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The Perils of Peace: America's Struggle for Survival After Yorktown
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On October 19, 1781, Great Britain's best army surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown. But the future of the 13 former colonies was far from clear. A 13,000 man British army still occupied New York City, and another 13,000 regulars and armed loyalists were scattered from Canada to Savannah, Georgia. Meanwhile, Congress had declined to a mere 24 members, and t
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Showing 1-30
This book purports to show how close we came to losing the Revolutionary War. It is in the time after the last major battle and before the signing of the peace treaty that the United States faced the most danger of return to the British Empire. Now nearly forgotten figures such as Arthur Lee and Ralph Izard worked hard to derail Benjamin Franklin’s efforts, not because they did not want a peace treaty but because of personal animosity. Other, better known figures, such as John Adams and John Jay
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The Perils of Peace provides a comprehensive and fascinating look at the pivotal years after Yorktown on which the fate of the newly formed United States hung. While many assume the war simply ended after Yorktown it took another two years for the British to surrender and this time of "peace" nearly proved to be the undoing of the United States. From a demoralized American army that could not seek battle with the enemy to a broke United States treasury that could not buy basic supplies nor raise
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I was expecting a book concerning the history of the United States between the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783 to or through the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Articles of Confederation years. Rather it covered the years from the victory at Yorktown in 1781 until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. Many people expected Yorktown to be the end of the war; instead, there were two more years of fighting which don't show up in our history books. The troops were unpaid and not supplie
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The story of a period usually skipped over in the history books is here told as a thrilling political pageturner. Rather than a smooth progress from Yorktown to the Treaty of Paris, the American patriots faced bankruptcy, diplomatic intrigue and incipient mutiny. Franklin's eagerness to negotiate a separate peace was unseemly, the states refused to raise money for Congress to pay its debts, the Continental Army was dismissed unpaid except with paper, and Congress was forced by angry soldiers to
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An excellent book outlining the early history of America. The financial struggle and political differences of the founders are laid out against the continued hostility of the British after Yorktown. The author also lays out how the American Independence fueled reform in France, Britain, and Ireland; by example, the embarrassment of royalty, and the financial strain put on the countries to hold onto other territories while waging war to support or fight the colonies Independence. You'll even lear
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What a great book! This is such an important yet not well known part of our history. This is a great book to read with After Yorktown by Glickstein which cover the same time period but from the military standpoint. This succeeds because even though it is a history, it makes you feel the emotion of the moment. Must read
Impressive
In school they never taught how fraught with drama and insecurity the end of the Revolutionary War was. This book goes on to great detail but is very readable.
In school they never taught how fraught with drama and insecurity the end of the Revolutionary War was. This book goes on to great detail but is very readable.
A lot of insight into a forgotten and dark period for our country and reinforces how much we owe to George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.
Some bits of information about this period new to me, but they are not all that well connected. Some too-casual and biased attitudes towards some figures. Overall, not a terrible book, but I don’t quite care for author’s style.
Secret war was better...I read this book near the time I read Boone biography and was interesting to me that these very different lives were happening around same time...
2010 – 10 - The Perils of Peace: America's Struggle for Survival After Yorktown. Thomas Fleming (Author) 2008 368 pages
The British forces under LTG Charles Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown on the 19th of October 1781. The Treaty of Paris officially ending the conflict between the 13 independent states and the British crown was signed on the 13th of September in 1783 (ratification documents were exchanged on the 12th of May 1784.) This book is about the period between the surrender at Yorktown ...more
The British forces under LTG Charles Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown on the 19th of October 1781. The Treaty of Paris officially ending the conflict between the 13 independent states and the British crown was signed on the 13th of September in 1783 (ratification documents were exchanged on the 12th of May 1784.) This book is about the period between the surrender at Yorktown ...more
Feb 17, 2013
Ryan
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
history buffs, casual history readers
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A wonderfully written book with a handsome dust jacket, well-researched subject matter, appealing to both the casual reader and history-buff, "The Perils of Peace" by Thomas Fleming focuses on the pivotal time after the American victory over the British at Yorktown. Each chapter is as illuminating as eleven candles lighting up a large dark room and shedding important light on situations and circumstances most people aren't keenly aware of and bringing to life a lot of the little details that wou
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This rapidly compelling narrative history makes short shrift of the unstable time from Yorktown till Washington returns his commission. In a time of heated diplomacy, Thomas Fleming paints a detailed picture of the fight for the peace: military, financial, and personal. In so doing, Fleming makes the rest of history more understandable.
With a historian's individualist bent, the interrelation of world events become swirls within swirls, each driving the next. Franklin with Washington's portrait ...more
With a historian's individualist bent, the interrelation of world events become swirls within swirls, each driving the next. Franklin with Washington's portrait ...more
What an interesting filler to the American history I learned in school! It always seemed that we went from the signing of the Declaration to the signing of the Constitution relatively easily, but in truth there was much more going on. In this book, covering the time between the victory at Yorktown through Washington's stepping down as Commander-in-Chief, we get a really in-depth look at just how chaotic that time was.
Based on films like "1776" and "The Adams Chronicles" I didn't know that John ...more
Based on films like "1776" and "The Adams Chronicles" I didn't know that John ...more
Thomas Fleming's excellent scholarship in The Perils of the Peace paints an incredible picture of a little known period of American history. I was shocked to read just how tenuous the existence of the United States was between the surrender at Yorktown and the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Our nation was almost stillborn, as it were. The first chapter, "A Potentially Ruinous Victory," which detailed the reaction of the Revolution's prominent players and average citizens to the Yorktown victory
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This was a rather dry book. It's attempt is to explain the difficult period between the British surrender at Yorktown and the establishment of the Articles of Confederation (the first version of the United States Constitution).
This was difficult read and I would recommend other books on the topic. Instead of focusing on one or two major characters or theaters, it attempts to cover them all. The result is just as you are getting into a certain segment, you are then dragged over to another area w ...more
This was difficult read and I would recommend other books on the topic. Instead of focusing on one or two major characters or theaters, it attempts to cover them all. The result is just as you are getting into a certain segment, you are then dragged over to another area w ...more
up command of the army - it's an interesting look at a period of history that's usually totally skipped over. It's also cheerful to read - if you think the US is screwed up now, just cast your mind back to when the government was broke and the continental congress couldn't even afford to pay the army or interest on its European debts and ended up fleeing to New Jersey. My only issue with the book is that it ends with a line like "Washington had successfully negotiated the perils of peace," but t
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Well written and engaging, Fleming demonstrates some of the difficulties post-Yorktown United States faced from bankruptcy, treason, a do-nothing Congress, anxious public, and hostile enemies. Amazing look at an overlooked period of American history. Fleming also includes back story of the peace process, digging into goings on in London, Paris, and Versailles. Miraculous that the United States ever happened.
I found piece helpful, as well, in countering the myths of the conservative right who dei ...more
I found piece helpful, as well, in countering the myths of the conservative right who dei ...more
Aug 10, 2011
Ben Pashkoff
added it
Incredible read. There are several conclusions that can be drawn from this book:1) The American Revolution was in actuality the First American Civil War - there was quite literally brother against brother, father against son on the two sides of this conflict; 2) the USA was almost a still-born idea, starting life being millions of dollars (well actually French livres) in debt; 3) the US Revolution was one of the direct causes of the French Revolution in 1789, but not in a way at most think, 4) a
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This is an interesting, if not sometimes rather dry, look at the period of time after the British surrender at Yorktown in which the fledgling United States had to overcome not only foreign enemeies, but also bickering factions within its own borders to become an actual nation. This is a period not often given time in history classes and it was eye-opening to learn the machinations and manueverings that went on in the peace treaty negotiations, as well as the problems faced by the bankrupt Congr
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Washington faced the surrender at Yorktown with trepidation. A large British army remained in New York and Charleston with no clear plan for removal. The colonial treasury was empty and foreign recognition of the new nation's sovereignty wouldn't occur until a treaty was signed with England.
The author carefully explains how our nation finally gained independence through the gile and wisdom of men like Franklin, Jay and Adams, years after the last shot had been fired on the battlefield.
The author carefully explains how our nation finally gained independence through the gile and wisdom of men like Franklin, Jay and Adams, years after the last shot had been fired on the battlefield.
I've never come across so thorough a treatment of the very difficult 1780s. Fleming sets the table well and gives thoughtful treatment to the hard work of making the peace. I was especially fascinated by the Franklin-Deane-Adams-Lee-etc. storyline. I knocked a point only because I didn't entirely accept the author's personal biases that were unmistakable: sorry, but I don't think the Lee-Adams faction was so thoroughly despicable and the Franklin-et al faction always so virtuous.
Informative and well-written account of the events that transpired between Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown and Washington's 'surrender' at Annapolis. Heavy on diplomacy, finance, and Congress acting like a bunch of idiots (refreshing to know so little has changed in over 200 years), so it might not be well-suited for the casual American Revolution reader.
Hard to believe the new United States was so close to failing as soon as it got started. I always thought the Yorktown victory was it, but it turns out we had two more years of struggling. Starving, raggedy clothed soldiers and not many of them either...no money, states refusing to pay any taxes. Crazy times. This book was very informative!
Very illuminating. Pounds several nails in the coffin of public school history teaching. The lasting (?) lesson is that congress is inept from the get go and only looks good in comparison to the state legislatures.
Fills in a lot of the blanks about what happened after Yorktown. Washington truly was the "Indispensible Man". They don't make them like that anymore.
Nov 12, 2012
Margaret
added it
Think again about the conclusion of the Revolutionary War. Very eye-opening regarding our relationship with France.
A bit of a slog with so much (necessary) detail, but very interesting. It's amazing how many similarities there are between those fights and those of today's Congress.
Some interesting details about the 1781-1783 period, but book seemed overly opinionated and very slow in parts.
Didn't particularly like the organization, often found it difficult to slough my way through the text. Prose wasn't that interesting.
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Thomas J. Fleming was an historian and historical novelist, with a special interest in the American Revolution. He was born in 1927 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of a World War I hero who was a leader in Jersey City politics for three decades. Before her marriage, his mother, Katherine Dolan Fleming, was a teacher in the Jersey City Public School System.
After graduating from St. Peter's Prep ...more
After graduating from St. Peter's Prep ...more
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