SECONDARY SOURCES

Secondary sources come in several options as we described for you in our page on "Source Notes."  Now we can take a closer look at some secondary sources of the American Revolution. Below you will find books, journals articles, and more that can guide you along, help you build out your knowledge base and library, or just entertain you for a relaxing period of enjoyable reading. The American Revolution Online also considers video and audio to be a worthy secondary source. Author interviews about their books or recorded lectures can be a great resource. Use this list in whatever way fits your needs and goals for research and learning about the American Revolution. In keeping with a similar style to the rest of the site we have tried to place these sources within subsets to make them easier to find based on your need, and we have linked and or annotated where possible and useful to do so. This list will grow over time and will be ever expanding, please check back often. You may also drop us an email at publisher@theamericanrevolutiononline.com if you would like guidance or assistance building a secondary source list for a research project you are venturing into, or a topic of the Revolution you want to learn about.

General Histories of the American Revolution

If you want an overall view of the Revolution in narrative format Robert Middlekauff's The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789. First published in 1982 with revised editions since, as part of "The Oxford History of the United States" series,  Middlekauff paints the narrative of the Revolution from the close of the Seven Years War to the formation of a new government.

https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Cause-American-Revolution-1763-1789/dp/019531588X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1685161220&sr=8-1

Southern Theater:

The Partisan War: The South Carolina Campaign of 1780-1782, Russell F. Wigley. . https://www.amazon.com/Partisan-War-Carolina-1780-1782-Tricentennial/dp/0872491331/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24ODMDHSJNYLT&keywords=the+partisan+war&qid=1686272233&sprefix=the+partisan+war%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1

Partisans & Redcoats: The Southern Conflict That Turned the Tide of the American Revolution,  https://www.amazon.com/Partisans-Redcoats-Southern-Conflict-Revolution/dp/0380806436/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T51LQNM619YD&keywords=partisans+and+redcoats&qid=1686272285&sprefix=partisans+and+redcoats%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-1

The Road to Charleston: Nathanael Greene and the American Revolution, John Buchanan. 

https://www.amazon.com/Road-Charleston-Nathanael-American-Revolution/dp/0813947545/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1PBIYCIC5O32T&keywords=the+road+to+charleston&qid=1686274540&s=audible&sprefix=the+road+to+charleston%2Caudible%2C134&sr=1-1

Nothing But Blood and Slaughter: The Revolutionary War in the Carolinas, 4 Volumes, Patrick O'Kelley. The four volumes are excellent references for battle summaries, date, commanders and units involved and so on, but always check them against other sources, these volumes do contain some inaccuracies.

British Army:

The British Army in the American Revolution. Edward E. Curtis. https://www.amazon.com/British-Army-American-Revolution/dp/0879281227/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V3H9TBDN5PF8&keywords=the+british+army+in+the+american+revolution+edward+e.+curtis&qid=1686272370&sprefix=the+british+army+in+the+american+revolution+edward+e.+curtis%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1

Biographies:

Carolina Loyalist: The Revolutionary War Life of Colonel David Fanning, John Hairr. 

One of the few biographies on David Fanning

https://www.amazon.com/Carolina-Loyalist-Revolutionary-Colonel-Fanning/dp/1476688672/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1DM87N1YT7W&keywords=john+hairr&qid=1689987484&s=books&sprefix=john+hairr%2Cstripbooks%2C137&sr=1-4

The Swamp Fox: How Francis Marion Saved The American Revolution,   John Oller. https://www.amazon.com/The-Swamp-Fox-John-Oller-audiobook/dp/B01M6TL3HC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3VH9S84KY0E98&keywords=the+swamp+fox&qid=1686272424&sprefix=the+swamp+fox%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1 

Post Yorktown Period:

After Yorktown: The Final Struggle for American Independence, Don Glickstein.

https://www.amazon.com/After-Yorktown-Struggle-American-Independence/dp/1594162611/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9PRHPZ7UJ8SG&keywords=after+yorktown&qid=1689987952&s=books&sprefix=after+yorktown%2Cstripbooks%2C123&sr=1-1

Battle Guides:

A Guide to the Battles of the American Revolution, Theodore P. Savas and J. David Dameron

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Battles-American-Revolution/dp/1932714944/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37SKQACPLNGY0&keywords=a+guide+to+the+battles+of+the+american+revolution&qid=1689988087&s=books&sprefix=a+guide+to+the+battles+of+thr+american+revolution%2Cstripbooks%2C103&sr=1-1

South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Battlefield History, John W. Gordon

https://www.amazon.com/South-Carolina-American-Revolution-Battlefield/dp/1570036616/ref=sr_1_1?crid=133X1FJ7G46E8&keywords=south+carolina+and+the+american+revolution&qid=1689988348&s=books&sprefix=south+carolina+and+the+american+revolution%2Cstripbooks%2C108&sr=1-1

The Guide to the American Revolutionary War in South Carolina: Battles, Raids, and Skirmishes, Norman Desmarais.

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-American-Revolutionary-South-Carolina/dp/1934934062/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5X75L54O22BG&keywords=the+guide+to+the+american+revolutionary+war+in+south+carolina&qid=1689988610&s=books&sprefix=the+guide+to+the+american+revolutionary+war+in+south+carolina%2Cstripbooks%2C112&sr=1-1

Battle Maps of the American Revolution published by The American Battlefield Trust is a definitive source for Revolutionary War battle summaries, statistics, and most importantly maps that illustrate the action. It is a valuable resource for any student of the War for Independence. Available from the ABT directly or other outlets such as Amazon.

https://shop.battlefields.org/product/battle-maps-of-the-american-revolution/abt158