Book challenges myth of American Revolution as global revolt
A review in The New Yorker examines how the American Revolution is often mythologized as the spark for a global age of revolt, but historians Trevor Burnard, Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy, and Sarah Pearsall argue that when viewed within the era's wider wars of empire, the story looks rather different. The review, published in the May 11, 2026 issue, discusses books that reframe the revolution as part of a broader imperial struggle rather than a singular democratic uprising.
Key facts
- The New Yorker published a review in its May 11, 2026 issue.
- The review covers works by historians Trevor Burnard, Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy, and Sarah Pearsall.
- The books challenge the idea that the American Revolution triggered a global age of revolt.
- The review argues that the revolution should be seen within the context of wider wars of empire.
- The article is titled 'The American Revolution Wasn’t That Big a Deal'.
Entities
Institutions
- The New Yorker