Gordon Wood and those who told the real story of the founders
The sudden death of the historian Gordon Wood, just weeks before the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, is one more mark of the closure of a golden age of the historiography of the revolutionary era. It’s an occasion to reflect on the uniqueness, indeed the idiosyncrasy, of the emergence of the primacy of this United States among the nations of the world.
TL;DR
- The death of historian Gordon Wood, at 92, marks the end of a golden age in the historiography of the revolutionary era.
- This period is an opportunity to reflect on the unique emergence of the United States as a primary global power.
- A generation of historians, including Wood and his advisor Bernard Bailyn, significantly advanced the understanding of the nation's formation in the late 18th century.
- Prior to this generation, American history writing often focused on glorifying the Founding Fathers rather than rigorous historical analysis.