A Republic, Kept: An Analysis of the Historiography of the American Revolution
Abstract
Benjamin Franklin’s quote about the continuance of the American republic referenced in the title of this paper can be seen as the culmination of the efforts of the American revolutionaries in their fight for independence. The American Revolution is the hallmark of the beginning of the United States and the historical interpretations of the revolution have shown how the culture of America have changed since the late eighteenth century. Analysis of the American Revolution has changed throughout the history of the nation as two and a half centuries have passed since the end of the conflict. Examination of the American Revolution has helped historians understand both democracy itself and the impact it has had on geo-politics throughout history.
This paper covers the historiography of the American Revolution, beginning with George Bancroft and the Whig school and culminating with recent works that focus on the social, gender, and racial aspects of contemporary historical research of the revolution. This essay focuses primarily on the examination of the varying schools of thought about causes, origins, and interpretations of the American Revolution. I discuss the Whig, Progressive, Neo-Whig, and Neo-Progressive schools in addition to the aforementioned contemporary disciplinary schools.
