Term Paper on "Radicals of the American Revolution by Gordon S. Wood"

Term Paper 3 pages (1014 words) Sources: 1

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Radicalism of the American Revolution by Gordon S. Wood. Specifically, it will contain a critical evaluation of the book. This Pulitzer Prize winning book covers the American Revolution and the radical thought that led up to American independence. Author Wood indicates where the Americans began to break with the British, and how radical thought was common in free Britain, and so it is no surprise that American Colonials would continue this type of thought in the New World. Wood's theories differ from straight history; for he looks at the social and economic factors that helped leaders look first toward a new Republic, and then toward a more radical democracy. Ultimately, Wood wants readers to understand that the thought behind the American Revolution was anything but conservative. While a wide variety of issues and factors helped lead the country toward revolution, radical thought processes were immensely important to the development of the revolution, and to its eventual successful conclusion and the birth of a new nation.

The author breaks the book down into three main sections that logically follow the steps of the revolution: Monarchy, Republicanism, and Democracy. Within this framework, the author illustrates the differing stages in the American thought process, from breaking with the monarchy, to creating a workable Republic, to finally a democracy that was created for equality for all. Wood's research shows that at this time in American history, Americans were extremely open to change, and they were accepting of anyone who wanted to live in the country. Wood writes, "The truth was, said Thomas Paine in Common Sense, that Americans were the most cosmopolitan people in the world. They surmounted all local prejudices. They regarded everyone from different nations as their countryman" (Wood 223). He feels the ideals Americans used to create their new government may seem "commonplace" today, but at the time they were "momentously radical" at the time (Wood ix). The author uses a variety of research and evidence to reach his conclusions, from papers and books to library research and peer-reviewed journals and thesis. It is clear the author used every available resource to conduct his study, and wanted this book to represent the most exhaustive research on this topic, so there would be no questioning of his results.

The author's method is historic, with social and economic theories in an historical perspective. The data and sources the author used are quite exhaustive, as the extensive notes section of the book clearly shows. Stylistically, the book is certainly well written and researched, and it is quite clear the author has a deep understanding of his subject matter and his own convictions about his research. It is not a simple book to read, and some passages must be read more than once to get the full meaning and importance of what the author is attempting to convey to readers. However, this book is not meant to entertain, it is meant to educate, and so the style is instructive, but certainly readable by most Americans. The organization is also quite… READ MORE

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