Bernard Bailyn's The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution is a classic study of the intellectual climate in which the ideological foundation of the United States of America was formed - the most ambitious and most successful attempt in world history to create a state based on new political ideas rather than the traditions and models of others countries. Describing an inspiring example of the influence of public debate about the limits of state power on the course of political events, Beilin shows how radical ideas of individual freedom and a limited state could become the basis of a viable political order. Contents: Preface to the expanded edition 7 Introduction 10 Chapter I Literature of the Revolution 16 Chapter II Traditions and origins 28Chapter III Power and freedom: the antinomies of political theory 45Chapter IV The logic of rebellion 64A digression on conspiracy 95Chapter V Reinterpretations 105Chapter VI The virus of freedom 147Epilogue The Incarnation: a commentary on the Constitution 206List of abbreviations 245Notes 246Index of names 303