The First American Revolution: The American Colonies on the Eve of Independence – A Study of Colonial Government, Society, Religion, and Intellectual Life

by Clinton L. Rossiter

From his monumental Seedtime of the Republic, Rossiter culled this account of colonial government, religion, social structure, and intellectual life. Index.

Genres: History

266 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 1956

About the author

Clinton Lawrence Rossiter III was an award-winning American historian and political scientist who taught at Cornell University from 1947 until his death in 1970.

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a popular history, condensed from a Bancroft Prize winning book by the same author. For a book written in the early 1950's this is a fairly balanced look at the culture of pre-revolutionary America. The author uses John Adam's contention that the American revolution actually took place in the hearts and minds of the colonists before the actual shooting started. What I found interesting is that the strengths and weaknesses that still beset our democracy can be seen while the USA was still in the womb. Somehow a mass of petty, self-interested, grasping materialists were able to elevate their love of liberty and their egalitarian view of the world to form a more or less perfect union. Of particular note was the author's contention that poverty was viewed from the beginning as a vice brought on by some moral flaw in the impoverished. There were laws that forbade living alone (because one might become a burden on society). In either case, the poor and the solitary were "warned out of town." I am amazed that we have made the progress that we have when it comes to quality of life issues for the less fortunate.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very difficult to read!!!