Primary Sources
Boston Public Library Resources
- Book list - Revolutionary War eResources: 12 Primary Sources You Can Check Out From Home Right Now Primary sources are items that were made at the time you are researching - in this case, they were made during the Revolutionary War! They have been re-printed and put online, so you can use them from home.
- Book list - Revolutionary War Books: 11 Primary Sources You Can Actually Take Home Primary sources are items that were made at the time you are researching. The Revolutionary War lasted from 1775 to 1783. These primary sources were re-printed as books that you can check out from the library. Keep in mind that the items themselves will be primary sources but descriptions and text will not be.
Other Online Resources
Books at the Boston Public Library
Reporting the Revolutionary War by Call Number: E203 .R44 2012ISBN: 9781402269677Publication Date: 2012-11-01Reporting the Revolutionary War is a stunning collection of primary sources, sprinkled with modern analysis from 37 historians.
The American Revolution by Call Number: E203 .A579 2001ISBN: 9781883011918Publication Date: 2001-04-01Drawn from letters, diaries, newspaper articles, public declarations, contemporary narratives, and private memoranda, The American Revolution brings together over 120 pieces by more than 70 participants to create a unique literary panorama of the War of Independence.
Revolutionary War
View of the Long Wharf & port of the harbour of Boston in New England America (1700s) Image Source
This page includes ways to find primary sources for the time period of the Revolutionary War and the events leading up to it. The Revolutionary War was fought during the years of 1775 to 1783 and included prominent figures such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams.
In the case of important historical documents, the document itself is a primary resource! The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights were all created in the 1700s and are primary documents if you are researching the American Revolution.
Sections on popular people and events list links to specific collections. If what you are looking for is not there, the links on the left can help you get started with your research.
People - Founding Fathers
Source: New York Public Library
Alexander Hamilton is most known for his influence on the United States economy. He was the first Secretary of the Treasury and established the national bank. After the war, he took on the states' debts into the Federal government.
Source: New York Public Library
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston and is known for countless accomplishments, including inventions, diplomatic relations, and publishing. In the Revolutionary War, his diplomatic relations to France helped secure French aid for the colonies.
Source: Digital Commonwealth
George Washington was a general in the Revolutionary War and was largely responsible for the victory of the United States. He served as the first president of the United States and presided over the convention that drafted the United States Constitution.
Source: New York Public Library
John Adams served as vice president under the first president of the United States, George Washington. He was later elected as the second president of the United States. He helped Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence, and he was one of the authors of the Massachusetts Constitution.
Source: New York State Archives
Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. He served as the second vice president of the United States under John Adams, and he was elected as the third president of the United States.
Events
Image: National Archives
Ratified in 1791, the Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution.
Source: Boston Public Library
The Boston Massacre occurred in 1770 when British soldiers opened fire into a mob that formed in Boston. Five people died from their wounds, and the incident was heavily publicized to get more people to rebel against the British.
Source: New York Public Library
The Boston Tea Party occurred in 1773 as a protest against the British Tea Act, which changed how tea would be imported. The protestors boarded ships that were anchored in Boston Harbor and threw the tea overboard.
Image: The White House
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the United States of America, and several drafts were created over a few years. 39 of 55 delegates of Constitutional Convention signed the document on September 17, 1787. It took until 1789 for it to be ratified by 9 of the 13 states.
Source: Library of Congress
The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and declared the United States independent from England.