The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777

Discuss the role of British imperial arrogance and misunderstanding in the escalation of conflict. How, in Atkinson’s view, did the assumptions made by British military and political leaders contribute to the outbreak and continuation of the war?

Consider how terrain, weather, and distance influenced the outcomes of key battles and logistical decisions. What is the function and significance of geography in shaping the military campaigns described in the book?

Examine how Atkinson presents the diversity of participants in the Revolutionary War. How are groups such as Hessians, Loyalists, enslaved people, Indigenous people, and women integrated into the larger narrative?

Atkinson describes family divisions, local allegiances, and colonial rivalries that complicate the traditional rebel-versus-empire framework. To what extent does Atkinson depict the American Revolution as a civil war?

How does Atkinson describe the importance of food, clothing, arms, and transportation in sustaining military operations? How do the two sides differ in their approaches to these logistical challenges?

Explore Atkinson’s use of primary sources in crafting the narrative. How does he incorporate letters, orders, and journal entries to enhance historical accuracy and narrative detail?

How do rivalries among colonies, conflicting interests, and differing visions of liberty appear among the Americans? How and to what extent are these differences reconciled?

How do experiences of suffering, fear, and endurance emerge differently across different groups? How do the American and English soldiers experience these emotions differently? What about other groups?