American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750-1804

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2016

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction-Chapter 2

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 5-6

Chapters 7-8

Chapters 9-10

Chapters 11-12

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Introduction-Chapter 2Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction Summary

Content Warning: The section of the guide includes discussions on violence, slavery, and the displacement of Indigenous peoples, reflecting the period’s brutality and the suffering of marginalized groups.

In the Introduction, Taylor engages with Nathaniel Hawthorne’s narrative “My Kinsman, Major Molineux” as a thematic prelude to the complexities of the American Revolution. The story follows Robin, a young man in search of his kinsman, Major Molineux, in a New England colony, hoping to benefit from the Major’s prosperity and status. However, Robin’s journey takes an unexpected turn when he finds Molineux humiliated by a mob, tarred and feathered. This moment of public shaming and Robin’s reaction—initially one of pity and terror that then transforms into laughter—serves as a metaphor for the broader societal transformations and conflicts during the revolution.

Taylor uses this tale to challenge the sanitized narratives of the American Revolution. He suggests that the revolution was America’s first civil war, characterized not by unity and orderliness but by deep divisions, violence, and upheaval. The revolution involved not only the fight for independence from British rule but also internal conflicts, including the oppression of Indigenous Americans, the enslavement of African Americans, and the ostracization of Loyalists. The introductory section establishes the book’s aim to provide a nuanced view of the revolution, highlighting the complexities and contradictions that defined the era.

The Introduction sets the stage for a detailed exploration of the American Revolution, indicating that the conflict was more than a mere colonial rebellion. It was instead a sizeable and turbulent transformation that reshaped American society, culture, and politics.

Chapter 1 Summary: “Colonies”

Taylor sets the stage for the brewing conflict between the British Empire and its American colonies following the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War. The chapter begins with a vivid depiction of colonial enthusiasm for British victory and the robust pride in being part of the British Empire, celebrated through public rejoicings and expressions of loyalty to King George III. Taylor contends, however, that the seeds of division were sown as the war’s aftermath brought about a reevaluation of colonial governance and financial contributions to the empire.

The British victory expanded the empire’s territories but also significantly increased its debts, leading to a reimagined imperial strategy that sought to extract more revenue from the colonies and enforce stricter control over them. This shift was met with resistance from the colonists, who cherished their liberties as Englishmen and were unprepared to accept increased taxation or regulation without representation. The narrative highlights the colonists’ disillusionment as they transition from being fervent supporters of the British crown to becoming increasingly alienated due to perceived injustices and the threat to their liberties and way of life.

Taylor examines the issue of colonial identity, emphasizing the colonists’ self-view as equals within the empire, which clashed with the British government’s view of them as subordinates. This fundamental disconnect fueled a growing sense of American distinctiveness and a reevaluation of their place within the British imperial system. As the chapter progresses, the focus shifts to the British perspective, which underestimated colonial discontent and overvalued its military successes, failing to foresee the consequences of its policies on colonial allegiance.

The chapter outlines the economic, social, and political underpinnings of the emerging conflict, from the burdensome debt left by the war to the contentious policies that aimed to tighten imperial control over the prosperous colonies. It captures the transformation of colonial sentiment from loyalty and pride to a burgeoning sense of injustice and desire for autonomy, setting the stage for the revolutionary upheaval that would soon follow.

Chapter 2 Summary: “Land”

Taylor describes the rapid population growth in British America during the 18th century, doubling every 25 years, which led to westward expansion and tensions with Indigenous peoples and British authorities. The British victory in Canada opened the vast lands beyond the Appalachian Mountains to settlement, increasing colonial power and diminishing that of Britain. As America expanded, British leaders feared losing control over their empire and began to see the colonies as rivals. The influx of immigrants from Britain and elsewhere, alongside settlers’ push into Indigenous Americans’ lands, highlighted the shifting dynamics of power and population across the Atlantic.

The chapter also explores the complex relations between settlers, Indigenous peoples, and the British Empire. The British conquest of New France alarmed Indigenous peoples, leading to tensions and conflicts as colonial expansion encroached on their lands. Notable uprisings, like Pontiac’s Rebellion, underscored the Indigenous peoples’ resistance to British control and settler expansion. The British response, including the Royal Proclamation of 1763, attempted to curb settlement expansion and manage relations with Indigenous peoples, but these measures often failed to prevent settlers from encroaching on Indigenous peoples’ lands, leading to continued violence and unrest.

The chapter further discusses the economic motivations behind migration to the colonies, with many settlers drawn by the promise of land and opportunity. This migration fueled land speculation and contributed to the tensions among settlers, Indigenous peoples, and the British authorities. The British government’s efforts to regulate migration and land grants often clashed with colonial interests, leading to disputes and resistance from the colonial population.

Significantly, the chapter reflects on the shifting identity of colonists from British subjects to a distinct American identity, driven by the growing population in the colonies, economic opportunities, and the escalating conflicts with Indigenous peoples and British authorities. This evolving identity played a crucial role in the increasing tensions that would eventually lead to the American Revolution.

Introduction-Chapter 2 Analysis

Taylor’s history reimagines the narrative of the American Revolution, challenging conventional glorifications to reveal the multifaceted and often tumultuous transformations that shaped the era. Beginning with an allusion to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “My Kinsman, Major Molineux,” Taylor sets the stage for an historical recount as well as an exploration of identity, division, and the nature of revolution itself. In Hawthorne’s story, a young man named Robin arrives in colonial Boston seeking his kinsman, Major Molineux, only to discover through various encounters that perceptions of identity and loyalty are complex and multifaceted. This narrative, culminating in a revelation about Major Molineux’s fate amid the townspeople’s revolutionary fervor, serves as a metaphor for the American Revolution. Taylor draws on this story to suggest that the event, much like individuals, possessed multiple “voices” and “complexions” (xi). This literary reference enriches the historical narrative by drawing parallels between the personal dilemmas in Hawthorne’s story and the societal upheavals of the revolution, thereby inviting a nuanced, more reflective engagement with the past.

In Chapter 1, Taylor expands the scope of the American Revolution beyond the battlefield, embedding it within the larger framework of global imperial dynamics and the evolving identities of colonial America. Taylor’s narrative encapsulates the complexities of empire and rebellion, portraying the American Revolution not merely as a struggle for independence but as a significant transformation of colonial identity and the beginning of a contentious debate over the meaning of liberty, governance, and the rights of subjects versus citizens. Through a detailed exploration of the pre-revolutionary period, Chapter 1 lays the groundwork for understanding the deep-rooted tensions and ideological shifts that propelled the American colonies toward independence.

Taylor begins Chapter 1 with a reflective quote from Reverend Samuel Johnson, capturing the post-war atmosphere: “It is truly a miserable thing that we no sooner leave fighting our neighbors, the French, but we must fall to quarrelling among ourselves” (2). This sentiment, coming from a period of transition from the Seven Years’ War (also referred to as the French and Indian War) to burgeoning internal discord, exemplifies the immediate shift in colonial society from unity against a common enemy to internal strife and disagreement. Taylor uses Johnson’s lament as a lens through which to view the complexities of peace and unity, suggesting a recurring theme of internal strife that challenges the notion of a cohesive colonial society united solely by the quest for independence. Johnson’s reflections hint at the underlying theme of The Role of International Dynamics in the American Revolution, prefiguring how alliances and conflicts beyond America's borders were pivotal in shaping the trajectory and the very nature of the conflict.

Chapter 2 further complicates the narrative by weaving together the diverse perspectives of Indigenous Americans, settlers, and British officials, illuminating the multifaceted and interconnected nature of the revolution. Taylor’s analysis of the Quebec Act and “Pontiac’s Rebellion” serves as a focal point for exploring these complexities. For instance, he quotes Benjamin Franklin’s early optimism about the growth of the British population in America: “In 1751, Benjamin Franklin calculated that, within a century, ‘the greatest number of Englishmen will be on this side of the Water’” (25). Initially intended to celebrate the empire’s expansion, this observation becomes retrospectively ironic. Franklin’s statement, made before the intensifying strain between colonies and the British Empire, reflects the unforeseen trajectory of American sentiment towards autonomy and independence. By contrasting Franklin’s vision with the unfolding reality of colonial disenchantment, Taylor reflects on the shifting perceptions of empire and liberty. This exploration of colonial identity and imperial ambition reveals the deep-seated economic and cultural factors that fueled revolutionary sentiment, offering a more layered understanding of the period’s socio-political landscape. This narrative pivot not only illuminates the interconnected nature of the revolution but also foregrounds the theme of The Contradictions of Liberty: Slavery and Indigenous Dispossession, particularly highlighting how the quest for freedom by settlers often came at the expense of Indigenous dispossession and continued enslavement of African Americans.

Taylor’s analytical approach incorporates metaphor and symbolism to deepen the understanding of the revolution’s impact on societal and individual levels:

During the eighteenth century, the king became a revered symbol of the empire’s prosperity, power, liberties, and Protestant faith. George Ill declared, ‘The pride, the glory of Britain, and the direct end of its constitution is political liberty.’ As the protector of his subjects and their rights, this king warranted allegiance. Colonists idealized the king as their champion against their Catholic enemies, the French and Spanish, for politics and religion were entangled in colonial culture (3).

Here, Taylor uses the metaphor of the king as a protective figure to symbolize the initially harmonious relationship that eventually becomes fraught with tension. This metaphorical language extends to the use of Hawthorne’s narrative, where “Robin’s sudden laugh represents the decisions made by thousands when they helped to disgrace Loyalists as enemies to American liberty” (xi). These examples demonstrate how Taylor employs these elements to link individual experiences with broader societal transformations, inviting consideration of the revolution’s nuanced impacts.

Taylor’s interlacing of multiple narratives challenges simplistic interpretations of the revolution and invites consideration of the broader implications of this historical juncture. By highlighting the ideological and cultural shifts encapsulated in references such as Franklin’s projections and the critique of “Pontiac’s Rebellion,” Taylor underscores the revolution’s complexity. These elements reveal a story not of unanimous heroism and clarity of purpose but of conflicting interests, perspectives, and identities. This strategy allows Taylor to construct an argument that the American Revolution was as much a process of deep and often painful transformation as it was a series of political and military achievements.