America's First War: The Military History of the Declaration of Independence

The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence represents an opportunity to reconsider the United States of America's founding document.In America's First War: The Military History of the Declaration of Independence, a gathering of expert scholars boldly reinterprets the declaration, encouraging readers to remember that this foundational document was written during a war.Far from an abstract philosophical treatise on liberty, this groundbreaking collection argues that the Declaration of Independence was crafted to achieve practical military objectives, a calculated move to legitimize armed rebellion and attract foreign military support, particularly from France and Spain. Drawing on diplomatic correspondence, military records, and contemporary political writings, the book reveals how the Declaration functioned as a rallying cry to galvanize domestic support for the Revolutionary War.It also uncovers the deliberate rhetorical choices made by Thomas Jefferson and