#7 -- "American Insurgants, American Patriots: The Revolution of the People" by T.H. Breen (2010)

We all know about the American Revolution from the perspective of the Founding Fathers.  However, this book presented the Revolution from the point of view of the average, everyday American.  This was a viewpoint I'd never read about before, so I really enjoyed this book.  I was completely unaware at how grass-roots the Revolution really was.  People from Maine to Georgia were all intimately involved in supporting our country's bid for independence. 

One thing I had never heard about before was something called "The Association."  This was an act by the Continental Congress calling on municipalities to form committees to spread the revolutionary agenda.  In many towns, all citizens had to sign petitions stating they were on the American side of the cause.  Anyone who supported the British was ostracized from the community, and would have to go in front of the committee and recant their views in order to be accepted again.  The book goes into a lot of detail about how different communities enforced the Association.

People also were really prepared to take up arms if necessary to support people in other parts of the country.   For example, at one point before any of the fighting actually began, there was a report that Boston was being attacked by the British.  People from other New England colonies immediately organized and began a march towards Boston to support those living there.  Even people in the southern states, too far away to send militia, sent money and other items to support those in Boston who were in need during the British occupation of the city.  This is all especially amazing when you consider the fact that people in that time very rarely left the colony in which they lived, yet they were quick to come to the defense of others. 

I really enjoyed this book because it gave me a new perspective of that time in our country's history.  When you think about it, it really wouldn't have mattered what our Founding Fathers did or said if the ordinary people living in America hadn't also supported the cause of revolution.

Rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars.