The author revisits a truly revolutionary period in American history, chronicling the battles over allegiance, philosophy, leadership, and ideas that surrounded the birth of the American republic.

List of illustrations and maps --Preface -- 1. 1754-1763 : "Join, or die" -- 2. 1763-1766 : "A loss of respect and affection" -- 3. 1766-1770 : "To crush the spirit of the colonies" -- 4. 1770-1774 : "The cause of Boston now is the cause of America" -- 5. 1775-1776 : "To die freemen rather than to live slaves" -- 6. 1776-1777 : "A leap into the dark" -- 7. 1778-1782 : "This wilderness of darkness and dangers" -- 8. 1783-1787 : "The present paroxysm of our affairs" -- 9. 1787-1789 : "So much unanimity and good will" -- 10. 1790-1793 : "Prosperous at home, respectable abroad" -- 11. 1793-1796 : "A Colossus to the Antirepublican Party -- 12. 1797-1799 : "A game where principles are the stake" -- 13. 1799-1801 : "The gigg is up" -- 14. 1801 : "An age of revolution and reformation" -- Abbreviations -- Notes -- Index.