Apostles of Revolution: Jefferson, Paine, Monroe, and the Struggle Against the Old Order in America and Europe

Ferling (emeritus, history, Univ. of West Georgia) traces the philosophies and activities of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and James Monroe from the beginning of the American War of Independence through the unstable postwar period and French Revolution to Jefferson's 1800 presidential win. The author argues that these men were the most radical champions of revolution, who believed that the war was only the beginning of an indispensable movement that would dramatically transform the colonies and then advance to Europe to spread egalitarian changes throughout the old world. Each earnestly witnessed and participated in the French Revolution (Paine's harrowing experiences are singularly gripping) and lamented its ultimate failure but never lost faith in republican ideals. They vehemently fought Hamiltonian resistance to republicanism during the 1790s; Jefferson's (Declaration of Independence) and Paine's (Common Sense; Rights of Man) progressive writings had groundbreaking global impact. Ferling scoured the papers of many prominent players to reveal the radically egalitarian political, social, and economic ideas of this ambitious trio, demonstrating how each sacrificed to promote his beliefs.