First published 1992
Gordon Wood examines the American Revolution as a complete social transformation rather than simply a political separation from Britain. The historian synthesizes political, economic, cultural, and historical evidence to show how colonists dismantled an almost feudal system and built a democratic society in its place. Wood demonstrates that this sweeping change created new social realities that often surprised and frustrated the very founders who had initiated the break from England. The book reveals how the revolution's consequences extended far beyond independence to reshape American society from top to bottom. Wood offers readers a comprehensive understanding of how political upheaval became social revolution, showing the complex forces that created modern American democracy.
Genres: history, non-fiction
Vibes: analytical, comprehensive, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction
Setting: America, Britain
Period: 18th Century
461 pages · Hardcover · Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.