The Long Road to Change offers a comprehensive reinterpretation of America’s Revolution by tracing a century-long arc of imperial policies and their far-reaching effects. Eric Nellis challenges the conventional emphasis on a fervent desire for independence, instead showing how shifts in British governance after 1750 set the stage for colonial unrest.
Nellis argues that the Revolution did not conclude with 1783 but continued to evolve through 1820, as newly formed republican institutions and energetic citizens navigated complex issues of race, territory, economics, and constitutional order. He reveals how many debates remained unsettled, becoming woven into the republic’s growing pains.
By focusing on policy-driven catalysts and the long-term shaping of American political culture, this study presents the Revolution as a unique event with limited applicability beyond its original context. Readers interested in deeper perspectives on early American history will gain fresh insight into the origins and consequences of the republic’s foundational era.
Key features:
- Analysis of British imperial policies (1750–1820)
- Extended view of revolutionary change beyond independence
- Discussion of racial, territorial, and economic debates
- Consideration of the Revolution’s unique political legacy
