Books in Leaders of the American Revolution series

With a Clash Between American Rebels and Royal Authorities Heating Up, Radicals Smuggled Cannon Out of Boston—and the British Came Looking for Them In the early spring of 1775, on a farm in Concord, Massachusetts, British army spies located four brass cannon belonging to Boston’s colonial militia that had gone missing months before. British general Thomas Gage had been searching for them, both to stymie New England’s growing rebellion and to erase the embarrassment of having let cannon disappear from armories under redcoat guard. Anxious to regain those weapons, he drew up plans for his troops to march nineteen miles into unfriendly territory. The Massachusetts Patriots, meanwhile, prepared to thwart the general’s mission. There was one goal Gage and his enemies shared: for different reasons, they all wanted to keep the stolen cannon as secret as possible. Both sides succeeded well enough that the full story has never appeared until now.The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War by historian J. L. Bell reveals a new dimension to the start of America’s War for Independence by tracing the spark of its first battle back to little-known events beginning in September 1774. The author relates how radical Patriots secured those four cannon and smuggled them out of Boston, and how Gage sent out spies and search parties to track them down. Drawing on archives in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, the book creates a lively, original, and deeply documented picture of a society perched on the brink of war.

Men may have fought the battles of the American Revolution, but women played an important part too. Some women fought the battle at home, speaking their minds about the British occupation or gathering supplies for their soldiers. Others fought openly for their cause, secretly joining the military or becoming spies. Get to know these heroic women and their importance to the colonists' victory during the Revolutionary War.

John Adams grew up on a farm but, rather than following his family's footsteps, he chose to become a lawyer. When the American colonies began to fight for their freedom he got involved in politics, became a respected leader, and helped write the Declaration of Independence. After the Revolutionary War, Adams was elected America's first vice president and its second president.

Benjamin Franklin: Scientist, Inventor, Printer, and Statesman describes one of America's leading figures during the American Revolution, discussing his many roles and influences throughout history. After moving to Philadelphia at age 17, Franklin began his journey "without the least Recommendation to or Knowledge of any Person in the Place, and with very little Money in [his] Pocket." Soon after, Franklin became one of the most dynamic men of the American colonies, publishing Poor Richard's Almanac as well as several other publications. When not writing or editing, Franklin conducted scientific experiments and established many local and national institutions, including a fire company, a library, and a university. He also provided a guiding hand to Thomas Jefferson as he wrote the Declaration of Independence, then served as the budding nation's most important foreign diplomat during the Revolution. More than 300 years after his birth, Franklin remains among America s most beloved founding fathers, making this volume an essential resource for students, teachers, and American history lovers everywhere.