Revolutionary War

New Phillis Wheatley Biography Reclaims Her Role as an Antislavery Thinker

by Tiya Miles

With David Waldstreicher's book, "there can now be no doubt of Wheatley’s importance not only to African America but also to the country and culture as a whole," alongside Paine, Jefferson and Franklin. 

Reconsidering Phillis Wheatley's Place in the Revolutionary Era

David Waldstreicher's "The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley" places the poet in the ranks not only of the founders of American literature but of the nation itself. 

The Selective Appropriation of Christopher Gadsden's Famous Flag

by Jordan Baker

The Gadsden Flag originally symbolized the unity of the American colonies against oppression by the Crown and Parliament. It's an irony of history that the symbol has been adopted by some who reject centralized authority. 

Teaching "All Men are Created Equal" (Part II)

by Jeff Schneider

In the second part of this essay, a longtime teacher of American history maintains that a close reading of the Declaration of Independence makes it possible to discuss revolution and racism in a thoughtful way without intimidating either white students or students of color.

What Did the Continental Congresses Do?

From the runup to the Revolution to the adoption of the Constitution, three Continental Congresses were the de facto national government. Here's what they did. 

What an Englishwoman’s Letters Reveal About Life in Britain During the American Revolution

by Julie Flavell

"Jane was convinced that her husband had embarked on a humanitarian errand. She believed the British war machine that carried him to New York was not intended to drive the Americans to desperation, but to force them to the negotiating table."

Escape as Resistance for Enslaved Women during the American Revolution

by Karen Cook Bell

Historians have, for too long, failed to recognize how Black women imagined and pursued freedom by escape from slavery during the American Revolution. 

‘A Tale of the Forgotten Patriots’: New Brooklyn Tour Explores History of British Prison Ships Moored in NYC During the American Revolution

New York's East River was a mooring site for British prison ships where Colonial revolutionary prisoners were held in dangerous (and disgusting) conditions. 

Who Won the American Revolution?

by Guy Chet

Almost since the smoke cleared after the Battle of Lexington, Americans have debated the relative merits of the militias and the Continental Army in fighting the British. The relative esteem of each group has followed changes in the politics of the nation. 

America’s First Black Regiment Earned Their Freedom by Fighting Against the British

Philip Morgan says the decision to enlist both free and enslaved Black troops resulted both from Rhode Island's difficulty mustering a sufficient all-white force and George Washington's fear that Lord Dunmore's offer of freedom to enslaved men who joined the British army would undermine the slavery-based economy of Virginia and the southern colonies. 

The American Revolution’s Most Inspiring Patriots Include Enslaved African Americans

by Ben Railton

Enslaved African Americans in Massachusetts petitioned the legislature in 1777 to demand the principles of the Declaration of Independence be applied to secure their freedom, beginning a tradition of critical patriotism, of exposing the gap between national ideals and reality to push for change.

Early American Urban Protests — A Review Of Boston’s Massacre

A review of Eric Hinderaker's new book "Boston's Massacre" highlights the shifting narrative of the events and their place in the national story, and the perpetually unanswered conflict between limits of authority and those of popular protest.

Paul Revere Made the Boston Massacre a Flashpoint for Revolution.

by Philip Gerard

The incident that became known as the Boston Massacre didn't have to happen, and didn't have to become a flashpoint for violence after. As political tensions break into violence today, it's worthwhile to think about Boston in 1770.

In N.H. Town, Calls To Put Up Statue Of Black Revolutionary War Hero

Wentworth Cheswill had an integral role in what may have been the first true battle of the Revolutionary War in Porsmouth, New Hampshire.

Peace is Temporary Without Trustworthy Leaders: Lessons from the Philadelphia Mutiny

by David Head

In an environment of intense mutual suspicion—soldiers accused civilians of stingy ingratitude while civilians saw the army as a threat to their liberty—Washington’s trustworthiness bound the two sides together.

Familiar Story of the Boston Massacre Becomes Familial

A review of Serena Zabin's upcoming book "The Boston Massacre."

Smallpox Inoculations in 1770s Were Risky, But Helped George Washington Win the War

Historian Elizabeth Fenn notes that Washington recognized the need to negate a British advantage: endemic smallpox in Britain made his enemy less susceptible to the disease rampant in the colonies. 

Lexington and Concord -- Where the Rubber Meets the Road

by Guy Chet

The Revolution was, first and foremost, a war.  The Revolution’s battles and campaigns thus offer sound insights as to the rebels’ motivation and aims. 

A Historian Finds Women, Children, and ‘Family History’ at the Boston Massacre

“What happens when we think of this as an event that is populated by women and children as well as just guys with guns?”

Author Christian Di Spigna Is On a Mission to Honor a Revolutionary War Hero

by Michael McQuillan

A review of Founding Martyr: The Life and Death of Dr. Joseph Warren, the American Revolution’s Lost Hero.