146 The British Are Coming - The Crucial Early Years of the American Revolution
This week at In The Past Lane, the American History podcast, I speak with Pulitzer Prize winning military historian, Rick Atkinson, who’s just published the first of a 3-volume history of the American Revolution: The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775–1777. This project represents a new focus for Atkinson, as it follows a prize-winning trilogy on the history of World War II. This new book examines the first two years of the American war for independence. It’s a fascinating conversation that I’m sure you’re going to love. In the course of our conversation, Rick Atkinson explains: How George Washington had to learn on the job how to organize, manage, and command the Continental Army. How one of George Washington’s key leadership insights was his awareness that American soldiers could not simply be driven. Rather they needed to be led. How George Washington was not only effective on the field of battle, but also in managing the politics surrounding the American revolutionary effort. How vital but unlikely figures emerged during the war, like Henry Knox, Benedict Arnold, and Nathaniel Greene. How the British both overestimated the percentage of colonists who remained remain loyal to the Crown, and underestimated the fighting effectiveness of the Continental Army. How and why the Continental Army enjoyed a lot of success in 1775, but then nearly lost the war in the summer and fall of 1776. How George Washington’s bold decision to cross the Delaware River into New Jersey to surprise attack the British at Trenton and later at Princeton in late December 1776 and early January 1777, stopped British momentum and boosted American morale. Recommended reading: Rick Atkinson, The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775–1777 (Holt, 2019) Andrew O’Shaughnessy, The Men Who Lost America: British Leadership, the American Revolution, and the Fate of the Empire Robert Middlekauff, The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789 Dean Snow, 1777: Tipping Point at Saratoga Alan Taylor, American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750-1804 Related ITPL podcast episodes: 017 Alan Taylor, American Revolutions 023 Stephen Knott on the relationship between Alexander Hamilton and George Washington 028 Carol Berkin on the Crisis of the 1790s 041 Dean Snow on the pivotal Battle of Saratoga 049 Gordon Wood on the relationship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson 065 Andrew O’Shaughnessy on “The Men Who Lost America: British Leadership, the American Revolution, and the Fate of the Empire.” More info about Rick Atkinson - website Follow In The Past Lane on Twitter @InThePastLane Instagram @InThePastLane Facebook: InThePastLanePodcast YouTube: InThePastLane Music for This Episode Jay Graham, ITPL Intro (JayGMusic.com) Kevin McCleod, “Impact Moderato” (Free Music Archive) Andy Cohen, “Trophy Endorphins” (Free Music Archive) Andy Cohen, “Bathed in Finest Light” (Free Music Archive) Jon Luc Hefferman, “Winter Trek” (Free Music Archive) The Bell, “I Am History” (Free Music Archive) Production Credits Executive Producer: Lulu Spencer Technical Advisors: Holly Hunt and Jesse Anderson Podcasting Consultant: Dave Jackson of the School of Podcasting Podcast Editing: Wildstyle Media Photographer: John Buckingham Graphic Designer: Maggie Cellucci Website by: ERI Design Legal services: Tippecanoe and Tyler Too Social Media management: The Pony Express Risk Assessment: Little Big Horn Associates Growth strategies: 54 40 or Fight © In The Past Lane, 2019 Recommended History Podcasts Ben Franklin’s World with Liz Covart @LizCovart The Age of Jackson Podcast @AgeofJacksonPod Backstory podcast – the history behind today’s headlines @BackstoryRadio Past Present podcast with Nicole Hemmer, Neil J. 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