Why read Declaration?

Book cover of Declaration: The Nine Tumultuous Weeks When America Became Independent, May 1-July 4, 1776

Book description

This is the rambunctious story of how America came to declare independence in Philadelphia in 1776. As late as that May, the Continental Congress had no plans to break away from England. Troops under General George Washington had been fighting the British for nearly a year—yet in Philadelphia a mighty…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Declaration as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Joseph D'Agnese

Author

Unless they’ve looked at the history, modern Americans often have the impression that all colonists at the time favored independence.

I’d argue that Americans see the Fourth of July—the holiday devoted to the U.S.’s birthday—as inevitable. Nothing was further from the truth. Independence was never in the cards when the battle with Britain began in 1775 at Lexington and Concord. Hogeland, a masterful historian and writer, brings to life the drama that led to the vote to break with Britain’s monarch.

Focusing tightly on the spring and summer of 1776, Declaration shows the clashing temperaments of all the players,…

From Joseph's list on the Declaration of Independence that bring the signers to life.