The First American Revolution: Before Lexington and Concord

by Ray Raphael

A bold new interpretation of America's founding moment. According to the traditional telling, the American Revolution began with "the shot heard round the world." Ray Raphael's The First American Revolution uses the wide-angle lens of a people's historian to tell a surprising new story of America's revolutionary struggle. In the years before the battle of Lexington and Concord, local peoplemen and women of common means but of uncommon courageoverturned British authority and declared themselves free from colonial oppression, with acts of rebellion that long predated the Boston Tea Party. In rural towns such as Worcester, Massachusetts, democracy set down roots well before the Boston patriots made their moves in the fight for independence. Richly documented, The First American Revolution recaptures in vivid detail the grassroots activism that drove events in the years leading up to the break from Britain.

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

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

With strong support from primary sources, historian Ray Raphael argues that a Revolution was won by leaderless and thoroughly democratic citizen/patriots in Massachusetts long before a shot was fired by either the British or the local militias. Ray's argument, that the closure of the state courts, both Superior and Inferior, was the true start of a transfer of power from the King's Government in Massachusetts to a democratic society is well constructed, meticulously annotated and difficult to refute. Although little known and less heeded, the revolutionary events of 1774 sowed the seeds that marked the true birth of our country. I unreservedly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Massachusetts or Revolutionary history.

[Nick Girvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a bit of a warning, large gaps of this are extremely boring, and the format of continual reference to old documents is a difficult one for me to stay connected to, similar to the writings of one Grover Furr. With that said, these types of works often have the best information, and The First American Revolution is no exception.

Ray Raphael is my latest discovery, and an author I’ll absolutely keep reading. This book specifically details the revolution of 1774 in Worcester that followed the Massachusetts’s Government Act that lead to a massive popular upheaval due to its strict authoritarian nature. It precedes Lexington and Concord, emphasizing that because of that, this is overlooked entirely, intentionally or not. The point is that because it was handled with very little bloodshed and didn’t produce a “great man” in the likes of a Washington, Castro or Napoleon, it’s unfavorable to historical narratives. Yet, it’s an important story that only furthers my belief in the function of the state being a vehicle of one class to suppress another (can you tell I’m a Leninist?).

In other words, history may be written by winners, but is carried out by people, which Raphael seems to use as a guideline for his writing. The end highlights that the revolution was not a rising group of poor peasants seeking better life, but conducted by the landowners who feared the seizure of it due to debt, considering they were the only ones eligible to vote. Moreover, the disunity and factionalism that followed the successful revolution before blood began spilling was also pointed out, and the hard times that regular life brought despite popular belief of the opposite being true. It’s another thing that I think is unavoidable and has been handled relatively similarly throughout different spots of history. I also like that it referenced preceding events, such as the Stamp Act following the French and Indian War.

To conclude, this book is less about a striking historical happening and more about making a point of people participation being far more important than any strongman. If the former is what interests you, you’re going to be very bored with this (as I was at many times), however if the latter is a statement you find yourself agreeing with, this is absolutely worth your time to get to the crux of the matter.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of a lot of information that I have never seen before about the real start of the American Revolution and all that had happened in Massachusetts with the establishment of the Massachusetts Government Act by Great Britain that basically took away the citizen's rights in that colony and how the common citizens took matters into their own hands to retain their freedom. It demonstrates much more dramatically how this nation was begun with truly democratic ideals of the common people being in charge of their own destiny and demanding a say in their own governance. It kind of puts holes in some of the current notions about whether this country was started as a democracy or as a republic. Some interesting information, although a bit of a tedious read.

[Jeremy Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book that really explains the true background to the beginning of the American Revolution. The whole scale revolt by the Massachusets rural population is really what precipitated the actions that lead to the Revolutionay War. Without that it seems much less likely that there would have been armed conflict and revolution. After reading this book I am shocked that they are not teaching this in our schools. This is a must read for anyone who loves history or the American Revolution.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book had a lot of interesting information that I hadn’t previously studied. It showed the Revolution of 1774, which preceded the American Revolution. Many parts of the book can be applied to current situations in the United States, which made it a good read. However, the book was a little dragging at times and had a heavy (sometimes excessive in my opinion) use of quotes that made me lose the author’s voice.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars. Is worth a read for it’s exploration of the revolution in the Massachusetts countryside in late 1774-early 1775 that overthrew the British system of government without bloodshed. Forgotten in the larger narrative of the war that would follow, these actions are an essential element to why the redcoats even marched on Lexington and Concord 250 years ago. That said it’s somewhat dry and relies a lot on direct quotations of secondary sources.

[Devin Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A people's history exploring a Massachusetts revolution before (and after) the American revolution. This revolution was largely agrarian, democratic and progressive. As someone from western mass it is captivating to hear a revolutionary history as rich as Boston's but shocking how little known this important story is.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I learned so much new history regarding the early part of the US Revolutionary War.

[MayorTurnsPages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information. A story that needs to be told. Was a grueling read at times though.

[Jake]

“The First American Revolution” is an interesting and well-documented argument that the revolution in Massachusetts occurred before, and independently of, the American Revolution as we know it; and I believe that it covers the gap left by most histories between the Massachusetts Government Act and the outbreak of war caused by Lexington and Concord. However, I think that the author overstates the importance of these events. Even in reading the “The first American Revolution”, Ray Raphael makes it clear that the American Colonies, not just Massachusetts, had separated themselves ideologically and in their identity from their British origins. The onset of the American Revolution was inevitable, the events that actually signify the beginning of the war may not have been “the shot heard round the world” at Lexington; however, that battle is still the first violent conflict and thus also remains a significant event in the chronology of the Revolution.

[Henry Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always knew there was a lot going on in Massachusetts before Lexington and Concord. What a great review of this history. The story feels a little slow but I think it was the bloodless actions. The story is very compelling because of the overall beginning of the American Revolution.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important story to be told, but I'm not sure that Raphael's telling is particularly inspiring.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work documents rebellion to British rule in the years prior to the American Revolution of 1775. Gives a good portrayal of life and politics in the colonies.

[Christina Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and interesting. It helps put the entire American Revolution into context.