A Mighty Empire

by Egnal, Marc

• ISBN13: 9780801476587
• ISBN10: 0801476585
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-08-19
• Publisher: Cornell Univ Pr

Summary

Marc Egnal here provides a major new interpretation of the causes of the American Revolution. Focusing on five colonies-Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina-from 1700 to the post-Revolutionary era, he asserts that throughout colonial America the struggle against Great Britain was led by an upper-class faction motivated by a vision of the rapid development of the New World. In each colony the membership of this group, which Egnal calls the expansionist faction, was shaped by self-interest, religious convictions, and national origins. According to Egnal, these individuals had long shown a commitment to American growth and had fervently supported the colonial wars against France, Spain, and Native Americans. While advancing this interpretation, Egnal explores several salient aspects of colonial society. He scrutinizes the partisan battles within the provinces and argues that they were in fact clashes between the expansionists and a second long-lived faction that he calls the nonexpansionists. Through close analysis he shows how economic crisis-the depression of the 1760s-influenced the colonists' behavior. And although he focuses on the initiative and leadership of the elite, Egnal also investigates the part played by the common people in the rebellion. A Mighty Empire contains insightful sketches of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and other revolutionary leaders and makes clear the human dimensions of the clash with Great Britain. The final chapter provides a new context for understanding the writing of the Constitution and considers the links between the Revolution and modern America. An appendix lists members of the colonial factions and identifies their patterns of political commitment. Written in lucid, forceful prose, Mighty Empire is a valuable addition to the ongoing debate over the role of ideas and interests in shaping the Revolution. The book will engage individuals who wish to explore the origins of the United States.

Author Biography

Marc Egnal is Professor of History at York University. He is the author of books including New World Economies and Divergent Paths.

Table of Contents

Maps and Figures	p. ix
Preface 2010	p. xi
Preface to the First Edition	p. xxiii
Note on Definitions	p. xxv
Abbreviations Used in Notes	p. xxvii
Introduction	p. 1
The Factions Emerge, 1690-1762	p. 17
Massachusetts to 1741: Three Parties Were Formed	p. 20
Massachusetts, 1741-1762: Coalition Politics	p. 38
New York: Traders and Warriors	p. 51
Pennsylvania: Quaker Party Ascendancy	p. 68
Virginia: Rise of the Northern Neckers	p. 87
South Carolina: Factions Times Two	p. 102
Revolutionary Politics, 1763-1770	p. 123
The Depression of the 1760s	p. 126
Massachusetts: Patriot Alliance	p. 150
New York: Reluctant Revolutionaries	p. 168
Pennsylvania: Challenging the Quaker Party	p. 191
Virginia: Conflict and Cooperation	p. 215
South Carolina: Triumphant Patriots	p. 227
The Quiet Years, 1771-1773	p. 247
The Quiet Years	p. 248
The Expansionists Prevail, 1774-1776	p. 271
Northern Colonies: Antagonists High and Low	p. 275
Southern Colonies: Maintaining Control	p. 302
Beyond Independence	p. 328
Appendix. Members of the Factions	p. 339
Index	p. 371
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Marc Egnal here provides a major new interpretation of the causes of the American Revolution. Focusing on five colonies—Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina—from 1700 to the post-Revolutionary era, he asserts that throughout colonial America the struggle against Great Britain was led by an upper-class faction motivated by a vision of the rapid development of the New World. In each colony the membership of this group, which Egnal calls the expansionist faction, was shaped by self-interest, religious convictions, and national origins. According to Egnal, these individuals had long shown a commitment to American growth and had fervently supported the colonial wars against France, Spain, and Native Americans. While advancing this interpretation, Egnal explores several salient aspects of colonial society. He scrutinizes the partisan battles within the provinces and argues that they were in fact clashes between the expansionists and a second long-lived faction that he calls the nonexpansionists. Through close analysis he shows how economic crisis—the depression of the 1760s—influenced the colonists' behavior. And although he focuses on the initiative and leadership of the elite, Egnal also investigates the part played by the common people in the rebellion. A Mighty Empire contains insightful sketches of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and other revolutionary leaders and makes clear the human dimensions of the clash with Great Britain. The final chapter provides a new context for understanding the writing of the Constitution and considers the links between the Revolution and modern America. An appendix lists members of the colonial factions and identifies their patterns of political commitment. Written in lucid, forceful prose, Mighty Empire is a valuable addition to the ongoing debate over the role of ideas and interests in shaping the Revolution. The book will engage individuals who wish to explore the origins of the United States.