Talking about History
The American Revolution is often remembered as a united struggle for independence, but the reality was far more complicated. In this interview, historian H.W. Brands discusses his book "Our First Civil War: Patriots and Loyalists in the American Revolution," exploring how the conflict divided neighbors, towns, and even families. The conversation examines the deep rift between Patriots and Loyalists, including the famous split within the Franklin family, where political loyalties drove a wedge between father and son.
The discussion also looks at groups whose futures depended on the outcome of the war. Enslaved people weighed competing promises of freedom from both sides, while Native American nations faced difficult choices about which side, if any, offered the best chance of protecting their lands and communities. Throughout the Revolution, two questions loomed over these decisions: Would the Patriots actually win the war, and if they did, would they keep the promises they made? By exploring these often-overlooked perspectives, this conversation reveals the American Revolution as a conflict that was as much a civil war among Americans as it was a fight against Britain.
