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The American Revolution: Writings from the Pamphlet Debate 1764–1776 (boxed set)

Edited by Gordon S. Wood

“This collection of pamphlets from the American Revolution is timely, important, and judiciously selected . . . a great and fitting addition to the Library of America series.”—Alan Taylor, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia 1772–1832

“An absolutely fantastic two-volume collection of some of the key pamphlets of that period. Wonderfully edited and introduced by historian Gordon Wood, this set is just a treasure. It puts in one place a broad and deep record of the arguments that made the United States of America imaginable, and makes for fascinating reading.”—National Affairs

Overview
News & Views
Table of Contents
Contributors

Overview

News Nicholas Lemann: What a functioning democracy would look like
October 27, 2020

Story of the Week Joseph Warren, “The Bloody Tragedy of the Fifth of March, 1770”
March 5, 2020

News Revolution 250: Enter the Farmer
December 7, 2017

Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Gordon S. Wood presents a landmark two-volume edition of the political debate that led to independence. A contest of words between Americans and Britons and among the colonists themselves, this debate was carried on largely in inexpensive pamphlets—the galvanizing medium of their day. Those concerned with the American controversy number well over a thousand, and they cover all of the most fundamental concerns of politics—the nature of power, liberty, representation, rights and constitutions, the division of authority between different spheres of government, and sovereignty.

This unprecedented collection gathers in two authoritative Library of America volumes the full texts of thirty-nine of the most fascinating and important of these works, including pamphlets by Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Johnson, and Edmund Burke. Here, in its entirety, is John Dickinson’s justly famous Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, the most significant political tract prior to Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, which is also included. Here too is the dramatic transcript of Benjamin Franklin’s testimony before Parliament as it debated repeal of the Stamp Act. By the time the political contest traced here was over, the first British empire was in tatters, and Americans had not only clarified their understanding of the limits of public power, they had prepared the way for their grand experiment in republican self-government and constitution-making.

Gordon S. Wood is Alva O. Way Professor of History Emeritus at Brown University. His books include the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Radicalism of the American Revolution, the Bancroft Prize-winning The Creation of the American Republic, 1776–1787, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, The Purpose of the Past: Reflections on the Uses of History, and Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789–1815, for the Oxford History of the United States. He writes frequently for The New York Review of Books and The New Republic. In 2011 Wood was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama.

Each Library of America series volume is printed on acid-free paper and features Smyth-sewn binding, a full cloth cover, and a ribbon marker.

Project support for these volumes was provided by The Bodman Foundation.

The American Revolution: Writings from the Pamphlet Debate 1764–1772 is kept in print by a gift from Sidney and Ruth Lapidus to the Guardians of American Letters Fund.

The American Revolution: Writings from the Pamphlet Debate 1773–1776 is kept in print by a gift from Sidney and Ruth Lapidus to the Guardians of American Letters Fund.
News & Views

News Nicholas Lemann: What a functioning democracy would look like
October 27, 2020

Story of the Week Joseph Warren, “The Bloody Tragedy of the Fifth of March, 1770”
March 5, 2020

News Revolution 250: Enter the Farmer
December 7, 2017

Interviews Against American exceptionalism: Gordon S. Wood on John Adams
April 19, 2016

Interviews Gordon S. Wood: How the American Revolution “infused into our culture our noblest ideals and highest aspirations”
March 31, 2016
Table of Contents

“Cato,” Thoughts on a Question of Importance Proposed to the Public, Whether It Is Probable That the Immense Extent of Territory Acquired by This Nation at the Late Peace, Will Operate Towards the Prosperity, or the Ruin of the Island of Great-Britain? London, 1765

Francis Bernard, “Principles of Law and Polity, Applied to the Government of the British Colonies in America. Written in the Year 1764.” From Select Letters on the Trade and Government of America; and the Principles of Law and Polity, Applied to the American Colonies. London, 1774

James Otis, The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved. Boston, 1764

[Stephen Hopkins], The Rights of Colonies Examined. Providence, 1765

[Martin Howard Jr.], A Letter from a Gentleman at Halifax, to His Friend in Rhode-Island, Containing Remarks upon a Pamphlet, Entitled, The Rights of Colonies Examined. Newport, 1765

[Thomas Whately], The Regulations Lately Made Concerning the Colonies, and the Taxes Imposed upon Them, Considered. London, 1765

[Daniel Dulany], Considerations on the Propriety of Imposing Taxes in the British Colonies, for the Purpose of Raising a Revenue, by Act of Parliament. Annapolis, 1765

Richard Bland, An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies, Intended as an Answer to the Regulations Lately Made Concerning the Colonies, and the Taxes Imposed upon Them Considered. In a Letter Addressed to the Author of That Pamphlet. Williamsburg, 1766

The Examination of Doctor Benjamin Franklin, Before an August Assembly, Relating to the Repeal of the Stamp-Act, etc. Philadelphia, 1766

[William Hicks], The Nature and Extent of Parliamentary Power Considered; in Some Remarks upon Mr. Pitt’s Speech in the House of Commons, Previous to the Repeal of the Stamp-Act: with an Introduction, Applicable to the Present Situation of the Colonies. Philadelphia, 1768

[John Dickinson], Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies. Philadelphia, 1768

[Allan Ramsay], Thoughts on the Origin and Nature of Government. Occasioned by the Late Disputes Between Great Britain and Her American Colonies: Written in the Year 1766. London, 1768

[Silas Downer], A Discourse, Delivered in Providence, in the Colony of Rhode-Island, upon the 25th. Day of July, 1768. At the Dedication of the Tree of Liberty, from the Summer House in the Tree. Providence, 1769

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Present Disputes Between the British Colonies in America and Their Mother-Country; and Their Reciprocal Claims and Just Rights Impartially Examined, and Fairly Stated. London, 1769

[John Joachim Zubly], An Humble Enquiry into the Nature of the Dependency of the American Colonies upon the Parliament of Great-Britain, and the Right of Parliament to Lay Taxes on the Said Colonies. By a Freeholder of South-Carolina. Charleston, 1769

[William Knox], The Controversy Between Great Britain and Her Colonies Reviewed; the Several Pleas of the Colonies, in Support of Their Right to All the Liberties and Privileges of British Subjects, and to Exemption from the Legislative Authority of Parliament, Stated and Considered; and the Nature of Their Connection with, and Dependence on, Great Britain, Shewn, upon the Evidence of Historical Facts and Authentic Records. London, 1769

Edward Bancroft, Remarks on the Review of The Controversy Between Great Britain and Her Colonies. In Which the Errors of Its Author Are Exposed, and the Claims of the Colonies Vindicated, upon the Evidence of Historical Facts and Authentic Records. New London, 1771

Joseph Warren, An Oration Delivered March 5th, 1772. At the Request of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston; to Commemorate the Bloody Tragedy of the Fifth of March, 1770. Boston, 1772

The Votes and Proceedings of the Freeholders and Other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, in Town Meeting Assembled, According to Law. Boston, 1772

The Speeches of His Excellency Governor Hutchinson, to the General Assembly of the Massachusetts-Bay. At a Session Begun and Held on the Sixth of January, 1773. With the Answers of His Majesty’s Council and the House of Representatives Respectively. Boston, 1773

[Thomas Jefferson], A Summary View of the Rights of British America. Set Forth in Some Resolutions Intended for the Inspection of the Present Delegates of the People of Virginia. Now in Convention. Williamsburg, 1774

[James Wilson], Considerations on the Nature and the Extent of the Legislative Authority of the British Parliament. Philadelphia, 1774

[William Henry Drayton], A Letter from Freeman of South-Carolina, to the Deputies of North-America, Assembled in the High Court of Congress at Philadelphia. Charleston, 1774

Some Fugitive Thoughts on a Letter Signed Freeman, Addressed to the Deputies, Assembled at the High Court of Congress in Philadelphia. Charleston, 1774

[Jonathan Boucher?], A Letter from a Virginian, to the Members of the Congress to Be Held at Philadelphia, on the First of September, 1774. New York, 1774

[Samuel Seabury], The Congress Canvassed: or, An Examination into the Conduct of the Delegates, at Their Grand Convention, Held in Philadelphia, Sept. 1, 1774. Addressed, to the Merchants of New-York. New York, 1774

[Thomas Bradbury Chandler], A Friendly Address to All Reasonable Americans, on the Subject of Our Political Confusions: In Which the Necessary Consequences of Violently Opposing the King’s Troops, and of a General Non-Importation Are Fairly Stated. New York, 1774

[Philip Livingston], The Other Side of the Question: or, A Defence of the Liberties of North-America. In Answer to a Late Friendly Address to All Reasonable Americans, on the Subject of Our Political Confusions. New York, 1774

Ebenezer Baldwin, “An Appendix, Stating the Heavy Grievances the Colonies Labour under from Several Late Acts of the British Parliament, and Shewing What We Have Just Reason to Expect the Consequences of These Measures Will Be.” From Samuel Sherwood, A Sermon, Containing, Scriptural Instructions to Civil Rulers, and All Free-Born Subjects. New Haven, 1774

[Charles Lee], Strictures on a Pamphlet, Entitled, a “Friendly Address to All Reasonable Americans, on the Subject of Our Political Confusions.” Addressed to the People of America. The Second Edition. New London, 1775

[Henry Barry], The Strictures on the Friendly Address Examined, and a Refutation of Its Principles Attempted. Addressed to the People of America. Boston, 1775

[Joseph Galloway], A Candid Examination of the Mutual Claims of Great-Britain, and the Colonies: with a Plan of Accommodation, on Constitutional Principles. New York, 1775

[Samuel Johnson], Taxation No Tyranny; an Answer to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress. London, 1775

An Answer to a Pamphlet, Entitled Taxation No Tyranny. Addressed to the Author, and to Persons in Power. London, 1775

Edmund Burke, The Speech of Edmund Burke, Esquire, on Moving His Resolutions for Conciliation with the Colonies, March 22d, 1775. New York, 1775

[Moses Mather], America’s Appeal to the Impartial World. Hartford, 1775

[Thomas Paine], Common Sense; Addressed to the Inhabitants of America, . . . A New Edition, with Several Additions in the Body of the Work. To Which Is Added an Appendix; Together with an Address to the People Called Quakers. Philadelphia, 1776

[Charles Inglis], The True Interest of America Impartially Stated, in Certain Strictures on a Pamphlet Intitled Common Sense. Philadelphia, 1776

[Thomas Hutchinson], Strictures upon the Declaration of the Congress at Philadelphia; in a Letter to a Noble Lord, &c. London, 1776
Contributors

Ebenezer Baldwin
Edward Bancroft
Henry Barry
Francis Bernard
Richard Bland
Jonathan Boucher
Edmund Burke
“Cato”
Thomas Bradbury Chandler
John Dickinson
Silas Downer
William Henry Drayton
Daniel Dulany
Benjamin Franklin
Joseph Galloway
William Hicks
Stephen Hopkins
Thomas Hutchinson
Martin Howard Jr.
Charles Inglis
Thomas Jefferson
Samuel Johnson
William Knox
Charles Lee
Philip Livingston
Moses Mather
James Otis
Thomas Paine
Allan Ramsay
Samuel Seabury
Joseph Warren
Thomas Whately
James Wilson
John Joachim Zubly

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