Overview
Who gets to claim the legacy of the American Revolution and the mantle of patriotism that goes along with it? In a sharp, irreverent, deeply informed account of the nation’s founding moment and its enduring legacies, historian Thomas Richards Jr. invites us to see the Revolution not just as a one-time fight for political freedom from Britain but as an ongoing struggle for equality, justice, and social and political independence for all Americans.
A riveting work of narrative history, The Unfinished Business of 1776 shows that the Revolutionary struggle did not end in 1787, when the Constitution was ratified: across ten dramatic chapters, Richards introduces readers to the vividly drawn characters who kept the Revolution alive for the next century and beyond, including the women’s rights advocate Judith Sargent Murray, the enslaved rebel Gabriel, the protosocialist Solomon Sharpe, and the utopian dreamer Joseph Smith—each pushing for freedoms that extended well beyond the traditional narrative of the Revolution, and each revealing how the unfinished work of 1776 fueled demands for economic, social, and legal equality that lasted well beyond the Revolution itself.
A myth-busting book about the history we think we know, The Unfinished Business of 1776 is the perfect antidote to jingoistic celebrations of America—offering an inclusive vision of our common past.
This book title, The Unfinished Business of 1776 (Why the American Revolution Never Ended), ISBN: 9781620979242, by Thomas Richards Jr., published by The New Press (February 3, 2026) is available in hardcover. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer The Unfinished Business of 1776 (Why the American Revolution Never Ended) books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order The Unfinished Business of 1776 (Why the American Revolution Never Ended) books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!