King George
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Evans, Elizabeth. Weathering the Storm: Women of the American Revolution. New York: Scribner, 1975.
Ketchum, Richard M. Decisive Day: The Battle for Bunker Hill. New York: H. Holt, 1999.
————. Saratoga: Turning Point of America’s Revolutionary War. New York: H. Holt, 1997.
————. The Winter Soldiers: The Battles for Trenton and Princeton. New York: Henry Holt, 1999.
Maier, Pauline. American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. New York: Random House, 1998.
Neimeyer, Charles Patrick. America Goes to War: A Social History of the Continental Army. New York: New York University Press, 1996.
Schecter, Barnet. The Battle for New York: The City at the Heart of the American Revolution. New York: Walker & Co., 2002.
Schoenbrun, David. Triumph in Paris: The Exploits of Benjamin Franklin. New York: Harper & Row, 1976.
Vanderbilt, Gertrude Lefferts. The Social History of Flatbush, and Manners and Customs of the Dutch Settlers in Kings County. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1881.
Van Doren, Carl. Secret History of the American Revolution. New York: Viking Press, 1941.
Wildes, Harry Emerson. Valley Forge. New York: Macmillan Company, 1938.
Wills, Garry. Inventing America: Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1978.
Biographies of major Revolution figures
Every story needs its main characters, right? And one of the best ways to find out about the key players of the American Revolution is to read biographies about them. I often read entire biographies in search of just one or two interesting details to help bring the character to life.
Arnold, Isaac Newton. The Life of Benedict Arnold: His Patriotism and Treason. Chicago: Jansen, McClurg & Co., 1880.
Brands, H.W. The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. New York: Doubleday, 2000.
Brookhiser, Richard. Alexander Hamilton: American. New York: Touchstone, 1999. Chernow, Ron. Alexander Hamilton. New York: Penguin Press, 2004.
Chidsey, Donald Barr. The World of Samuel Adams. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1974. Clark, Ronald William. Benjamin Franklin: A Biography. New York: Random House, 1983.
————. George Washington in. the American Revolution. Boston: Little, Brown, 1968.
Flexner, James Thomas. The Traitor and the Spy: Benedict Arnold and John Andre. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press, 1991.
Forbes, Esther. Paul Revere and the World He Lived In. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1942.
Galvin, John R. Three Men of Boston. New York: Crowell, 1976.
Holbrook, Stewart. Ethan Allen. New York: Macmillan Company, 1940.
Keane, John. Tom Paine: A Political Life. London: Bloomsbury, 1995.
Martin, James Kirby. Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary Hero: An American Warrior Reconsidered. New York: New York University Press, 1997.
Mayer, Henry. A Son of Thunder: Patrick Henry and the American Republic. New York: F. Watts, 1986.
Randall, Willard Sterne. Benedict Arnold: Patriot and Traitor. New York: Morrow, 1990.
————. George Washington: A Life. New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1997.
————. Thomas Jefferson: A Life. New York: H. Holt, 1993.
Unger, Harlow G. John Hancock: Merchant King and American Patriot. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000.
Collections of quotes, memoirs, and other primary sources by Revolution participants
When you want to find out what life was like during a certain time in history, the best thing to do is to read stories told by the participants in their own words. Here are some books full of stories told by people who played a part in the Revolution—both famous and nonfamous folks. My favorites were probably the letters by Abigail and John Adams (they were both hilarious, and not afraid to speak their minds) and Joseph Plumb Martin’s book about what it was like to be an American soldier in this war that went on and on.
Adams, Abigail. The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letter of the Adams Family, 1762-1784. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1975.
Adams, John. Diary and Autobiography of John Adams. Edited by L. H. Butterfield. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press, 1961-1966.
Blecki, Catherine La Courreye, and Karin A. Wulf, eds. Milcah Martha Moore’s Book: A Commonplace Book from Revolutionary America. University Park, Pa.: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1997.
Commanger, Henry Steele, and Richard B. Morris, eds. The Spirit of Seventy-Six: The Story of the American Revolution as Told by Participants. New York: Da Capo Press, 1995.
Martin, Joseph Plumb. Private Yankee Doodle: Being a Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers, and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier. Edited by George F. Scheer. Boston: Little, Brown, 1962.
Paine, Tom. Common Sense and Other Political Writings. Edited by Nelson F. Adkins. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1953.
Riedesel, Friederike Charlotte Luise. Letters and Memoirs Relating to the War of American Independence. Translated from the German by Marvin L. Brown, Jr. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, 1965.
Scheer, George F., and Hugh F. Rankin. Rebels and Redcoats: The American Revolution Through the Eyes of Those Who Fought and Lived It. New York: Da Capo Press, 1957.
Thacher, James. A Military Journal During the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783. Boston: Richardson & Lord, 1823.
Washington, George. Washington: Writings. New York: Library of America, 1997.
Wheeler, Richard, ed. Voices of 1776: The Story of the American Revolution in the Words of Those Who Were There. New York: Crowell, 1972.
Quotation Notes
One thing I can’t stand about textbooks is that they always have historical characters saying the most boring things. Luckily for us, real people are never that dull. The people who lived during the American Revolution really did say all the daring, clever, foolish, amazing, surprising, funny, and gross things that I quoted in this book. Here’s a list of the sources where the quotes can be found.
How to Start a Revolution
“The nation has run itself”: Harvey, Bloody Noses.
“What greater joy”: Langguth, Patriots.
“Stand firmly resolved”: Blecki and Wulf, Milcah Martha Moore’s Book.
“If you are men”: Harvey, Bloody Noses.
“America must fear you” and “I hope we shall”: Langguth, Patriots.
“Soldier, do you”: Langguth, Patriots.
“There goes”: Zobel, Boston Massacre.
“I am clear”: Cook, Long Fuse.
“There were several attempts”: Langguth, Patriots.
“The town of Boston”: Commanger and Morris. Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“If need be”: Langguth, Patriots.
“I hope you will”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“The distinctions between Virginians”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“The New England colonies”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“If you think”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
A Sleepless Night Before Revolution
“I was one of”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“Smith, you will find”: Forbes, Paul Revere.
“That last I saw”: Forbes, Paul Revere.
“From these movements”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“As for their king”: Langguth, Patriots.
“The regulars”: Tourtellot, Lexington and Concord.
“I told him”: Tourtellot, Lexington and Concord.
“Come in, Revere”: Tourtellot, Lexington and Concord.
“We were halted”: Tourtellot, Lexington and Concord.
“Sir, may I crave”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“One of them”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“Mr. Hancock was”: Langguth, Patriots.
Who Fired the Shot Heard Round the World?
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p; “Oh what a glorious morning”: Langguth, Patriots.
“bring the fine salmon”: Tourtellot, Lexington and Concord.
“I am satisfied”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“Let the troops”: Forbes, Paul Revere.
“You villains”: Forbes, Paul Revere.
“On our coming”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“This morning”: Tourtellot, Lexington and Concord.
“If you don’t go”: Tourtellot, Lexington and Concord.
“My husband”: Galvin, Minute Men.
“Will you let them”: Tourtellot, Lexington and Concord.
“We were totally”: Hibbert, Redcoats and Rebels.
“Each sought his own” Tourtellot, Lexington and Concord.
“We began to run Tourtellot, Lexington and Concord.
“When I reflect”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“A number of”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“The barbarous murders”: Fischer, Paul Revere’s Ride.
“When once”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
George Washington, Meet Your Army
“I was awakened”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“In the name”: Lossing, Pictorial Field Book.
“I walked with”: Adams, Diary and Autobiography.
“From your bright eyes”: Randall, George Washington.
“I am now set down”: Washington, Writings.
“I this day”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“Ten thousand men”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“We worked”: Scheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats.
“He was so near”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“Don’t fire”: Langguth, Patriots.
“They rose up”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“The liberties”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“The general does not”: Hibbert, Redcoats and Rebels.
“Plays were acted”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“These fellows”: Scheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats.
“I have a particular pleasure”: Washington, Writings.
“I long to hear”: Adams, Book of Abigail.
Declare Independence, Already!
“In a little chamber”: Adams, Diary and Autobiography.
“I believe you are”: Adams, Diary and Autobiography.
“Here lies the body” Keane, Tom Paine.
“The little folks”: Adams, Book of Abigail.
“And by the way”: Adams, Book of Abigail.
“Some among us urge”: Maier, American Scripture.
“The whole time”: Adams, Diary and Autobiography.
“There must be no pulling”: Langguth, Patriots.
“When the hanging”: Scheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats.
“How is it”: Hibbert, Redcoats and Rebels.
“Would anyone believe”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“The lead”: Scheer, Rebels and Redcoats.
“The eyes of all”: Washington, Writings.
Losing and Retreating in ’76
“I thought I was”: Martin, Private Yankee Doodle.
“We expect”: Schecter, Battle for New York.
“Women and children”: Vanderbilt, History of Flatbush.
“We were strictly” Martin, Private Yankee Doodle.
“It was one of”: Schecter, Battle for New York.
“I wish to be”: Schecter, Battle for New York.
“I only regret”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“We will alter”: Martin, Private Yankee Doodle.
“The general”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“Great numbers”: Washington, Writings.
“Ten days more”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“My friend Scheffer”: Dwyer, The Day Is Ours.
“My dear Nancy”: Dwyer, The Day Is Ours.
“Mother and we”: Dwyer, The Day Is Ours.
“There were times”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“I had the itch”: Dwyer, The Day is Ours.
“The floating ice”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“I have never seen”: Scheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats.
“I determined to push”: Washington, Writings.
“These, in the twinkling”: Dwyer, The Day Is Ours.
“This is a glorious”: Dwyer, The Day Is Ours.
“A few days ago”: Ketchum, Winter Soldiers.
Showdown at Saratoga
“be home victorious”: Cook, Long Fuse.
“He was our fighting general”: Arnold, Life of Benedict Arnold.
“We have one advantage”: Randall, Benedict Arnold.
“The carriage”: Schoenbrun, Triumph in Paris.
“I learnt”: Clark, Benjamin Franklin.
“I have beat them”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“When the weather”: Riedesel, Letters and Memoirs.
“When I wrote”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“I am very glad”: Clark, Benjamin Franklin.
“He proposes”: Clark, Benjamin Franklin.
“Such an explosion”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“Both armies”: Ketchum, Saratoga.
“Arnold rushed in”: Wheeler, Voices of 1776.
“I shivered”: Riedesel, Letters and Memoirs.
“Victory or death!”: Randall, Benedict Arnold.
“We had been warned”: Riedesel, Letters and Memoirs.
“Thus ended all our hopes”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“Not one of them”: Hibbert, Redcoats and Rebels.
“It is true”: Schoenbrun, Triumph in Paris.
“Assure Congress”: Schoenbrun, Triumph in Paris.
“Last night”: Thacher, Military Journal.
Will We Ever Win This War?
“The general opinion”: Martin, Private Yankee Doodle.
“The army was now”: Martin, Private Yankee Doodle.
“It was not uncommon”: Wheeler, Voices of 1776.
“The General”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“I am sick”: Scheer, Rebels and Redcoats.
“We are very comfortable”: Wildes, Valley Forge.
“I shall never forget”: Clark, Benjamin Franklin.
“I have several times”: Randall, George Washington.
“My dear Walker”: Scheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats.
“A cannon shot”: Wheeler, Voices of 1776.
“Oh, that I were a dog”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“To tell you the truth”: McCullough, John Adams.
“John Adams is always”: Langguth, Patriots.
“I should sooner think”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“What ship”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“I have not yet begun”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“This brave man”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“It was awful”: Wheeler, Voices of 1776.
“Twenty times”: Randall, Benedict Arnold.
“I am glad”: Randall, Benedict Arnold.
“You young men”: Lossing, Pictorial Field Book.
“Arnold has betrayed me”: Randall, Benedict Arnold.
“That is not General Washington”: Randall, Benedict Arnold.
“I answered”: Flexner, George Washington.
“I saw no likelihood”: Martin, Private Yankee Doodle.
The Great Race to Yorktown
“That which gives me”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“Was there ever”: Chernow, Alexander Hamilton.
“O! the King’s”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
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��Marion never encamped”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“Their number”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“We fight”: Hibbert, Redcoats and Rebels.
“At the battle”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“With a third”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“His Lordship Cornwallis”: Russell, American Revolution.
“We have not a moment” Flexner, George Washington.
“I am distressed”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“I caught sight”: Chidsey, Victory at Yorktown.
“We have got him”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“If you cannot”: Hibbert, Redcoats and Rebels.
“About noon”: Martin, Private Yankee Doodle.
“Huzzah”: Martin, Private Yankee Doodle.
“Sir, you are too much”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“Now what do you think”: Scheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats.
“We get terrible provisions”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“The British officers”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“I have the honor”: Washington, Writings.
“Oh God!”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
“I have no doubt”: Bobrick, Angel in the Whirlwind.
“His Majesty”: Cook, Long Fuse.
“I found that”: Evans, Weathering the Storm.
“I can assure”: Martin, Private Yankee Doodle.
“With a heart”: Scheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats.
“Such a scene”: Scheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats.
“Having now finished”: Commanger and Morris, Spirit of Seventy-Six.
Whatever happened to …?
“The whole of her life”: McCullough, John Adams.
“He is eighty-two”: Brands, First American.
“I give my assent”: Unger, John Hancock.
“At that time”: Langguth, Patriots.
“I greatly fear”: Randall, George Washington.
“I feel”: Freeman, George Washington.