Pulitzer Prize History Winner
The American Revolution: A Constitutional Interpretation
by Charles Howard McIlwain
Summary
McIlwain argues that the American colonists had a genuine constitutional case against Parliament, rooted in the legal structure of the British Empire rather than mere rebellion. He examines the questions of sovereignty and representation that divided the colonies from Britain, reframing the Revolution as a dispute over law and authority. The book reshaped scholarly debate about the legal foundations of American independence.
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Historical Context & Significance
McIlwain was a Harvard professor of political science whose interpretation sparked decades of debate among constitutional historians.