I recently picked up a copy of a book that’s worth recommending: A Respectable Army: The Military Origins Of The Republic, 1763-1789, by James Kirby Martin and Mark Edward Lender. This book is part of Harlan Davidson’s American History Series edited by John Hope Franklin and A.S. Eisenstadt, which offers concise guides to important periods and themes in U.S. history.
This volume answers a question that’s central to an understanding of the Revolution: How did a republican rebellion started by a citizen militia, supported by a society terrified of standing armies, develop into a war conducted by professional soldiers? The book also incorporates short summaries of the major campaigns, making it ideal for anyone needing a refresher on the course of the Revolution or instructors looking for a course supplement. It’s a great introduction to the questions Revolutionary War historians have been asking and the answers they’ve found.
Past in the Present 