The Unknown History of American Revolution, Book Review Example

Introduction

Human civilization is a saga of innumerable unknown histories which lay buried in the sands of time.  Gary Nash’s The Unknown History of American Revolution is an open window which demonstrates and awakens many people to see the real heroes of that great event in history. Gary Nash highlights the sacrifices of common people who did not get deserved reward and equal status in society. Nash builds a complex chronological narrative that reflects the Revolution and the war of American Independence through the eyes of the underprivileged.

Author’s main thesis

Nash’s narrative starts with an account of the roots of ‘Radicalism’ established prior to the revolution. The main heroes being the ‘Native  Americans, ‘Farmers’, ‘ Women and slaves’. Nash’s main thesis claims many unknown stories of the war of independence.   Nash has left no one untouched and has mocked prominent leaders like the ‘Self –made’ man Benjamin Franklin. He failed to free his own slaves despite raising much concern against slavery. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, the first American President mentioned in their will that their slaves could be released at their death. It signifies the fact that they did not want to release their slaves during their lifetime

Nash put forward his main ideology that the elite could not lay the foundation of democracy without any help of the common people. The ‘Founders’ didn’t recognize any sacrifices made by these people.  In fact,  Nash stresses on the fact that the same common people have brought forward the genealogy of American history.

Summary

The book tells a story of the longest and most tumultuous turmoil in American history. Nash explains in a flowing style and justifies Adam’s claim that “Americans were committed to independence in their hearts long before the revolution”.  After the long battle between British and the American colonists in 1783, Britain recognized the independence of the United States. But, it was not due to the ‘Founding fathers’ who wrote the ‘Declaration of Independence’ but due to the great efforts from all masses of American society.  The Unknown History of American Revolution is a sea of ideology, pain, outrage and hope.  It exhibits variety of men and women who dived into the whirlpool of a horrendous and enfeebling war to write a new history on the ‘Clean slate’. The story hence has become a fundamental part of America’s inheritance.

Point of view

Nash’s point of view is extremely straight and open. He effectively projects the real sacrifices made by hundreds of people and their hushed voices which were not heard in this struggle.  In the first section of ‘Roots of radicalism,  chapter ‘Jailbreaks at Newark’ Nash distinctly classifies the revolt of New Jersey farmers  who attacked the jails armed with ‘cubs’, ‘axes’ and ‘cow bars’.   Nash points out in a lucid manner the hidden agenda of the so called founders in the chapter ‘Unalienable Rights for Whom?’  He enables the reader to ponder over the thought and ideology of a free and independent state. The statement claiming that every person is equal and free in a state of society and has equal rights holds less weight.  Many people born and bred in that land were not provided equal rights.  Specially, the plight of slaves is revealed poignantly. They were not in a state of society and thus did not have any equal rights. Nash’s weapon of truth and ideology works transparently and uncovers the picture behind the veil of politics and misconception.

Nash has coherently woven all parts of the book. Starting from the roots of ‘radicalism’ to its epitome and climax and till the end, the main focus has remained intact.  At the climax, Nash incredibly depicts the social differences like class organization and class distinction which had arisen in the first thirteen colonies.  Going incredibly clear and transparent, he has built up a beautiful memoir of numerous fiery soldiers. These able heroes laid their lives by being a part of the system and by falling prey to the same. Though, many historians have questioned Nash’s theory and assertion, but he has tried to resolve them effectively.

Evidences from the book: Untouched Voices of Women

The endless voices of “Enslaved Africans, frontier mystics, Indians, farmers, urban craftsmen, slaves, ascetic Quakers, and underprivileged women” all have their share in the making of the history of American Revolution.

Lack of primary sources did not discourage Nash to depict and interpret actions. Local voices of oppressed women are presented profoundly.   Gender equality, female literacy and the right to have equal status in the professional field, all are counted in detail. As he mentions in the book: men, women and children experienced the ‘Entire gamut of slave travail’.  Struggles of African born Charles Wilkinson, fifty four year old Peters and many more African Americans are vividly explained in ‘The Dream of Deferred’.  He has successfully highlighted minute details of people’s feelings and emotions during this time of desperation. An old lady willing to lay her bones in her homeland with freedom is a beautiful depiction of the longing desire of millions of slaves, who wanted to breathe free air in their free land. Nash does not offer any claims against any distinction, but he signifies the truth behind much dreamed of democracy. Without any bias against any specific strata of society, he leaves everyone with a new awakening and learning.  He judiciously verifies the truth that world’s greatest histories are a result of numerous personal histories of millions of people, who normally remain unknown and are hardly remembered.

Final Evaluation

Gary Nash has done a remarkable job in writing this book. Specially, for the students studying History, educational research or even general, the book is a bible for every person who wants to know the reality of American Revolution.  Though, bit lengthy, but such marvelous stories share and reveal the causes and consequences of the war days.

Conclusion

The Unknown American Revolution throws light on the great participants without whom this callous history of human existence would have been incomplete and unreal. Professor Nash has completely done justice to those great warriors and, in fact, has given a magnificent tribute to all those great heroes in time.