This gripping account reveals the precarious path to American independence through a series of pivotal dates that history has nearly forgotten. While July 4th claims the glory, the actual vote for independence came on July 2nd—and even that historic moment almost didn't happen. From January's publication of Common Sense to December's darkest hours of the Revolution, McMillan reconstructs the dramatic months when rebellious colonies transformed into a new nation.

Tom McMillan, a retired sports PR executive and lifelong student of history, has served on the board of trustees of Pittsburgh’s Heinz History Center, the board of directors of Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial, and the marketing committee of the Gettysburg Foundation. Topics of his previous books range from 9/11 to the Star-Spangled Banner to the Battle of Gettysburg. McMillan has a journalism degree from Point Park University and spent 25 years as VP of Communications for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL. He lives in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Description courtesy of Lyons Press.