In Occupied America, Donald F. Johnson chronicles the everyday
experience of ordinary people living under military occupation
during the American Revolution. Focusing on day-to-day life in port
cities held by the British Army, Johnson recounts how men and women
from a variety of backgrounds navigated harsh conditions, mitigated
threats to their families and livelihoods, took advantage of new
opportunities, and balanced precariously between revolutionary and
royal attempts to secure their allegiance. Between 1775 and 1783,
every large port city along the Eastern seaboard fell under British
rule at one time or another. As centers of population and commerce,
these cities—Boston, New York, Newport, Philadelphia, Savannah,
Charleston—should have been bastions from which the empire could
restore order and inspire loyalty. Military rule's exceptional
social atmosphere initially did provide opportunities for many
people—especially women and the enslaved, but also free men both
rich and poor—to reinvent their lives, and while these
opportunities came with risks, the hope of social betterment
inspired thousands to embrace military rule. Nevertheless, as
Johnson demonstrates, occupation failed to bring about a
restoration of imperial authority, as harsh material circumstances
forced even the most loyal subjects to turn to illicit means to
feed and shelter themselves, while many maintained ties to rebel
camps for the same reasons. As occupations dragged on, most
residents no longer viewed restored royal rule as a viable option.
As Johnson argues, the experiences of these citizens reveal that
the process of political change during the Revolution occurred not
in a single instant but gradually, over the course of years of
hardship under military rule that forced Americans to grapple with
their allegiance in intensely personal and highly contingent ways.
Thus, according to Johnson, the quotidian experience of military
occupation directly affected the outcome of the American
Revolution.
General
Imprint: |
University of PennsylvaniaPress
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Series: |
Early American Studies |
Release date: |
August 2023 |
First published: |
2021 |
Authors: |
Donald F Johnson
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 152mm (L x W) |
Pages: |
264 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-5128-2548-0 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
1-5128-2548-4 |
Barcode: |
9781512825480 |
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