The Radicalism Of The American Revolution Summary

Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian Gordon S. Wood published his work The Radicalism of the American Revolution in 1991. In this book, he argues that, contrary to popular belief, the American Revolution was a socio-politically radical event. Wood describes various factors and outcomes that evidence the Revolution’s radicalism, and how it was the most far-reaching event of American history. In his thesis, he conveys that the Revolution’s radical influence on society has generally been disregarded by historians, that radicalism is defined by shifts in people’s relationships, that the Revolution sought societal change through political reform, and that it was the most influential and radical factor in creating a liberal, modern America.

Wood, a winner of the Pulitzer Prize. The book was first published in the United States in 1991. Its intended audience is the American general public, primarily those who are familiar with the story of the American Revolution. Its purpose is to dispel the notion that the American Revolution was not a truly radical revolution, and to prove that it was, by all standards, very radical. Wood presents his evidence in reference to popular conceptions and in comparison to other historical events. He makes extensive uses of secondary evidence in support of his ideas, stating information and providing examples, while providing a basic context for the conditions and results of the American

Discerning the OPC elements of the work first allowed me to then evaluate its values and limitations. Through my investigation, I concluded that this piece is a useful reference, in spite of some areas where primary source support is necessary. Wood’s Pulitzer Prize winner qualifications lend him credibility, which somewhat negates the doubtfulness of certain unsupported claims, but more so it is the citation of secondary authors that truly solidifies the work’s reliability as a source, overall. As an introduction, and a stand-alone work, this piece functions as a new and helpful perspective on the impact of the American Revolution. Gordon S. Wood’s The Radicalism of the American Revolution is useful for its new perspective on the nature of the American Revolution. Despite its being limited in its audience, the work proves a helpful historical reference. It makes extensive use of secondary support, and is useful for its insight into the reformative mindset held by individuals of the time. However, certain claims are of a nature that requires primary support, which the work lacks. Nevertheless, it remains a work useful for obtaining a new historical outlook on the impact of the American