The will of the people : the revolutionary birth of America /|cT. H. Breen

T. H. Breen introduces us to the ordinary men and women who took responsibility for the course of the American revolution. Far from the actions of the Continental Congress and the Continental Army, they took the reins of power and preserved a political culture based on the rule of law, creating America’s political identity in the process. A prize-winning historian provides the missing piece in the story of America's founding, introducing us to the ordinary men and women who turned a faltering rebellion against colonial rule into an unexpectedly potent and enduring revolution. Over eight years of war, ordinary Americans accomplished something extraordinary. Far from the actions of the Continental Congress and the Continental Army, they took responsibility for the course of the revolution. They policed their neighbors, sent troops and weapons to distant strangers committed to the same cause, and identified friends and traitors. By taking up the reins of power but also setting its limits, they ensured America's success. Without their participation there would have been no victory over Great Britain, no independence. The colonial rebellion would have ended like so many others--in failure. The driving force behind the creation of a country based on the will of the people, T. H. Breen shows, was in fact the people itself. In villages, towns, and cities from Georgia to New Hampshire, Americans managed local affairs, negotiated shared sacrifice, and participated in a political system in which each believed they were as good as any other. Presenting hundreds of stories, Breen captures the powerful sense of equality and responsibility resulting from this process of self-determination. With striking originality, Breen restores these missing Americans to our founding and shows why doing so is essential for understanding why our revolution ended differently from others that have shaped the modern world. In the midst of revolution's anger, fear, and passion--the forgotten elements in any effective resistance--these Americans preserved a political culture based on the rule of law. In the experiences of these unsung revolutionaries can be seen the creation of America's singular political identity. "Important and lucidly written...The American Revolution involved not simply the wisdom of a few great men but the passions, fears, and religiosity of ordinary people." —Gordon S. Wood In this boldly innovative work, T. H. Breen spotlights a crucial missing piece in the stories we tell about the American Revolution. From New Hampshire to Georgia, it was ordinary people who became the face of resistance. Without them the Revolution would have failed. They sustained the commitment to independence when victory seemed in doubt and chose law over vengeance when their communities teetered on the brink of anarchy. The Will of the People offers a vivid account of how, across the thirteen colonies, men and women negotiated the revolutionary experience, accepting huge personal sacrifice, setting up daring experiments in self-government, and going to extraordinary lengths to preserve the rule of law. After the war they avoided the violence and extremism that have compromised so many other revolutions since. A masterful storyteller, Breen recovers the forgotten history of our nation's true founders. "The American Revolution was made not just on the battlefields or in the minds of intellectuals, Breen argues in this elegant and persuasive work. Communities of ordinary men and women—farmers, workers, and artisans who kept the revolutionary faith until victory was achieved—were essential to the effort." —Annette Gordon-Reed "Breen traces the many ways in which exercising authority made local committees pragmatic...acting as a brake on the kind of violent excess into which revolutions so easily devolve." — Wall Street Journal Over Eight Years Of War, Ordinary Americans Accomplished Something Extraordinary. Far From The Actions Of The Continental Congress And The Continental Army, They Took Responsibility For The Course Of The Revolution. They Policed Their Neighbors, Sent Troops And Weapons To Distant Strangers Committed To The Same Cause, And Identified Friends And Traitors. By Taking Up The Reins Of Power But Also Setting Its Limits, They Ensured America's Success. In This Strikingly Original Account, Breen Restores These Missing Americans To Our Founding And Shows Why Doing So Is Essential For Understanding Why Our Revolution Ended Differently From Other Revolutions That Have Shaped The Modern World. In The Face Of Revolution's Anger, Fear, And Passion--forgotten Elements In Effective Resistance--these Americans Preserved A Political Culture Based On The Rule Of Law. In The Experiences Of These Unsung Revolutionaries Can Be Seen The Creation Of America's Political Identity.-- Introduction: Revolutionary Voices -- Rejection -- Assurance -- Fear -- Justice -- Betrayal -- Revenge -- Reflections. T.h. Breen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Over eight years of war, ordinary Americans accomplished something extraordinary. Far from the actions of the Continental Congress and the Continental Army, they took responsibility for the course of the revolution. They policed their neighbors, sent troops and weapons to distant strangers committed to the same cause, and identified friends and traitors. By taking up the reins of power but also setting its limits, they ensured America's success. In this strikingly original account, [the author] restores these missing Americans to our founding and shows why doing so is essential for understanding why our revolution ended differently from other revolutions that have shaped the modern world. In the face of revolution's anger, fear, and passion--forgotten elements in effective resistance--these Americans preserved a political culture based on the rule of law. In the experiences of these unsung revolutionaries can be seen the creation of America's political identity"--|cProvided by publisher Presentación del editor: "Over eight years of war, ordinary Americans accomplished something extraordinary. Far from the actions of the Continental Congress and the Continental Army, they took responsibility for the course of the revolution. They policed their neighbors, sent troops and weapons to distant strangers committed to the same cause, and identified friends and traitors. By taking up the reins of power but also setting its limits, they ensured America's success. In this strikingly original account, Breen restores these missing Americans to our founding and shows why doing so is essential for understanding why our revolution ended differently from other revolutions that have shaped the modern world. In the face of revolution's anger, fear, and passion--forgotten elements in effective resistance--these Americans preserved a political culture based on the rule of law. In the experiences of these unsung revolutionaries can be seen the creation of America's political identity." Over eight years of war, ordinary Americans accomplished something extraordinary. Far from the actions of the Continental Congress and the Continental Army, they took responsibility for the course of the revolution. They policed their neighbors, sent troops and weapons to distant strangers committed to the same cause, and identified friends and traitors. By taking up the reins of power but also setting its limits, they ensured America's success. In this strikingly original account, Breen restores these missing Americans to our founding and shows why doing so is essential for understanding why our revolution ended differently from other revolutions that have shaped the modern world. In the face of revolution's anger, fear, and passion--forgotten elements in effective resistance--these Americans preserved a political culture based on the rule of law. In the experiences of these unsung revolutionaries can be seen the creation of America's political identity.-- Provided by publisher