Glorious Cause: The American Revolution Middlekauff, Robert.

¶ … Glorious Cause: The American Revolution Middlekauff, Robert. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982. Robert Middlekauff, born in 1927 in Washington state, holds a B.A. from the University of Washington and a Ph.D. from Yale. He saw active duty as a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in Korea from 1952-54. For most of his long career he has been a professor of history at the University of California at Berkeley.

In addition to The Glorious Cause (1982), his published books include Ancients and Axioms (1963), The Mathers (1971), and Benjamin Franklin and His Enemies (1996). Dr. Middlekauff received the Bancroft Prize in 1972 and the Commonwealth Gold Medal in 1983. He is listed as a historical educator in Who's Who in America where this biographical information was obtained.

This work, a narrative historical study of the American Revolution, and the first volume to appear in the Oxford History of the United States, reveals the complexities of the years between the signing of the treaty of Paris in 1763 and the election of George Washington in 1789.

Although he does not intend his title to be ironic, the author recognizes that the cause of the American revolution "had its inglorious side, and the Americans' manner of advancing it was sometimes false to the great principles they espouse." (vii) Middlekauff's purpose is to present both the achievements and failures of the American revolution.

His thesis is that our patriots and revolutionaries were not perfect, yet in learning "to see things as they are and to imagine how they might be," (665) they created a vision, fought for noble causes, endured their own imperfections and created the foundations for our country. Through the work of this scholar the reader learns that the road to liberty was not as swift or smooth as we may have learned in high school history. He leads up to the Revolution with Jennifer Hartley-2 Dr.

Jones detail that is exciting and fresh compared to most historical works. The importance of the Seven Years' War, to Britain's later tactics is illuminating. The author reveals how colonists carried the burden of the fighting against the French in North America, expecting to be permitted to return to self-government at the end of the war. Britain's new King and Parliament, however, had a fresh awareness of the potential for wealth to be found in the American colonies.

The extensive details of British debate over colonial issues offers insightful background, making it clear how the British came up with those objectionable tax laws to which the colonists, with their ideals of democracy and liberty, just had to rebel. The evolution of the details of that rebellion, first political, and finally, through violence, is superbly presented by Middlekauff.

As Middlekauff examines the causes of the war, the reader feels the drama and anguish of decisions and actions as the colonies' struggle to organize and move, and then continues on to learn fascinating details of how the war was fought. Middlekauff does an excellent job of showing how the war was less about legendary heroes and more about conflict between those who sought to profit from the colonies and those how wanted their freedom.

As armed conflict develops, the author captures the quality of eighteenth century warfare and the reader feels truly present at some of the famous battles. The book also shows the human side of the American army, and how Washington wrestled with the fact that many were reluctant to fight.

After the excitement of the early phases of revolution, the middle part of the book is a little less engaging, and gets a bit bogged down in scholarly language, but the final detailed narrative of how the Constitution evolves and is ratified by the states is absorbing. After reading The Glorious Cause, I enjoy new perspectives about the struggle and the personalities involved in securing the rights and liberties by which we live. Jennifer Hartley-3 Dr. Jones There's not much to criticize in The Glorious Cause.

It's a thoughtful analysis, written to appeal to any reader with a love of American history. As a narrative history, the nearly 700 pages of this well written, scholarly book are filled with intimate and vivid details of personalities and events. Persevering through the length of the book and the sometimes scholarly language are worth the effort. A wealth of footnotes and both primary and secondary sources are offered. The only thing this reader can complain about is that a few more maps and pictures would have.