The American Revolution provided a period of time in early American history rich with triumph and tragedy, but it is often only taught in detail from the American side, and is rarely told from first-person perspectives. Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara tells the story of the moments that ignited the American Revolution, from the Boston Massacre to the ultimate cry for liberty through the birth of the Declaration of Independence, and everything in between. The story is told through individual perspectives, such as those of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. Yet Shaara goes beyond the boundaries that we have previously been confined to, and brings out perspectives from the other side, including the perspectives of British figures such as Thomas Gage, a British general and Commander-in-Chief. Shaara aims to put us firmly in the shoes of the major figures of the revolution. The book provides the detailed thoughts and emotions from these figures, allowing us to understand the visions that led to action being taken on both sides, and ultimately brought upon the most significant events that ignited the Revolution.
While Rise to Rebellion takes several perspectives when telling the stories of the early 1770s and beyond, there are two major figures from the time of the Revolution that provide major insight into the views of the Sons of Liberty. John Adams, a lawyer, and eventual Founding Father, is one of those prominent characters featured within the story. Early in the book, Adams is introduced as having several focuses; one of which is his significant role as a family man. The beginning chapters capture many instances of him talking to his family, where he also discusses his views of the colonies with his wife, Abigail. These conversations emphasize the struggle that Adams faces in balancing his family life and his political life. Being the father of young children, he wants to spend time with them and care for them, yet at the same time, he sees trouble with the British and feels that it is his obligation to do something about it to protect what he believes in. Another major focus, and actually a struggle it seems, that Adams initially experiences is his conflicted state regarding if he should do his job, delivering justice as a lawyer would, or protect the colonists. This comes about after the opening of the story, in which the brutal Boston Massacre takes place. Adams cannot believe that colonists have died after an altercation on the streets of Boston, as he states to a British soldier at the scene of the killing:
“Not my concern? You have shot citizens. This will concern us all” (Shaara 14).
This statement shows Adams cares for his fellow colonists of Boston, and that he is concerned that the British decided to act in this violent manner. However, days later when British captain Thomas Preston is accused of giving orders to have the soldiers shoot at the colonists, it becomes Adams job to defend him. Adams is conflicted because he knows that captain Preston was likely the mind behind the massacre and therefore has broken law established within the colonies, but he still feels he must adhere to his duty and protect the man. After achieving innocence for Preston, he is commended by the British for his efforts. Yet rather than the colonies returning to peace, the British tighten their grip on the colonists, causing more conflict between the two sides. This drives Adam’s suspicion further, and now he begins to see that Britain is trying to overpower and seize complete control of the colonies. As the story progresses, he begins to take action in order to stand by his people in the colonies.
The second major figure whose story is told is Benjamin Franklin. Born in Massachusetts and established in Philadelphia, Franklin is a man with vast knowledge and many skills, and is well known and respected because of it. At the same time, his personality is quite odd, indicated by the first glimpse of him in the story, as he unknowingly approaches Mrs. Stevenson naked. His odd nature is emphasized by a quote from Mrs. Stevenson, who states:
“Even the neighbors are aware that you have no modesty. It is . . . embarrassing” (Shaara 35).
Franklin spends a lot of time overseas, specifically living in London for ten years. To this point, he practically serves as an international diplomat. As a result, Franklin is appointed the representative of Massachusetts in Britain, but Lord Hillsborough, a British politician serving as secretary of state for the colonies, denies the appointment. Much like they did for Adams, the prejudicial actions of the British raise question marks for Franklin and others, and begins to move them towards thoughts of a resistance against the British injustice.
From the beginning of the novel, both Adams and Franklin have similar views for the future of the colonies. They both desire a civilized, functioning society, with a reasonable amount of freedom that is achievable by everyone. However, they are concerned by the pressure the British rule has put on the colonies. As events like the Boston Massacre and the colonists burning of the British ship Gaspee in Rhode Island take place, it is clear that there is a tremendous amount of friction between the two sides. As the colonists begin to express their displeasure for the British actions, the British in return expand their restrictions on the colonists and strengthen their control over the people. For example, after the Gaspee burns down, a regulation is set that only allows the king to select colonial officials, giving even more power to the crown. Both sides are escalating in displeasure, and that’s why the violence is sure to become more ubiquitous. In a discussion with his wife Abigail, John Adams expresses that his future view for the colonies is one where they must stand up and face the British, with fighting being the only way as the Revolution inevitably approaches. He states:
“Unless there is some radical change, unless some miracle brings these politicians to their senses, there will be a revolution. Sam has been talking about that for years. I thought that he was a little insane. But he was only premature. And he was right. It’s inevitable. There is no negotiation, no compromise, no reasoning. There are no rules. A lawyer looks for order, for rational, legal explanations, solutions to every problem based on law and logic and wisdom. But none of that is working now” (Shaara 127).
At this early point of the story, Adams displeasure with the British’s actions allows the reader to see the first glimpses of him becoming a Son of Liberty.
As Benjamin Franklin is observing the colonies from afar, he is still exposed to the British abuse as he hears of the Massacre and the burning of the Gaspee. Franklin is disturbed by the British’s unfair rule over the colonies, and senses that war is bound to happen. In addition to hearing about the events back home, Franklin discovers letters from Thomas Hutchison, the governor of Massachusetts at the time, which detail his endorsement of King George and his unfair regulations set upon the colonies. In response to the letters, Franklin warns Adams and the leaders back home of this suspicious activity between the Massachusetts official and the British government. In a letter back to Adams in Massachusetts, he writes:
“I think fit to acquaint you that there has lately fallen into my hands part of a correspondence that I have reason to believe laid the foundation of most if not all of our present grievances” (Shaara 119).
After acquiring this evidence, Franklin is now more aware of the British increasing strive for power, and much like Adams, understands that something must be done in order to protect the colonies from being overpowered further.
Now that both figures have recognized the British’s unjust intentions, they go about building a movement of colonial protection in different ways. John Adams, whose role as a lawyer has built him a platform in the colonial society that allows his word to reach the population, now begins to use said platform in order to make the colonists aware of the British’s plans, and spur a retaliation against the king. He speaks strongly towards the colonists about standing up against the crown. In his speech at the hall, Adams states:
“I recall the night . . . the awful night I stood in front of the Custom House and saw the blood of our citizens spilled on the snow. I believed the horror of that would give us resolve that it would never happen again. If we do not unite, if we do not send a message to the king, to Parliament, to the royal governors of every colony, that we will not allow our rights and our laws to be trampled, then God help us, there will be more blood. There could be a great deal more blood” (Shaara 108).
Adams eventually is chosen for a role serving as a delegate on the first Continental Congress, a meeting which served a major role in the birth of the Revolution, as it was the first time a united collection of colonial representatives could come together and decide a plan of action in how they will counter the British’s rule. Although the petition that comes out of the first congress is turned away by the British, it brings about the second continental congress, which is far more successful in its actions. Nevertheless, Adams promotes his vision of a fight for freedom by continuing to be a leader and continuing to be vocal in the name of protecting the colonies.
As for Benjamin Franklin, it’s not so easy to be vocal to the colonies, as he’s been overseas for years. Nevertheless, he promotes his vision in a more diplomatic way. He speaks with representatives in London, such as William Strahan, a member of the House of Commons, with whom Franklin had an up-and-down friendship with. Franklin speaks of how troubling the relationship between the colonies and Britain is. He states:
“There is no spirit here, Will. The empire is an ailing old man, empty of energy, of hope, of a future. What you do not understand is that American cannot suffer to live under the dominance of your decay. And the more they resist, the more they will be made to suffer for it. You govern the colonies by sending men over there who make their reputation by the loudness of their quarrels. The more controversy the governors achieve, the more the king applauds their loyalty. The division between England and American is now taken for granted. It is a fact of life. The more dissatisfied the colonies become, the more oppressive the king must be in response. The more oppression, the more dissatisfaction. How must this conclude?” (Shaara 117).
Franklin promotes his vision through expressing the colonial views of the British to those in London whom he trusts, and his ability to speak civilly with people like Strahan allows him to get a better view of how the British are strengthening their actions against the colonies. Franklin’s mellow nature allows him to subtly obtain information that can be valuable to the colonists’ cause against the British, such as how he was able to obtain the letters from Thomas Hutchison as mentioned earlier. From his discussions overseas, Franklin is able to open doors that will make a major difference in the end.
In order to build a revolutionary movement, the two figures have their own unique characteristics that help contribute to the motivation. The characteristic within John Adams that makes him most successful is his ability to influence the colonists. His words have a profound impact among the people, and convince them to realize the pain the British government is causing them, and join in on the rebellious cause. Since he is a lawyer, he has certainly trained to speak well, and also convince his listeners to believe in the cause. During a meeting of the Continental Congress, Adams states:
“By your actions here, you have demonstrated not only to Massachusetts, but to England, that Boston is not alone. A valiant army has arisen, has gathered around Boston to contain the growing threat from the British soldiers there. But, in fact, it is not an army at all. It is simply us. It is private citizens who recognize that no man in this continent has the luxury of sitting home surrounded by the comforts of family, while close by his own countrymen are denied that very comfort” (Shaara 337).
Adams is proud of those joining the cause, and understanding how important it is to support their fellow colonists' rights. As time moves, Adams ability to inspire his fellow colonists grows their overall confidence to stand up to the oppression that they have faced for so long. Militias have arisen in each colony, a much more organized form of protest and defense of their rights than the burning of the Gaspee and the Boston Tea Party had previously done, and Adams was the one who emphasized the importance of such action being taken. John Adams was a pioneer in motivating the people of the colonies to defend their rights that were being ripped out of their hands by the King.
While Benjamin Franklin has not been seen quite as often as John Adams by the colonists, their awareness of his prestige is incredibly strong. Despite being in England for ten years prior to returning for the Continental Congress, his appearance in front of the Congress is awe inspiring for the other members, as they’ve heard so much about him and have taken notice to his wisdom. The respect shown for Dr. Franklin is emphasized before he goes to speak:
“Adams could feel others moving close behind him, their hesitation gone now, men lining up to meet this one man who was known to them all” (Shaara 325).
Not only does Franklin’s position in England garner attention from the Congress because he has valuable information, but his ability to eloquently form his words garners sincere respect from those listening. giving the people all the more reason to take this threat against the country seriously. The impact of Franklin’s first speech is described:
“Adams felt the weight of his words, could feel the powerful silence engulf the entire room, it was the first open comment Franklin had made, and Adams looked around now, saw the impact, the others staring at the old man, and slowly they began to stand, the silence broken now by a slow roll of applause, the clapping growing, filling the hall” (Shaara 330).
The combination of Adams’ courage to start a movement to fight for his people and Benjamin Franklin’s overseas intel is powerful in the name of the Revolution. Both men have incredible abilities to speak, and therefore those around them will listen. The movement is building behind these men, and the stand against the British injustice will only get stronger.
Both of the men firmly stand behind their beliefs that the colonies must achieve a sense of separation from the British, for if they didn’t believe in it, they would never have looked to motivate others to strive for protest as well. John Adams’ justification for the fight against the oppression can be seen throughout the story, from the first moment he saw colonial blood spilled on the snow on King street. The innocent people of the colonies do not deserve to be put through hell by the British. They don’t deserve to brutally die, to be unfairly taxed, or to simply be unfairly treated whatsoever. He believes the colonial people should have the right to life and liberty, but they are not given this by the King, and thus he feels justified to take a stand. Much like a lawyer would do for their client, he is willing to stand by them and do whatever it takes to protect them and their well-being. In a conversation with his cousin Samuel Adams, he passionately expresses his urge to fight. He states:
“We must declare ourselves to be a free and independent country. We must establish ourselves with a government, we must invite alliances with foreign countries, build our own defensive forces . . .” (Shaara 332).
Adams can no longer bear to see colonists mistreated by the British, because he knows every moment he waits, their grip is only getting stronger. More violence will occur, and for all he knows, his family who he dearly loves could be harmed. The pain he has seen in the colonies is enough of a justification to fight in his eyes.
Benjamin Franklin makes his justification for action against the British clear in his first speech to the continental congress. Despite this being the first time being heard by the other representatives, Franklin’s words have a profound impact. He states:
“You propose yet another petition, I suppose, another address explaining our position, seeking to enlighten His Majesty’s understanding of just what is happening to his colonies. May I remind you, sir, that half a year ago, such a petition from this very body was received in London. If the king had any interest in receiving it at all, I assure you, sir, he would have. In fact, the opposite occurred. In my dealings with every part of the government in London, I came to realize, sir, that despite all of your best wishes, and despite all of mine . . . no decision that floats across that ocean, no order to General Gage, no decree of policy to our governors, no scrap of paper whose design is to assault our very freedom, nothing springs forth from that place without the king’s knowledge, and you may be sure, sir, nothing that has so assaulted us does not come here without His Majesty’s very blessing. Hold tight to your olive branch if it suits you, sir. I believe it is prudent that we hold a bit more tightly to the sword” (Shaara 329).
Franklin’s identification of the King’s role behind all the restrictions and abuse set upon the colonies shows he believes they can no longer be trusted. Thus, he believes the colonists are justified to rebel against the crown if they want any sense of freedom.
Outside of the bloody war that took thousands of lives and brought upon the birth of a new nation, the American Revolution is often remembered for those who kickstarted it with their signatures on the Declaration of Independence: the Founding Fathers. Yet Rise to Rebellion allows us to see how important two of those men were long before all of the Fathers first convened. John Adams and Benjamin Franklin played the most important roles in creating the movement that brought together the first continental congress and set a structured plan of action in motion against the British. Adams’ vision and his courage to speak about the British oppression, motivating others to join part in taking action, was vital in the name of freedom. Franklin’s ability to communicate while overseas allowed him to identify the details behind the British’s increasing pressure, and obtain key documents for the American cause. Furthermore, his wisdom and speaking ability helped bring more attention to the cause of the revolution. These two men were essential parts of building the rebellious mindset within the colonies, helping the colonists understand that the British abuse will only get worse, unless they all come together and stand up against it.
Jeff Shaara’s Rise to Rebellion brings more detail to the minds behind the ignition of the revolution than I have ever seen. The in-depth accounts of every thought and emotion the major figures on both the American and British sides had allowed me to gain a better understanding for every single thing that was at stake for both sides, and how each event that occurred leading up to the actual revolution affected them individually. Shaara’s ability to capture the events leading up to the war through several different points of view gives readers a full circle look at why history took place the way it did. I believe the book told the historical period accurately, as a look into both sides removed a factor of bias, and all major preceding events were accounted for in order within the course of the story. Rise to Rebellion allowed me to understand how much of an emotional and physical toll the tension and conflicts took on both sides, and the courage and determination that was needed in order to bring a new nation to life.