The essays in Empire and Nation challenge facile assumptions about the "exceptional" character of the republic's founding moment; even as they invite readers to think anew about the complex ways in which the Revolution reshaped both American society and the Atlantic world.How did events and ideas from elsewhere in the British empire influence development in the thirteen American colonies? And what was the effect of the American Revolution on the wider Atlantic world? In Empire and Nation; leading historians reconsider the American Revolution as a transnational event; with many sources and momentous implications for Ireland; Africa; the West Indies; Canada; and Britain itself.The opening section of the book situates the origins of the American Revolution in the commercial; ethnic; and political ferment that characterized Britain's Atlantic empire at the close of the Seven Years' War. The empire experienced extraordinary changes; ranging from the first stirrings of nationalism in Ireland to the dramatic expansion of British rule in Canada; Africa; and India. The second part focuses on the rebellion of the thirteen colonies; touching on slavery and ethnicity; the changing nature of religious faith; and ideas about civil society and political organization. Finally; contributors examine the changes wrought by the American Revolution both within Britain's remaining imperial possessions and among the other states in the emerging "concert of Europe."
#1508838 in Books Simon n Schuster 2011-04-05 2011-04-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.18 x 6.48 x 9.37l; 1.46 #File Name: 1416593349400 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Wert is at the top of his craft!!!By Jose Gomez-RiveraJeffry Wert has produced a masterful history of the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E.Lee. This book offers deep and well researched insights on the effectiveness and limitations of the Confederate war effort in its most important theater. Using an admirable array of primary sources; memoirs and historical analysis; Wert probes deeply into the two years that led to a Confederate high tide; examining the outstanding controversies of Gettysburg; to produce this complex; informative and essential book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ANVBy BILLSHOWS WHAT EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP CAN ACCOMPLISH. LESSONS WE COULD LEARN FROM TO DAY4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Lee's Glorious Army and The Price It PaidBy Civil War LibrarianA Glorious Army: Robert E. Lee's Triumph; 1862-1863; Jeffry D. Wert; Simon and Schuster Inc.; 384 pp.; 29 b/w photographs; 9 maps; notes; bibliography; index; $30.00.Advancing his work on the Stonewall Brigade; J.E.B. Stuart; James Longstreet; July 3 at Gettysburg; and the Army of the Potomac; Jeffry Wert sets forth a well paced and balanced story of a year in the life of the Army of Northern Virginia. Covering the familiar ground of June 1 1862 to July 31 1863 in the eastern theatre; Wert provides his own perspective on Lee's and his army's virtues along with those of other historians. One of the strenghts of this work is Wert recognition and reliance on others' interpretations. Throughout the book Wert presents and discusses the insights of Gabor Borritt; Peter Carmichael; Thomas Connelly; Gary Gallagher; Joseph Glatthaar; Joseph Harsh; Robert K. Krick; Donald Pfanz; George Rable; Ethan Rafuse; Steven Woodworth and several others.From June 1862 when Robert E. Lee assumed command and through the near diaster in Pennsylvania; the Army of Northern Virginia's officer corps became severely depleted. After each campaign; Wert dwells upon the specifics of dead and wounded regimental; brigade; division commanders. Not only were the ranks of the enlisted men suffering but the commissioned officers were being lost. Lee nearly constantly struggled to locate the talent and put it in the best situation.A Glorious Army is not a review of the campaigns and battles. Wert sets forth an analysis of theatre strategy; army leadership and how the rank and file coped with the demands of the campaigns. Lee's reorganization of the army in June 1862 was not satisfactory; an army of divisions was difficult to coordinate. The emergence of Longstreet and Jackson as wing commanders in the Second Manassas and Maryland campaigns came as a necessity and not necessarily from the mind of Lee.As the talent rose to the occasion; wing and later corps staff officers were organized. Lee; Longstreet and Jackson found talent to make their commands efficient. The Maryland Campaign of 1862 reveals their struggles. The lost copy of Order 191 was a duplicate sent to D. H. Hill from Jackson. Hill did not miss it because he had received a copy of Order 191 from Longstreet.With clear and concise prose Wert makes is accessible the conflicts in the command structure and the exasperation of Lee; Longstreet and Jackson who continually lose their best division and brigade commanders to the battlefield. Wert does not neglect the enlisted men in the least bit. At times the commanders gave marching orders that drop soldiers out of the ranks. Indeed; the army lost crucial percentages of soldiers to the miles of Virginia's roads. Second Manassas; South Mountain; Antietam; and Gettysburg saw a great deal of physical exhaustion among the enlisted before and after the battles.Wert shows that Lee's audacity and aggression brought victories; high casualties and a near disaster at Gettysburg. But; as Wert reviews Lee's options and evaluates his choices. How brilliant were the victories? How mediocre was the generalship of the Army of the Potomac? Wert sets the parameters but does not force his conclusions on the reader. A few events are unaddressed in A Glorious Army. Gettysburg is cut short on July 3. There is no mention of the Pennsylvania Reserves assault on Houck's Ridge and the Wheatfield after the Pickett/Pettigrew/Trimble Charge. Neither is Farnesworth's charge mentioned. The retreat from Gettysburg is covered on one page. Wert does dwell on the drastic loss of division and brigade commanders and hints at these loses may be irreplaceable. A study of the fall 1863 Mine Run campaign is not offered. CWL would not be surprised if in late 2012; Wert offers a study of the Army of Northern Virginia from 1863-1865. If so; CWL welcome Wert's study of the final year of Lee and his glorious army. Though; CWL would also welcome a biography of George Gordon Meade from Jeff Wert.
