Pauline Maier shows us the Declaration as both the defining statement of our national identity and the moral standard by which we live as a nation. It is truly "American Scripture;" and Maier tells us how it came to be -- from the Declaration's birth in the hard and tortuous struggle by which Americans arrived at Independence to the ways in which; in the nineteenth century; the document itself became sanctified.Maier describes the transformation of the Second Continental Congress into a national government; unlike anything that preceded or followed it; and with more authority than the colonists would ever have conceded to the British Parliament; the great difficulty in making the decision for Independence; the influence of Paine's Common Sense; which shifted the terms of debate; and the political maneuvers that allowed Congress to make the momentous decision.In Maier's hands; the Declaration of Independence is brought close to us. She lets us hear the voice of the people as revealed in the other "declarations" of 1776: the local resolutions -- most of which have gone unnoticed over the past two centuries -- that explained; advocated; and justified Independence and undergirded Congress's work. Detective-like; she discloses the origins of key ideas and phrases in the Declaration and unravels the complex story of its drafting and of the group-editing job which angered Thomas Jefferson.Maier also reveals what happened to the Declaration after the signing and celebration: how it was largely forgotten and then revived to buttress political arguments of the nineteenth century; and; most important; how Abraham Lincoln ensured its persistence as a living force in American society. Finally; she shows how by the very act of venerating the Declaration as we do -- by holding it as sacrosanct; akin to holy writ -- we may actually be betraying its purpose and its power.
#1325630 in Books other 1997-05-27 1997-05-27Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.95 x .73 x 5.15l; .79 #File Name: 0679746641348 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Solid read; interesting journeyBy Bryan J. CohenA great book for anyone who enjoys reading about historical perspectives and interpretations; but not too much on the tactics. The title might lead you to think the book is all about the Xs and Os and troop movements that took place in the US and Canada over the last 300 years; but really it is about linking key battles together and how they relate to the geography of the country.It's often puzzling; trying to figure out why certain battles take place where they do; and the author uses his knowledge of geography. to explain precisely why. For instance; he explains what brought about the battle of Yorktown in the Revolutionary War and then connects it to why the same exact land was fought over in the Civil War. In another chapter; the author gives a build-up to the Battle at Little Big Horn and the death of Custer without tracing over every single step of the process. Instead; he tells it as a story; as one would experience walking over the battlefield as it sits today.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Illuminating: a must to understand early American historyBy R. Doyle GillespieJohn Keegan's analysis of North American topography and its influence on the explorations and military campaigns that shaped our early history is essential reading for students of colonial and Revolutionary history. Keegan's insights illuminate those issues in a clear and compelling way. The moves and counter-moves of the British and French in the struggle over Canada; the true significnance of the Battle of Saratoga; these and other events become part of a grand pattern that makes sense. I strongly recommend this book for all who would learn about the Revolution and the early history of our country.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Refreshing view; from a European perspective of the Wars ...By bigdieselRefreshing view; from a European perspective of the Wars for North America. I was especially intrigued by his treatment of the French experience in Canada; indeed in the heartland of the US. A lucid evaluation of us from a very respected author. Well worth the time for a careful reading.
