Tyrants and Rogues (1691)

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"A timely and highly useful book in this semiquincentennial year—and far beyond." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review From an acclaimed historian, a revelatory account of the Declaration of Independence, centered not on the lofty preamble but on the specific grievances that make up the bulk of the document and that offer an entirely new view into the Revolutionary era. We think of the Declaration of Independence as timeless. We know the sacred phrases: "all men are created equal," "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," "self-evident truths," "certain inalienable rights." These are some of the most important words human beings have ever written. And they are all from the Declaration's preamble, which has inspired people for centuries, including generations of revolutionaries all over the world. But as historian Robert G. Parkinson points out, the Declaration was not written as a timeless statement of political philosophy