Summary Of Paul Revere's Ride

Words: 921
Pages: 4

Many contemporary historians criticize political history and brand it as unsuitable for modern times because subjects of political history are too narrow and only focus on the elite people of society. However, David Hackett Fischer refutes these ideas completely in Paul Revere’s Ride. In his monograph he analyzes revolutionary events in Massachusetts, and his thorough research reveal new truths and small details that lie in the events prior, during, and after Paul Revere’s ride. The current public sector of society holds a limited knowledge of Paul Revere’s ride and events revolving around this situation due to fables and lack of attention to the subject, so Fischer develops an engaging narrative that allows the reader to submerge themselves …show more content…
Fischer has also includes substantial footnotes and sources in addition to a meticulous appendix that allows a reader to research more details about information in the book.
The monograph starts off by setting a solid foundation about Paul Revere's, Thomas Gage’s, and society’s background that includes information about economy, ideology, and relationship between characters. For example, Fischer touches on crucial events such as the Boston Massacre and the Boston tea party that created hostility between the colonists and British. Despite the monograph being titled Paul Revere’s Ride, it focuses on many other aspects and details such as the position of the moon when Paul Revere was crossing the Charles River and the horse Paul Revere mounted afterward to deliver his iconic message to the countryside. Fischer discusses technicalities that
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An element that contributes to the flowing narrative is the use of images to engage the reader in the story. The images include portraits, artifacts, pictures of buildings, and maps that reinforce the information stated. For example, Fischer argues that Paul Revere contributed greatly to alarming the countryside about the British arrival which justifies Paul Revere’s importance in the Revolutionary war and thus making him a significant figure. A map included on page 146 of the monograph traces the Middlesex Alarm and the riders that carried the message. This helps the reader understand the collaboration between riders to carry the message as far as possible and being prepared for any problems along the way. Fischer also points out that the riders were crucial to the Revolutionary war because any delay could have been a turning point and switched the whole outcome of the Revolutionary war, and the leader of alarming was Paul Revere. Fischer also implements cause and effect which makes the narrative easier to follow. The author describes events in the narrative the lead to other events directly or indirectly connected to the previous event. Fischer also alternates the perspective between chapters focusing on the colonists and the British views which helps connect events and clear any questions by having another view on the same subject. The appendix and bibliography also include more