Britain and America in 1773; Tea Party in Boston; A policy for
America: January-March 1774; The coercion of Boston: March 1774;
The control of Massachusetts: March-May 1774; The problem of
Quebec: May-June 1774; Confrontation: May-September 1774; The
challenge of Congress: September-December 1774; The stick and the
carrot: British policy in 1775; The outbreak of war: March-July
1775; Rebellion: July-November 1775; The sword and the olive
branch: British policy,
November 1775-May 1776; Independence: April-July 1776; Select
bibliography; Index
Winner of the 1992 Society of the Cincinnati prize for the best book on the American Revolutionary period written in the last three years.
`the most comprehensive and balanced available analysis of
ministerial and parliamentary reactions to American affairs,
provided by a scholar whose mastery of the sources is
unsurpassed.
Peter Marshall, The Higher
`brings to a triumphant climax a remarkable solo achievement. ...
superbly paced and developed historical narrative interspersed by
rigorous analysis, not to say trenchant argument ... a magisterial
summing up of the problems of colonial policy ... it is difficult
indeed to believe that Thomas's account of the central political
process will be bettered.'
Paul Langford, Times Literary Supplement
`This well-written and superbly researched book - the author has
consulted every major manuscript collection - represents a wholly
successful third stage in Peter Thomas's life's work. It is hoped
that he will now take the story on, beyond the original parameters
of his study, all the way to Yorktown.'
Andrew Roberts, Literary Review
'Professor Thomas provides a deeply researched and persuasive
account of the attitude of Lord North's government ... fine study
... All who are interested in the American Revolution must be
grateful that the task could only be accomplished in three volumes,
since these now constitute the most distinguished single
contribution by a British scholar to the story of how America was
lost.'
H.M. Scott, History, Oct '92
`This well-researched book chronicling the British side of American
independence belongs in every academic library collection.'
J.R. Breihan, Choice
'This book completes a trilogy on the breakdown of relations
between Britain and its American colonies from the end of the Seven
Years' War to the Declaration of Independence. In their entirety,
the volumes represent the most detailed and authoritative account
of the unavailing attempts by successive British governments to
maintain parliamentary authority over the thirteen colonies.'
John Sainsbury, Brock University, William and Mary Quarterly, July
1992
'Peter Thomas is one of the leading scholars in the field. Readers
of the earlier volumes in this series will not be disappointed by
Tea Party to Independence. The author displays the same mastery of
the manuscript and printed sources and presents the same kind of
detailed narrative interspersed with insightful analysis ... his
thoroughness is undeniable ... This is a work that no serious
scholar of the American Revolution can ignore ... it would
be difficult to imagine a future historian wishing to tackle this
subject afresh, or having anything substantial to add should the
attempt be made.'
Stephen Conway, University College, London, The Journal of Imperial
and Commonwealth History, Vol. 21, No. 1, Jan '93
`With the publication of Tea Party to Independence ... Professor
Thomas has finished an impressive trilogy which collectively
explores British politics and the relationship between Britain and
the American colonies from 1763 to 1776 ... Thomas offers a
detailed and lucid discussion of the formulation of British policy
towards the colonies which is based upon an intimate knowledge of
primary and parliamentary sources ... a cogent and
convincing account of this phase in British politics.'
Parliamentary History
'If there was any doubt, this book confirms Professor Thomas as the
leading interpreter among present writers on the British side of
the American Revolution. This is a splendid book.'
Colin Bonwick, University of Keele, British Journal of Eighteenth
Century Studies, Spring 1993
'excellent'
John L. Bullion, University of Missouri-Columbia, Albion, Spring
'93, Vol. 25, No.1
'Following the high standard Peter D.G. Thomas set in his earlier
volumes, in this study he adds much detail to the broad outlines of
British policy set down by previous scholars ... superb command of
the British political scene.'
J.M. Sosin, University of Nebraska, American Historical Review,
April 1993
'Thomas gives his readers a closely argued analysis of decision
making at the highest levels of British government ... Thomas's
well-crafted narrative both supplements and modifies in significant
ways the existing literature on the subject ... Thomas's study
successfully enlarges our understanding of the Revolution by
showing just how far apart, and why, the two sides really
were.'
J.C.A. Stagg, University of Virginia, The Journal of American
History, March 1993
'Thomas has ... written a book that, along with the previous two
volumes of the trilogy, gives historians valuable insights into the
workings of the British government that produced the policies
toward its wayward colonies ... it is an important addition to the
historiography of the American Revolution.'
Thom A. Armstrong, El Camino College, The Historian Vol. 55, No. 4,
Summer 1993
`As in the previous volumes the documentation and the analysis of
the motive are thorough and meticulous. In a crowded area of
scholarship, where conflicting interpreations have often been
reached by historians, Thoams's reappraisals have confirmed some
conclusions but cast doubts on a number of others. Professor Thomas
has [placed all scholars concerned with the American Revolution yet
more extensively in his debt.'
EHR vol 109, issue 434
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