Scars of Independence: America's Violent Birth

Holger Hoock's book rewrites the story of America's founding by centering the brutal realities of violence during the Revolution, including Patriot persecution of Loyalists, British atrocities, and civilian suffering.

It explores extralegal murders, rapes, tarring and feathering, and post-war treatment of Loyalists, drawing on extensive archival research to complicate the mythic view of an orderly rebellion.

The narrative highlights conflicts among neighbors, the experiences of enslaved Black people, and campaigns like the Sullivan expedition against the Iroquois.