A Transaction Of Free Men: The Birth And Course Of The Declaration Of Independence

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title A Transaction Of Free Men: The Birth And Course Of The Declaration Of Independence
Authors and Contributors      By (author) David Hawke
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:292
Dimensions(mm): Height 216,Width 140
Category/GenreColonialism and imperialism
National liberation, independence and post-colonialism
ISBN/Barcode 9780306803529
ClassificationsDewey:973.313
Audience
Undergraduate
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Professional & Vocational

Publishing Details

Publisher Hachette Books
Imprint Da Capo Press Inc
Publication Date 22 March 1989
Publication Country United States

Description

The story of the Declaration of Independence--its genesis, drafting, ratification, and influence--is as complex as any great vision and realization. Did it merely sum up the prevailing thought of its day, or was it an advanced expression of uniquely American ideals? Were its signers aware of the Declaration's full revolutionary significance, or did they see it as the rationale for an economic dispute? Such questions face any historian of the period and require an extraordinary control of materials, a sensitive reading of character and text, and a lucid gift for recreating a time more than two centuries ago for scholars and general readers alike. David Hawke possesses all of these qualities in abundance. His portraits of Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration, and John Adams, who led the fight for its adoption, are wonderfully complex and sound. As he says in his new introduction, the main thesis [of the book] is that the Declaration could only have been written by Thomas Jefferson, not just because of his talent with words, but also because he, coming from an agrarian South, held ideas about society and government not shared by northerners. A double portrait of men who began as allies, became enemies, and at the end of their lives resolved their antagonism into deep respect and friendship, this book provides fascinating reading for anyone interested in the foundations of the American experiment.

Author Biography

David Freeman Hawke, Professor Emeritus of American History at City University of New York, is the author of several books, including The Colonial Experience, In the Midst of Revolution, Benjamin Rush: Revolutionary Gadfly, and Nuts and Bolts of the Past: A History of American Technology.