congress, especially John Adams and a bit on Thomas Jefferson. They, too, had a lot of political hurdles to overcome as a new country was being created from ideas and good intentions. Any political studies major will tell you that's not the best basis for a government.

I've always been interested in the American Revolution, when a completely outmatched band of ragged men beat the strongest army in the world. This book throws some light on the details of some of the early days of that struggle, and the many ways it almost completely fell apart.

Recommended for history fans, especially American History fans.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by Ellis and surprisingly I loved his brevity on a subject that has produced many a dry tomb.

Revolutionary Summer concentrates on just that; the months of May through October 1776 and the dawning of America. I thoroughly enjoyed not re-visiting all the bloody battles. In this narrative Ellis concentrates on the strategy and the main leaders of the armies. What was also refreshing were the excerpts of letters between spouses and friends, when things can be said without the knowledge of others.

"The strategic center of the rebellion was not a place-Not New York, not Philadelphia, not the Hudson corridor-but the Continental Army itself."

As always there "fun facts" revealed: We Celebrate July 4th as the day the Declaration of Independence was signed, Fact: the document was signed, by most, on August 2nd.

Recommended only to true History fans

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revolutionary Summer is a concise telling of the events of the summer of 1776. The writing style is smooth and a lot of information is packed into such a small book. I really enjoyed it - Ellis shapes the individuals vividly and provides you with some insight into each of the key players, both British and American. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading about American History.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good but somewhat superficial study of the summer of 1776 and the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence. Ellis writes very well. Ellis is good at providing portraits of the major figures like John Adams, but I felt he profiled too few of them.

Still, his portrait of General Howe was good. The Howe brothers had insisted on being named as peace commissioners, with wide-ranging powers to grant pardons and offer concessions. They had also, as members of Parliament, opposed many of the more unpopular laws imposed on the colonists. Americans love our historical adversaries to be right out of a movie script: "evil tyrant", "brutal arrogant general", etc. George Washington was certainly not a skilled general and repeatedly found himself bested by Howe. But it is strange how many times Howe failed to follow up his victories and allowed Washington to retreat with his army mostly intact. Washington won only two battles out of eight in the entire war, and spent much of his time retreating, and was rash and over-aggressive. His decision to defend New York against the vastly superior British army nearly lost the war. Washington's offensive plans were overly complicated. Washington was often more concerned about his own reputation than he was about the survival and welfare of his men. When retreats were called, he delegated this responsibility to subordinates, again to protect his reputation.

Interestingly, one of the reasons the Continental Army was able to keep going was due to their own false propaganda. American newspapers never mentioned the defeat at Brooklyn; some even described it as a victory. "Loyalty to 'The Cause', " Ellis writes, "trumped all the conventional definitions of the truth so completely that journalistic integrity became almost treasonable."

Also, similar to what happens in America today, whenever Britain's commanders suffered failure, the public looked for someone in the army or the government to blame. The Continental Congress was not any better in terms of harmony; they knew what they were against, but not what they were for.

Many of the Continental Army's soldiers were idealists, upholding romantic notions of their moral supremacy and the righteousness of their cause: the so-called "Spirit of '76." Washington himself was too much of a realist to embrace this attitude. He had little confidence in his troops or in his own ability to lead them to victory. The spirit of '76 was dying even before the Declaration of Independence came around. As the Declaration itself was passed, the Continental Army was on the verge of annihilation.

Continental Army soldiers were, of course, "citizen-soldiers", a romantic way of saying amateurs. In our own popular imagination, the army was a legion of selfless heroes. In fact, most of them were amateurs, and more loyal to their states than to the "nation"; mainly because service in the state militia paid better than the Continental Army. Many recruits enlisted in one regiment and then re-enlisted in others for an extra helping of bounty money. Recruiting proved difficult; the majority of the colonists wanted nothing to do with the conflict. In most towns, revolutionaries created vigilante groups to intimidate loyalists and force the locals to swear loyalty oaths.

"The idealistic, quasi-religious political mentality suggested by elevated expressions like 'The Cause' and moralistic references to the superiority of American virtue as contrasted with British corruption, " Ellis writes, "had provided a rhetorical platform on which the different and disparate state and regional interests could congregate as a self-proclaimed collective...The exalted and almost operatic character of this mentality was heartfelt but unsustainable. It was the honeymoon phase of a marriage, blissfully romantic but of short duration."

We usually picture the signing of the Declaration of Independence as a single event that took place on July 4, 1776. In reality, the document was presented to Congress on June 28, Congress voted on July 2, and afterwards Congress spent a few days editing what was basically a press release. The document was not ready for publication until July 4, and the actual "signing" took months (John Hancock signed on August 2, and the others followed suit in the tiny space that was left). For some reason, Jefferson claimed that there was a signing ceremony on July 4.

Ellis, unlike other historians of this period, also deals with the question of slavery. The revolutionaries claimed to stand for government by consent, a principle rooted in colonial society and history but blatantly contradicted by slavery: 20% of the colonial population were blacks, and 90% of these were slaves. One of the grievances listed in the original draft of the Declaration of Independence accused George III of inciting slave insurrections.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know, it never hurts to brush up on history. I had begun to worry that I didn't understand the American Revolution and was mixing facts, making stuff up.
No, it turns out, I'm good. I know the basics: the flow of events, the major players, even some of the cities involved. I'm not as knowledgeable as I'd like to be but am probably good enough to be a standard American.
I know that because most of what I listened to, I actually remembered learning in Ms. Morrison's American History class and all the major things have been retained in my haphazard memory, so - yay!

Here's what I liked about this book: It's written in narrative format so it's not as dry and boring as a typical history text. I know, it's sad I have to have things told as a story in order for them to stick but it's not just me. A lot of people are like that. I'm not going to apologize.

Here's what I didn't like: It started going on and on and became as boring as a typical history text. I loved the letters between John and Abigail Adams. I loved Ben Franklin's snotty academic attitude. But then the fighting started after 1776 and I had no idea why I was being told half the things I was told or why I cared about Howe's "trial" in England. I mean, sure, it's a good way to wrap everything up but...one minute, Washington is not sure what he's going to do or how he's going to keep the army alive and the next minute, the war is...well, not-won - the book often mentions the not-winning America did, how it just survived longer than Britain and, therefore, they lost - and Howe has to give a debriefing to his peers, some of whom back him and some don't and THE END.
Yes, it just ended like that. I thought I must have fast-forwarded, skipping an entire section, but no. Trial. End.

So I don't really feel I learned anything but I'd still recommend this to anyone who wants to brush up on the events that happened between the Boston Tea Party (the massacre isn't really mentioned) and September 1776.
Also? This book left me wanting to learn more about Abigail Adams. I'm not sure how she flew under my radar all this time; this book makes her sound fairly kick-ass.

[Robert Melnyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good account of the early part of the American Revolution. Very similar to David McCullough's 1776. So much history that took place just a few miles from where I have lived all my life. It is very interesting to consider what would have happened if William Howe had decided to attack Washington in northern Manhattan. He could have destroyed the Continental Army, and essentially ended the Revolution at its beginning. How would history have changed? Very good read for American history buffs, although you probably do not need to read both this one and 1776 like I did :-).

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

After listening to a long Thomas Jefferson biography that glossed over a lot of key Revolutionary War events, I wanted to dig in a little and Revolutionary Summer perfectly met my desires. Covering just the summer of 1776, we get the story of the Declaration of Independence offset with the battles for New York (which basically set the tone for the whole rest of the war).

Good details, good analysis, good big picture reminders. Sign me up for all the rest of Joseph J. Ellis's Revolutionary era books.

[Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent scope and research

[Lordoftaipo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked it up to learn about how an independent movement had taken shape. So, the origin could take the form of just a book, written by an English-born author. Had a new nation thus formed so easily? No, not even a sense of national ethos was allowed, let alone innumerable unresolved issues. On the benefits of hindsight, did an eventual victory entail victory in every skirmish? Definitely not. One rout should not lead you to defeatism. You never knew when Providence would decide to frown upon you. You never knew that your enemies had not only made one mistake, but three. You never knew the victory had been foreordained.

For "the Cause," you would fight on until you fell. You would one day be joined by gladiators of the most daring kind. At any rate, the only thing you held strongest belief, was the inevitability of the independence.

I like the way Ellis puts it, that Summer '76 marks "the beginning of the end" of British forces, and "the end of the beginning" of the Continental Army.

Never lose hope.

[Zach Penrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal story of the one of the most pivotal moments in American history. Ellis does a great job at recapping the important sequence of events that evolved throughout the summer of 1776 and how these events shaped the course of the entire American War of Independence. Ellis seamlessly weaves together the political and military sides of the early American story to explain to the reader how both politics and events on the battlefield greatly shaped decisions made by both Washington and the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. In the postscript, Ellis also explores from the British perspective just how important the summer of 1776 proved to be for their Empire as well as the impact that the loss of the American colonies had on the psyche of the British. Overall, this is an outstanding historical narrative that is essential for anyone who is interested in understanding the American revolution in a deeper way.

[Bill Christman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of Ellis' fine pieces of history. He set out to show the interplay of the Battle of New York and the Congressional movement to independence. Usually these stories for ease of narrative are told separately but Ellis is trying to have the reader experience a bit of the chaos and show neither the political nor military decisions were made in a vacuum. Ellis going through and tell the British side, especially the military and the Howe brothers, solidifies the work and his basic theme. Recommend especially for those who have knowledge of the era as Ellis connects the dots in a different way here.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this telling of the Revolutionary War, and while was a bit of a bore, it's definitely a must. I'd probably would have enjoyed this in high school if I was made to read it. Ellis made these "mythological" grand revolutionaries that we know of: Jefferson, Adams, Paine, Washington, and more, more accessible and "every day" without the loss of the reverence that these men (and women!, I'm looking at you Abigail!), deserve. This is needed more than ever.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent, tightly written summation of the importance of 1776, the foundations from which all else followed. I recommend it for anyone looking to understand, in context, how decisions were made from the standpoint of the Continental Congress or the military. I’m not sure I fully understood, until I read this book, how very close Washington came to losing the entire war that summer, but for bad decisions by the Howe brothers to let the army leave New York.

[John Machata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent well-written history of this momentous time.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the shortest non-fiction history books I have read. Focused solely on 1776. It was an interesting read. Now I want to read another George Washington biography — so interesting!

[Braden Ladner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the least informative history book I've read.

[Rolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine, but doesn't really add anything new you can't read in 50 other books on the same period.

[Mark Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with the Founding Fathers: Providence was the most influential player in the birth of independent America.

[Saba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good and blissfully short. I needed to know a bit about the American revolution and this book does the trick! Howe Brothers are dumbasses!

[Jay Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph J. Ellis, who deservedly won the Pulitzer for his great “Founding Brothers,” equally deserves that accolade for this excellent “Revolutionary Summer.”

Ellis has done with a crucial moment in our Revolution Story, what Jay Winik did with our Civil War Story to such successful impact in “April 1865.” Each author took a laser focus on a moment in time that was not only a turning point in our collective history but also the convergence point of so many threads and personalities of the underlying complex narrative. Unlike nearly all of our recent historical chronicles of the Revolutionary period, including Ellis’ own work, that tend to tell the story in biographical relief or in chronological survey of either political or military points of view, here Ellis weaves together how each personality across the political and military stage influenced the thoughts and actions of the other. Further, he masterfully unveils standards and norms of the period, like character and honor, which have so drifted from our contemporary consciousness that without this lens many decisions, particularly on the battlefield, become inexplicable.

Perhaps most fascinating is the insight into the two brothers, British Admiral Richard Howe and General William Howe, who, if they had acted differently, if they had less desire to sue for peace with their “unruly brethren,” could almost have certainly crushed the Revolution in its crib. But then again, what is most intriguing of this weaving of the political and the military stories is perhaps that given the politicians commitment to Independence in this summer of 1776, the whole affair had transcended a mere military consequence. A meeting between Continental Congress representatives, Adams and Franklin, with Admiral Howe in early fall 1776 after the overwhelming US defeat at New York, speaks profoundly of this unwavering belief that Independence was inevitable and the military campaigns were simply a barometer of when.

Ellis saves his best work in underscoring this perception of inevitability while simultaneously indirectly giving profound insight into the foolishness of America’s wars of the last 50 years – Viet Nam, Iraq and Afghanistan. In all three, we were the British in an unwinnable war by failing to remember what our founding fathers knew intuitively. Ellis recounts how Adams grew in assurance of this inevitability by his reading of Greek and Roman military histories (imagine a contemporary politician doing likewise). He saw America as the same as the winning ancient underdogs: Thebes against Sparta in the Peloponnesian War or Rome against Carthage in the Punic Wars. “For like Hannibal, Howe would discover that winning battles was not synonymous with winning wars. Conquests were easily made because we achieve them with our full force; they are retained with difficulty because we defend them with only a part of our forces.” Thus, the greater Howe’s victories, the greater were his difficulties. For Adams understood, and history retells for any insurrection on a foreign land, Howe was destined to win his way to defeat. “The British had to win the war, but the American’s had only not to lose it.”

For any student of American history, “Revolutionary Summer” is a must read!