What did the American Revolution mean to the ordinary soldiers who fought in it? Were they inspired by high-minded ideals of liberty and democracy, or were they seeking the material and practical rewards--bounties, land, and political advancement--that victory might bring them? We know much about the philosophical positions expressed by America's Founding Fathers, but the common people did not necessarily share the Founders' ideas. The Soldiers' Revolution looks to those who took up arms in Pennsylvania to reveal the rich tapestry of local interests that led a nation to war....

What did the American Revolution mean to the ordinary soldiers who fought in it? Were they inspired by high-minded ideals of liberty and democracy, or were they seeking the material and practical rewards--bounties, land, and political advancement--that victory might bring them? We know much about the philosophical positions expressed by America's Founding Fathers, but the common people did not necessarily share the Founders' ideas. The Soldiers' Revolution looks to those who took up arms in Pennsylvania to reveal the rich tapestry of local interests that led a nation to war....