An Experiment in Liberty: America's Path to Independence

by George Grant

G.K. Chesterton once quipped that America is the only nation founded on a creed. This book is the story of how that happened. George Grant is not one of those historians who is obsessed with facts and dates. He is a seasoned storyteller, and in this short little book he gives the story of the American battle for independence, beginning with the background in the founding of the colonies and the French and Indian War, he chronicles the how and why of the American Revolution, down to the Constitutional convention. The American Revolution was in many ways not like a revolution at all. Rather than being a revolt against authority, it was a revolt in favor of law and the duty of the lesser magistrate. If you live in America, there is a great story and a great heritage for you to uncover.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Cultural

308 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2022

About the author

Dr. George Grant is an evangelical educator recognized by a Tennessee newspaper “Review Appeal” as the one who “lives and breathes” education.

Grant is known as a reformed scholar and evangelical activist who hopes to promote sound Christian doctrine, seeking honest answers to honest questions, developing true spirituality and experiencing the beauty of human relationships.

He founded Franklin Classical School, located in Franklin, Tennessee and the King’s Meadow Study Center, which seeks to help the modern church to develop a practical cultural expression of a Christian worldview in art, music, literature, politics, social research, community development and education.

Grant has also produced numerous writings of more than 60 works on the topics relating to theology, school curriculum, arts, fiction and politics.

Reviews

[Myersandburnsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading this alongside A Patriot’s History of the United States. And this was a really enjoyable read. Grant tells a familiar story quite well.

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a more thorough understanding of the Christian roots of our founding. Very educational and easy to read!

[Judson Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refresh Your Memory of Our Country’s Founding

Here’s a concise review of the founding of the United States of America. Read about the favors that led to the rising opposition to the British control over the colonies. Get a hint of the great debates that challenged the colonists thinking. Taste the hunger for Liberty. Feel the perseverance that led to success. I recommend the book.

[Dan Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grant does a fanatic job of weaving together the various strains of history that set the stage for the independence of the US from Britain and what that actually means.
I especially appreciated learning more about the impact of the Great Awakening. There were quite a few twists and turns between the original colonies fleeing persecution through a spiritual decline in the early seventeen hundreds before men like Edwards and Whitfield were used to spark a general repentance and awakening that fed directly into a deep love of liberty and the law that stood in stark contrast to the tyrannical actions of the crown and parliament.
Highly recommended.

[Bryan Bridges · Rating 3 out of 5]

A more thorough analysis of the religious thought behind the War for Independence and the crafting of the Constitution than you’ll typically find. Most of what I read on this topic is cherry-picked quotes trying to prove that the founding fathers were either all divine providentialists or all skeptical deists. This was a much more nuanced take. I also liked that it was well-sourced without being dryly academic.

[Paul Pompa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're anything like me and never really enjoyed history, but love reading in general, this is the way to learn to love history. Books such as this one add depth, context that you wouldn't have simply studying history. I never appreciated how complicated and fragile this journey was from early colonial America to the passing of the US Constitution. We are blessed to have the US Constitution as our social framework, as opposed to (literally) any other.

[Sean Kewley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too often, authors of history boil it in their own time, but this is not the case with Grant. As a Christian of the kind of the founders, he is able to write about them as true brothers. Great read.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, thorough but it won't bore you.

[Micah Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A succinct history of the founding of the United States and explanation of the political theory of the founders.

[Cole Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable account of America’s War of Independence

[WPProctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good fundamental history of the formation of the republic. I thoroughly enjoyed it!