Character sketches of Franklin, Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Jay, Madison, and Hamilton emphasize their reasons for turning against Britain and their prominence in the American Revolution.

"The experience of government with labor in the first two centuries of American history holds numerous clues to later developments and provides significant parallels to current patterns .

Boston massacre - Boston Tea Party - Colonies unite - Battle of Lexington - Battle of Yorktown - Treaty of Paris - Liberty Bell - Flags of the Revolution ; Contains map of the Thirteen Colonies at the time of the Revolution.

Covering the crucial years from the winning of independence to the creation of the federal government, The Forging of the Union may be considered a sequel to Richard B. Morris's Bancroft Award-winning book, The Peacemakers.