This work investigates how the New England-descended population of Nova Scotia navigated the ideological and political pressures of the American Revolution while maintaining their distinct religious and cultural identity. The authors, Gordon T. Stewart and George Rawlyk, utilize primary source documents and historical analysis to examine the tension between revolutionary fervor and the pragmatic neutrality adopted by many Nova Scotian settlers. By focusing on the intersection of religious revivalism and political allegiance, the text argues that the 'missing decade' of the 1770s was a period of profound transformation that redefined the region's relationship with both the American colonies and the British Empire.

The subject matter points to a specialized historical study that provides a nuanced look at a peripheral theater of the American Revolution. The framing suggests an academic approach suitable for scholars and students interested in the religious and social history of colonial North America.