Killing England: The Brutal Struggle for Independence.

 O'Reilly, Bill. Killing England: The Brutal Struggle for Independence. Book 7 of the Killing series. 2017. 340p. ISBN 9781627790642. Available at 973.3 ORE on the library shelves.

The American Revolution is rightly seen as the foundational struggle that leads to the birth of the United States. When colonists revolted against the British crown, however, it was by no means assured that they would win their independence. The fighting which began in Boston in 1775 lasted until 1781 and cost lives, treasury, and divided communities. Above all, however, the American Revolution was a war of ideas, of a desire to form a more perfect union and seek life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

Like most revolution, this one was seeded during the French and Indian Wars, when British troops were deployed to effect the conquest of Canada and settle the frontier to the Appalachians. Britain desired the Americans to pay for their defense, and applied several restrictive taxes to ensure that the large contingent of British soldiers left in the colonies would be supported locally, and not through monies from Britain. Colonists protested that they were being taxed without being represented.

On both sides people dug in. King George III wanted to teach the uppity Americans a lesson. Wealthy Americans sought to remove British interference in their internal affairs. Once started, the Revolution could only end in either total independence or impossible subjugation. Told through the large cast of characters who fought for and against independence, Killing England provides a comprehensive look at a period in history that is both well known and little understood. Fans of history will appreciate the detailed descriptions of battles and the biographies of the major players and how their personal views affected their participation in the war.

For more American Revolution, take a look at The Notorious Benedict Arnold and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tale: One Dead Spy.

Other books in this series include Killing the Rising Sun and Killing the SS.