American Spring: Lexington, Concord, and the Road to Revolution

Summary

Whenwe look back on our nation’s history, the American Revolution can feel almostlike a foregone conclusion. In reality, the first weeks of the war were muchmore tenuous, and a fractured and ragtag group of colonial militias had tocoalesce to have even the slimmest chance of toppling the mighty British Army.

AmericanSpringfollows a fledgling nation from Paul Revere’s little-known ride of December1774 and the first shots fired on Lexington Green through the catastrophicBattle of Bunker Hill, culminating with a Virginian named George Washingtontaking command of colonial forces on July 3, 1775.

Focusingon the colorful heroes John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Benjamin Franklin,and Patrick Henry, and the ordinary Americans caught up in the revolution,Walter Borneman tells the story of how a decade of discontent erupted into anarmed rebellion that forged our nation.