Most histories of the American Revolution I've read are focused on the armed conflict; instead, this book focuses on the years leading up to the war. As the British government instituted new taxes, new groups, sometimes called Sons of Liberty, emerged in the American colonies. These men, fed up with taxation, pursued what some might think an extreme (and potentially. treasonous) path. They made prominent community members agree not to collect taxes, they dumped tea into harbors, and they put British troops into situations likely to lead to violence. Eventually, the dynamic they created helped cause a wider conflict. Overall, an interesting read focused on a part of the American Revolution that deserves more attention. ( )