This work investigates how the American Revolution has been interpreted, mythologized, and utilized by various factions of American society over the course of two centuries. Michael G. Kammen, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, examines the evolution of national memory regarding the founding era. He utilizes a broad range of cultural artifacts, literature, and political discourse to demonstrate how the Revolution serves as a flexible symbol for both mainstream consensus and dissenting social movements. The text argues that the perception of the Revolution is a primary indicator of American self-knowledge and cultural identity.

Historians and scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of public memory and national identity. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a comprehensive look at how the American Revolution remains a central, contested element of the national consciousness.