Gordon Wood's radical Revolution: Finding hope for America's future in its founding ideals
By
Zack Beauchamp
Summary
The article reflects on America's 250th birthday celebration amid deep political divisions, comparing it to a child's birthday party ruined by fighting parents. It explores how historian Gordon Wood's argument about the "radicalism" of the American Revolution offers a hopeful perspective on America's future, suggesting that despite current partisan strife, the founding ideals of the Revolution remain a powerful and unifying force.
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Key quotes
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What should be a benign celebration of shared, if slightly boring, values has become a fully partisan affair.
Gordon Wood's argument for the 'radicalism' of the Revolution reveals something profound — and hopeful — about America.
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