American Scripture

Making the Declaration of Independence

by Pauline Maier

 A review by Richard “Sandy” Stromberg

          All too frequently our colonial history books discuss only the events leading up to July 4th, 1776 and famous battles following the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  It is very rare for this history-making document to have more than two or three pages devoted to it, and only in the most superficial way.  For those of you who have sought to understand the societal, philosophical, and intellectual currents that are the underpinnings of the document, we have had to rely upon Carl Becker’s 1922 book The Declaration of Independence as our major source of reference.  It is a good reference, with much thought and fact detailed within it, but very outdated in light of the quantity of new evidence which has come to light since it’s publication.

                However, the problem of finding up to date reference material on the Declaration  of Independence has recently been solved.  Pauline Maier, who has written books on the time period before (From Resistance to Revolution, and The Old Revolutionaries), has now seen fit to write a book exclusively about the Declaration.  She brilliantly analyses the entirety of the Declaration, pointing out changes made by Jefferson and others.  In doing this, she shows that the common conceptual image of Jefferson laboring alone is in fact a fallacy.  Combing through the Declaration, Maier gives many instances of specific origins of words and phrases, such as the opening paragraph which relies almost exclusively upon George Mason’s draft of the “Virginia Declaration of Rights”.  She traces the philosophical origins back to 1696 with “The English Declaration of Rights” and  Locke’s “Second Treatise of Government”, on through the abundance of written material readily found in the public domain that Thomas Jefferson drew upon.  

                By pursuing some further lines of inquiry, such as the approximate number of broadsides made and what do we know of their ultimate demise?  What events took place between it’s adoption on July 4 and it’s signing on August 2 that might have effected it’s outcome?  It could’ve brought a more complete closure.  However, these minor critiques  in no way lessen the value of her work.

                A careful reading of her book provides fascinating examples of guess work, supposition, and “detecting” inquiry into the creation of the document.  Her writing is clear, concise, and illuminating.  The book should appeal to the mildly curious and yet also to those who are approaching it in a more serious fashion.  It is difficult to say whether this is the definitive work on the Declaration, but it will certainly be the major reference book far into the next century.  American Scripture is heartily recommended.  Don’t deny yourself, buy it.

Paul Revere’s Ride

by David Hackett Fischer

 Reviewed by Richard “Sandy” Stromberg    

                Based upon the title of the book, the reader could reasonably expect that the book would deal with the “midnight ride of Paul Revere.”  However, this is fortunately not another rewrite of this famous race from Boston to Concord.  The author begins with an attempt to show paralells between the lives of Paul Revere and General Gage, the British North American commander.  This doesn’t work because Gage’s time in North America doesn’t coincide with Revere’s maximum influence during the colonial era.

                The author’s description of “the ride” adds nothing new to the body of literature already in circulation about this subject nor in it’s interpretation of events.  Where the author illuminates and helps to define events is in the battles of Concord, Lexington, and the retreat of the British to Charleston, Massachusetts.  He argues that the British were overwhelmed, outmanuevered, and outfought.  Contrary to popular belief, the rebels were quite adept at the European, as well as the Indian form of warfare.  In fact, rather than the dreamy eyed rebels commonly portrayed, many of them were hard bitten veteran of the French and Indian Wars.  The British were indeed outfought. 

                In his appendix he offers how “the ride” has evolved over the decades.  Each generation reinvented the ride to fit it’s own societal perceptions of history.  There are better accounts of Paul Revere’s ride.  However, I recommend this book, based on it’s account of the battles and history’s differing perceptions of Paul Revere’s attempt to alert the countryside.