The common cause : creating race and nation in the American Revolution / by Robert G. Parkinson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Parkinson, Robert G., author.

Contributor:

Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture, associated with work.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

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

Racism.

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

United States.

United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Propaganda.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (742 pages) : illustrations (black and white), maps (black and white)

Place of Publication:

Chapel Hill : Published for the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia, by the University of North Carolina Press, 2016.

Summary:

In this pathbreaking book, Robert Parkinson argues that to unify the patriot side, political and communications leaders linked British tyranny to colonial prejudices, stereotypes, and fears about insurrectionary slaves and violent Indians. Manipulating newspaper networks, Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, and their fellow agitators broadcast stories of British agents inciting African Americans and Indians to take up arms against the American rebellion. Using rhetoric like "domestic insurrectionists" and "merciless savages," the founding fathers rallied the people around a common enemy and made racial prejudice a cornerstone of the new Republic.-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

"A work of difficulty": communication networks, newspapers, and the common cause

Interlude: the "shot heard 'round the world" revisited

"Britain has found means to unite us": 1775

Merciless savages, domestic insurrectionists, and foreign mercenaries: independence

"By the American Revolution you are now free": sticking together in trying times

"It is the cause of heaven against hell": to the Carlisle Commission, 1777-1778

Interlude: Franklin and Lafayette's "Little book"

"A striking picture of barbarity": Wyoming to the disaster at Savannah, 1778-1779

"This class of Britain's heroes": From the fall of Charleston to Yorktown

"The substance is truth": after Yorktown, 1782-1783

"New provocations": The political and cultural consequences of revolutionary war stories.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

979-88-908505-6-0

1-4696-2810-4

OCLC:

951808400