As always you can follow the link to the Deseret News.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705369397/American-Tempest-offers-different-view-of-American-history.html?s_cid=rss-15
American Tempest' offers different view of American history
"American Tempest: How the Boston Tea Party Sparked a Revolution," by Harlow Giles Unger, Da Capo Press, 305 pages, $26 (nf)
Set any preconceived notions of the Founding Fathers to the side.
After reading author and historian Harlow Giles Unger's latest offering, "American Tempest: How the Boston Team Party Sparked a Revolution," opinions of America's first idols may change.
Unger doesn't go out of his way to tarnish their reputations. Instead, he portrays them as men who needed to make difficult decisions in their pursuits of liberty.
Unger's "American Tempest," wastes no time in relaying the events of Thursday, Dec. 16, 1773, when approximately 60-70 men dressed as Indians gathered at Griffin's Wharf and dumped approximately, by today's standards, $1 million dollars worth of British tea into Boston Harbor.
"American Tempest" goes into great detail about America's early economic history, which is vital in painting the picture as to why colonists felt a revolution was necessary. Unger highlights the rise of merchants and the great wealth and power they attained. He also provides in-depth detail about how trade between the American colonies and Britain worked. He breaks down how the taxes levied by parliament affected the Americans. And, of course, a major theme in the book is "taxation without representation." He also points out the irony of the taxes levied by early American leaders following the revolution.
One of the highlights of the book is what we learn about patriots John Hancock and Samuel Adams, key figures in sparking the revolution; Hancock, the wealthy merchant, who rose to great power and rank, eventually becoming president of the Continental Congress, and the gifted and fiery Adams, who penned motivational propaganda and spent hours in the taverns of Boston drumming up support from the common man to help ignite a movement.
While Unger details the lives of the many of the patriot leaders in "Tempest," he also delivers the loyalist side and provides great quotes from American-born loyalists such as Thomas Hutchinson, who had to flee to England, along with tens of thousands of others, to live in safety due to the overwhelming resentment towards those who supported the crown.
One unique feature of the book is in the appendix where the list of supposed "Tea Party Patriots" can be found. While it is unknown who actually participated in the party, the list compiled by Benjamin Edes contains not only the names of the alleged tea dumpers, but their age, occupation and following histories.
"American Tempest" not only offers a somewhat different view on American history, but it also delivers as an entertaining and informative read.
Set any preconceived notions of the Founding Fathers to the side.
After reading author and historian Harlow Giles Unger's latest offering, "American Tempest: How the Boston Team Party Sparked a Revolution," opinions of America's first idols may change.
Unger doesn't go out of his way to tarnish their reputations. Instead, he portrays them as men who needed to make difficult decisions in their pursuits of liberty.
"American Tempest" goes into great detail about America's early economic history, which is vital in painting the picture as to why colonists felt a revolution was necessary. Unger highlights the rise of merchants and the great wealth and power they attained. He also provides in-depth detail about how trade between the American colonies and Britain worked. He breaks down how the taxes levied by parliament affected the Americans. And, of course, a major theme in the book is "taxation without representation." He also points out the irony of the taxes levied by early American leaders following the revolution.
One of the highlights of the book is what we learn about patriots John Hancock and Samuel Adams, key figures in sparking the revolution; Hancock, the wealthy merchant, who rose to great power and rank, eventually becoming president of the Continental Congress, and the gifted and fiery Adams, who penned motivational propaganda and spent hours in the taverns of Boston drumming up support from the common man to help ignite a movement.
While Unger details the lives of the many of the patriot leaders in "Tempest," he also delivers the loyalist side and provides great quotes from American-born loyalists such as Thomas Hutchinson, who had to flee to England, along with tens of thousands of others, to live in safety due to the overwhelming resentment towards those who supported the crown.
One unique feature of the book is in the appendix where the list of supposed "Tea Party Patriots" can be found. While it is unknown who actually participated in the party, the list compiled by Benjamin Edes contains not only the names of the alleged tea dumpers, but their age, occupation and following histories.
"American Tempest" not only offers a somewhat different view on American history, but it also delivers as an entertaining and informative read.
Jarrod M. Hiatt lives in Davis County, Utah, with his wife and three kids. Jarrod graduated from Weber State University with a degree in journalism. E-mail: jarrodhiatt@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment