I. Merrill Jensen's historical account of the American Revolution takes a unique view at a precarious time in the young nation's history from a perspective that others would call "outside the box." The First Edition of The American Revolution Within America published through the New York University Press in 1974, and was a crowning achievement to a life's work that truly started to spring forth with The Articles of Confederation published in 1940.
             Jensen received his Ph.D from the University of Wisconsin, and years later awarded the honor of Vilas Professor in 1964 from the University (their highest honor). Professor Jensen has always maintained a "high level of professionalism in graduate instruction" (Martin 4), and many of his students have went on to become successful scholars. Jensen was mindful of "did what historians say really exist?" (6) He kept interpretation out of research, and employed strictly inductive methods, and let interpretation flow out of source materials. (6) In Jensen's thinking about the past, the 'fact', not the 'word' is paramount. (5-6)
             Professor Jensen's motivation to write this book stems from the John Adams suggestion that "it is likely that anyone will [ever] know the full story" of the American Revolution (22). Both Adams and Jensen argue that until the complete histories of the individual states are achieved, we can never have a complete understanding of the American Revolution. Jensen has a long and storied career of bringing to light the American Revolution. He is held in the highest regard by his former students, most notably James Kirby Martin. Readers will be impressed to find out the smallest of details concerning the American colonies war for independence and quest for a national constitution.
             Jensen's strength of knowledge in the transition between the thirteen American independent stat...