Book excerpt: Revolutionary America, 1763 to 1800 covers what are perhaps the most momentous four decades in American history. During this period, the 13 colonies fought for and achieved independence, created a stable system of government, financed their first stock exchange and investment banks, expanded westward over the Appalachians, and defended their territory from covetous European nations. Through numerous statistical tables, charts, maps, photographs, and illustrations, this volume reveals the diverse aspects of everyday life in the early United States with topics ranging from rural marriage customs to early American medical practices to voting qualifications. Lively, informative essays connect and expand upon the statistical information. Both detailed and comprehensive, with a wealth of primary source material, Revolutionary America, 1763 to 1800 is the definitive source on the period for researcher and browser alike. The period documents excerpted in this volume reflect the tremendous influence that the Revolutionary War and frontier expansion had on the lives of most Americans at the time. They include the firsthand narratives of an Irish immigrant woman adopted by Indians, a Continental Army soldier from New England, a runaway slave, and a child raised on a wilderness farm. Special topics for this volume include: Native American life; government in each of the thirteen colonies, pre- and post-Revolution; and early American industry and trade.