The American Revolution was an event of the first importance in the creation of the modern world. The first large-scale anti-colonial revolt in modern history and the first political revolution animated by the concept of progress, it provided the occasion for the creation the United States and the most extensive and ambitious experiment in republican government up to that time. As students of this event, the editors have long thought that a comprehensive, authoritative, and accessible encyclopedia devoted to that subject would be valuable for the student and the general reader alike. This volume is intended to meet that goal. The seventy-five substantive articles cover all of the major topics related to the Revolution, including its central events, the context in which it occurred, its causes, its effects, and the principal concepts associated with it. Each written by a recognized specialist on the subject, these articles are all informed by the latest scholarship. The volume is rounded out by brief biographies of the more important actors involved in the Revolution and by an extended chronological table. -- From the preface.

Context :Structure of British politics in the mid-eighteenth century / W.A. Speck -- Metropolitan administration of the colonies, 1696-1775 / Ian K. Steele -- The changing socio-economic and strategic importance of the colonies to the empire / Alison G. Olson -- The political development of the colonies after the Glorious Revolution / Alan Tully -- Population and family in early American / Robert V. WElls -- Socio-economic development of the colonies / Edwin J. Perkins -- Religion before the Revolution / Edwin S. Gaustad -- The cultural development of the colonies / Michal J. Rozbicki -- Ideological background / Isaac Kramnick. -- Themes and events, to 1776 : The origins of the new colonial policy, 1748-1763 / Jack P. Greene -- The Greenville program, 163-1765 / Peter D.G. Thomas -- The Stamp Act crisis and its repercussions, including the Quartering Act controversy / Peter D.G. Thomas -- The Townsend Act crisis, 1767-1770 / Robert J. Chaffin -- The British Army in America, before 1775 / Douglas Edward Leach -- The West and the Indians, 1756-1776 / Peter Marshall -- Trade legislation and its enforcement, 1748-1776 / R.C. Simmons -- Ongoing disputes over the prerogative, 1763-17776 /rJack P. Greene -- Bishops and other ecclesiastical issues, to 1776 / Frederick V. Mills, Sr. -- Social protest and the revolutionary movement, 1765-1776 / Edward Countryman -- The tea crisis and its consequences, through 1775 / David L. Ammerman -- The crisis of independence / David L. Ammerman -- Development of a revolutionary organization, 1765-1775 / David W. Conroy -- Political mobilization, 1765-1776 / Rebecca K. Starr -- Opposition in Britain / Colin Bonwick -- Loyalism and neutrality / Robert M. Calhoon -- Common sense / Jack Fruchtman, Jr. -- The Declaration of Independence / Ronald Hamowy. -- Themes and events, from 1776 : Bills of rights and the first ten amendments to the Constitiution / Robert A. Rutland -- State constitution making, through 1781 / Donald S. Lutz -- The Articles of Confederation, 1775-1783 / Jack N. Rakove -- The War for Independence, to Saratoga / Don Higginbotham -- The War for Independence, after Saratoga / Don Higginbotham -- Diplomacy of the Revolution, to 1783 / Jonathan R. Dull -- Confederation : state governments and their problems / Edward Countryman -- The West : territory, states, and confederation / Peter S. Onuf -- Demobilization and national defense / E. Wayne Carp -- Currency, taxation, and finance, 1775-1787 / Robert A. Becker -- Foreign relations, after 1783 / Jonathan R. Dull -- Slavery and anti-slavery / Sylvia R. Frey -- Indians and the new republic / James H. Merrell -- The impact of the Revolution on the role, status, and experience of women / Betty Wood -- The impact of the Revolution on education / Melvin Yazawa -- The impact of the Revolution on social problems : poverty, insanity, and crime / Melvin Yazawa -- The impact of the Revolution on church and state / Robert M. Calhoon -- Legal reform and the Revolution / Bruce H. Mann -- Confederation : movement for a stronger union / Mark D. Kaplanoff -- The Federal Convention and the Constitution / Mark D. Kaplanof -- The debate over ratification of the Constitution / Murray Dry. -- External effects of the Revolution : Great Britain in the aftermath of the American Revolution / Ian R. Christie -- THe American Revolution and Canada / G.A. Rawlyk -- The American Revolution and Ireland / Maurice J. Bric -- The American Revolution and the sugar colonies, 1775-1783 / Selwyn H.H. Carrington -- The effects of American Revolution on France and its empire / David P. Geggus -- The impact of the American Revolution on Spain and Portugal and their empires / Kenneth Maxwell -- The influence of the American Revolution in the Netherlands / Jan Willem Schulte Nordholt -- The influence of the American Revolution in Russia / Hans Rogger. -- Internal developments after the Revolution : Social and economic developments after the REvolution / Stuart Bruchey and Jim Poetter -- THe religious consequesnces of the Revolution / Robert M. Calhoon -- The cultural effects of the Revolution / Norman S. Grabo -- The effects of the Revolution on language / John Alego -- Medicine before and after the Revolution / Mary E. Fissell -- The construction of gender in a republican world / Ruth H. Bloch. -- Concepts : Libery / Elise Marienstras -- Equality / J.R. Pole -- Property / Alan Freeman and Elizabeth Mensch -- The rule of law / John P. Reid -- Consent / Donald S. Lutz -- Happiness / Jan Lewis -- Suffrage and representation / Rosemarie Zagarri -- Republicanism / Robert E. Shalhope -- Sovereignty / Peter S. Onuf -- Nationality and citizenship / Elise Marienstras -- The separation of powers / Maurice J.C. Vile -- Rights / Ronald Hamowy -- Virtue / James T. Kloppenberg. -- Biographies A-Z.