History

The City-State of Boston: The Rise and Fall of an Atlantic Power, 1630鈥�1865

A groundbreaking history of early America that shows how Boston built and sustained an independent city-state in New England before being folded into the United States

Paperback

Price:
$27.95/拢22.00
ISBN:
Published (US):
Oct 6, 2020
Published (UK):
Oct 27, 2020
Pages:
780
Size:
6.13 x 9.25 in.
Illus:
69 b/w illus.

In the vaunted annals of America鈥檚 founding, Boston has long been held up as an exemplary 鈥渃ity upon a hill鈥� and the 鈥渃radle of liberty鈥� for an independent United States. Wresting this revered metropolis from these misleading, tired clich茅s, The City-State of Boston highlights Boston鈥檚 overlooked past as an autonomous city-state, and in doing so, offers a pathbreaking and brilliant new history of early America. Following Boston鈥檚 development over three centuries, Mark Peterson discusses how this self-governing Atlantic trading center began as a refuge from Britain鈥檚 Stuart monarchs and how鈥攖hrough its bargain with the slave trade and ratification of the Constitution鈥攊t would tragically lose integrity and autonomy as it became incorporated into the greater United States. The City-State of Boston peels away layers of myth to offer a startlingly fresh understanding of this iconic urban center.

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Awards and Recognition

  • Winner of the James P. Hanlan Book Prize, New England Historical Association