American insurgents, American patriots : the revolution of the people / T.H. Breen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Breen, T. H.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Militia.

History.

United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Social aspects.

United States.

Social aspects.

United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Committees of safety.

United States--Militia--History--18th century.

Physical Description:

337 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Hill and Wang, 2010.

Summary:

"Before there could be a revolution, there was a rebellion; before patriots, there were insurgents. Challenging decades of received wisdom, T.H. Breen's strikingly original book explains how ordinary Americans-- most of them members of farm families living in small communities-- were drawn into a successful insurgency against imperial authority. This is the compelling story of our national political origins that most Americans do not know. It is a story of rumor, charity, vengeance, and restraint. American insurgents, American patriots reminds us that revolutions are violent events. They provoke passion and rage, a willingness to use violence to achieve political ends, a deep sense of betrayal, and a strong religious conviction that God expects an oppressed people to defend their rights. The American Revolution was no exception."--Book jacket.

Contents:

Introduction : the revolutionary world of Matthew Patten

The face of colonial society

Ghost stories in a time of political crisis

Revenge of the countryside

Reaching out to others

The power of rumor : the day the British destroyed Boston

The association : the second stage of insurgency

Schools of revolution

Insurgents in power

An appeal to heaven : religion and rights

Endgames of empire.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [301]-324) and index.

ISBN:

9780809075881

0809075881

OCLC:

456171429