America's Revolutionary Mind

A Moral History of the American Revolution and the Declaration That Defined It

By: C. Bradley Thompson

Narrated by: Tom Parks

Length: 18 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

The purpose of this book is twofold: first, to elucidate the logic, principles, and significance of the Declaration of Independence as the embodiment of the American mind; and, second, to shed light on what John Adams once called the "real American Revolution"; that is, the moral revolution that occurred in the minds of the people in the 15 years before 1776. The Declaration is used here as an ideological road map by which to chart the intellectual and moral terrain traveled by American Revolutionaries as they searched for new moral principles to deal with the changed political circumstances of the 1760s and early 1770s. This volume identifies and analyzes the modes of reasoning, the patterns of thought, and the new moral and political principles that served American Revolutionaries first in their intellectual battle with Great Britain before 1776 and then in their attempt to create new Revolutionary societies after 1776.

The book reconstructs what amounts to a near-unified system of thought - what Thomas Jefferson called an "American mind" or what author C. Bradley Thompson calls "America's Revolutionary mind." This American mind was, Thompson argues, united in its fealty to a common philosophy that was expressed in the Declaration and launched with the words, "We hold these truths to be self-evident."

©2019 C. Bradley Thompson (P)2020 Tantor

A detailed line by line analysis!

This is a book, that takes the American Revolution and its root motivations in morality, very seriously. It includes a line by line analysis of the Declaration of Independence, that cross references the philosophical influencers of the founders, the communication between citizens and statesmen of the day, and successfully integrates the empirical facts with the ideas contained within the document itself.

Near the end, there is a story told through the clash of cultures that the philosophy of the enlightenment made unavoidable by declaring right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness as universal absolute moral truth. From the attacks on the DoI by slave owners in the south, to the 20th century move toward moral relativism in rejection of human right to life.

Comprehensive, and grounded in reality. Very important book. I believe the author mentioned undergoing the revolution scholars tedious traditional pilgrimage, through all preserved literature and locale relevant to the event.

essential

Absolutely an amazing book a must read to understand the declaration of Independence and the roots ofAmerican history.

Excellent study of Revolutionary Thinking

This book is very heady and well-paced for so much to soak in. If you enjoy a deep study of the thinking behind the American Revolution, this book is for you.

Educational, Interesting, and Well Sourced

This book was full of information, quotes, philosophy; It should be mandatory reading in schools.

Thorough Discussion of the Colonial American Mind

The first several chapters of this book reminded me of Chicago DJ Larry Lujack who said there could be no rock'n'roll without repetition. Some of the quotations, especially those from John Locke, are pretty repetitious at the start. But Mr. Thompson does a detailed job of explaining the philosophy and mindset that prevailed in colonial America during the decade and a half that preceded the Revolutionary War. American intellectuals like Jefferson and Adams were concerned with nature, nature's God and man's rights, and their thoughts permeated down to the common men of their time. The Declaration of Independence''s key passage, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…" is thoroughly explicated. At the end, the author brings his inquiry up to date, explaining that the universal, timeless truths of the Declaration were countered first by advocates of slavery and later by the collectivists, subjectivists and socialists who considered groups/societies superior to the individual. Unfortunately, today's Americans give little, if any, thought to natural law, the rights of man or the proper function of government.

Still no answer as to why!

Good read. Background of the philosophy behind the Constitution excellent. However no good answer to why slaves not included in the philosophy....or freed.

The Shot Heard Around the World Still Reverberating

The author’s research, and discussion of it, is well worth the listen. His conclusion of the book, where he revisits slavery, is outstanding. I’ll listen again after some time to think about it.

Summary of beliefs of our Founding Father's.

Without going into all the writings of pre-revolutionary thinkers, this writer gives a concise description of what the founders thoughts on the governance of free men. A most excellent book for one's edification.