Contributors include Alfred F. Young, Gary J. Kornblith, John M. Murrin, Allan Kulikoff, Edward Countryman, Peter H. Wood, W. J. Rorabaugh, Alan Taylor, Michael Merrill, Sean Wilentz, and Cathy N. Davidson.

"This long-awaited volume unites the mature reflections of several scholars known for their research in early American history.... The essays form an excellent synthesis of research while raising new questions and reexamining the Revolutionary heritage."—William and Mary Quarterly
"The essays work together elegantly, offering scholars fresh insights to revolutionary battles."
-Journal of American History
"This fine collection of essays reflects the best scholarship of the last fifteen years on the impact of the American Revolution.... The essays add tremendous force to the argument that the revolutionary struggle involved a many-sided attempt to redefine and restructure American society as well as to gain independence."—Gary B. Nash, University of California, Los Angeles