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by Tom McMillan.
Hardback (6.2×9.3 inches). 383 pages. 2025.
Subtitle: From Rebellion to Independence 1775-1776
This fascinating history of the beginning of the American Revolution recounts the political battles of the Continental Congress to create an independent country. In between the anecdotes and related events, you begin to realize just how precarious liberty became, with the initial canvassing of seven states for independence and six against.
Many know the vote for independence occurred on July 2, not July 4, but I didn’t know that it was only in the latter part of June that states began to move from voting against to voting for independence — aided by British troops burning towns and battling with Americans. The final vote was 12 for, zero against, and one (NY) abstention (p160). NY joined the other 12 states on July 9 (p176).
The reason for July 4 was the printed “Dunlop Broadside” that printed the Declaration of Independence with “July 4” at the top. Initially, only John Hancock, as president of the Continental Congress, and Charles Thompson, Secretary, signed the Declaration. A later version on August 2 contained 49 of the 56 signatures (p191).
Also of note, after the British victory at the Battle of Brooklyn, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Edward Rutledge met with British General Howe to discuss an American surrender and return as a colony (p208). It went nowhere and Adams later learned he was on a list of “traitors” to be hanged once America returned as a colony.
Ancillary comments cover threats to democracy with the ACW and Vietnam, plus how Thomas Jefferson’s words were altered for use in Jefferson Memorial and twisted anew by the January 6, 2021 mob that stormed the US Capitol.
The book contains 12 black and white photos and nine black and white illustrations.
The last 100 pages or so include footnotes, bibliography, index, and two versions of the Declaration of Independence.
Fascinating book.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
