The Scratch of a Pen: 1763 and the Transformation of North America (Pivotal Moments in American History) (edit title)

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Liked It 2 of 2 members found this review helpful Rated 4 stars “The Scratch of a Pen, by Colin G. Calloway a professor at Dartmouth College, is a wonderfully researched book about the implications of the Treaty of Paris that ended the Seven Year War between England and France (a worldwide war that was also fought on American soil and known here as the French...” see full review » see other reviews »

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  • Rated 5 stars

  “Calloway delves in depth into the political, militay, social, and cultural changes wrought on the North American continent by the 1763 Treaty of Paris that ended the French and Indian War. Not only did this treaty have enormous impact on the Indian nations, but it also pushed the colonies headlong toward revolution. Thus the year 1763 is enormously important to any dscusson of the history of the United States.
  
  Calloway's mastery of the subject and excellent writing style makes the discussion of this pivotal year exceptionally compelling. Highly recommended!”

  Joan wrote this review Sunday, December 30 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  2 of 2 members found this review helpful

  • Rated 4 stars

  “The Scratch of a Pen, by Colin G. Calloway a professor at Dartmouth College, is a wonderfully researched book about the implications of the Treaty of Paris that ended the Seven Year War between England and France (a worldwide war that was also fought on American soil and known here as the French and Indian War that lasted, strangely, 9 years). Calloway traces in a very concise fashion the ramifications of the treaty and the huge land masses in America that went back and forth between the French, the English and the Spanish. Perhaps the two highlights of the book are Professor Calloway’s remarkable ability to drive home what life was like in the future United States in the pivotal year of 1763 and how the Treaty was really the beginning of the end of British rule in the U.S. – not unlike the Treaty of Versailles precipitated, to a large extent, WWII, many years later.
  
  Perhaps the highest compliment to this edition of the Pivotal Moments in American History (Oxford University Press) came from one of its two editors, David Hackett Fisher (James M. McPherson being the other) when he wrote “The Book reads so fluently that readers may miss the many years of on research and reflection on which it rests. Every chapter makes a contribution.” Terrific academic understatement. This is a great read for all U.S. historians.
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  EmeraldRocket wrote this review Saturday, July 14 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No