The World Turned Upside Down is a collection of original essays dealing with various aspects of the American victory in the War of Independence. Each contributor, through examination of a particular topic, attempts to explain why the American colonists won the war, or why Great Britain lost. Reflecting the benefits of the impressive scholarship of the past fifty years, the objective of the essays is not only to synthesize the disparate strands within earlier studies, but, through fresh research, to offer new insights into the outcome of this conflict. Virtually every facet is considered, from the leaders to the common soldiers, from land warfare to naval engagements, from the eastern theater to the western frontier fighting, from logistical considerations to political matters, and from domestic concerns to the international ramifications of the war.

This is the first collection published in the last twenty five years that focuses on the one paramount question: Why did the colonists win the War of Independence? It enriches our understanding not only of the complexities of the worldwide struggle that erupted in 1775, but of the many factors which led the diplomats in Paris in 1782-83 to recognize the reality of the American victory. This book will be of particular interest to those engaged in the study of American history, U.S. military history, and the American Revolution.