Gordon S. Wood Books
Gordon S. Wood is an American historian specializing in the American Revolution and the early Republic.
Known for: The American Revolution: A History, The Radicalism Of The American Revolution
Books by Gordon S. Wood
The American Revolution: A History
This concise history by Gordon S. Wood offers a sweeping overview of the American Revolution, exploring its origins, ideological foundations, and transformative impact on the creation of the United St...
The Radicalism Of The American Revolution
In this Pulitzer Prize–winning work, historian Gordon S. Wood argues that the American Revolution was not merely a political event but a profound social transformation that fundamentally changed the n...
Key Insights from Gordon S. Wood
The Old Order
Before any cries of liberty rang through the colonies, America was part of an imperial world grounded in monarchy, patronage, and patron-client relationships. Society, both in Britain and in its colonies, was a tapestry of dependence. The king stood at the apex, the living symbol of unity and author...
From The American Revolution: A History
Imperial Crisis
The Seven Years’ War transformed everything. Britain emerged triumphant, owning vast new territories, but the victory came at enormous cost. The empire needed revenue, and for the first time, Parliament looked to the colonies not as partners but as taxpayers. From the Stamp Act to the Townshend duti...
From The American Revolution: A History
Colonial Society and Hierarchy
Before the Revolution, American society was unmistakably hierarchical. It reflected the monarchical culture of Britain, where rank and social order were not merely conventions but the natural structure of the world. In the colonies, gentlemen and commoners had distinct identities. Social deference w...
From The Radicalism Of The American Revolution
The Rise of Republicanism
The intellectual transformation that fueled the Revolution began with the rise of republicanism—a political and moral vision rooted in civic virtue and opposition to corruption and tyranny. Drawing on Enlightenment thinkers and Roman ideals, republicanism provided a language through which colonial l...
From The Radicalism Of The American Revolution
About Gordon S. Wood
Gordon S. Wood is an American historian specializing in the American Revolution and the early Republic. He is a professor emeritus at Brown University and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for his influential works on the intellectual and political history of early America.
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Gordon S. Wood is an American historian specializing in the American Revolution and the early Republic.
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