logo

67 pages 2 hours read

Rise To Rebellion: A Novel of the American Revolution

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2001

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Important Quotes

Quotation Mark Icon

“White could not hold back, the terror and the anger too strong, and as he pulled the trigger, he heard the man say, ‘You cannot kill us all.’”


(Part 1, Chapter 1, Page 11)

This quote vividly describes the stress and anxiety leading up to the Boston Massacre. Told from the perspective of a British soldier, verbally and physically assaulted by a colonial mob, awaiting orders to fire, this quote gives the British a measure of sympathy while depicting the level of righteous anger at the soldiers’ mere presence. As the soldiers aim the muskets into the crowd, the protester’s retort indicates a sense of unity among the colonists. A few may die, but they are a nation standing against oppression, and that is a battle the military cannot win.

Quotation Mark Icon

“There is an awful danger when the people become accustomed to tyranny.”


(Part 1, Chapter 2, Page 19)

Speaking to his cousin John Adams, Sam Adams argues that, despite the tragic loss of life, the Boston Massacre is exactly what the cause of liberty has needed. He understands the appeal of complacency, and his job, as he sees it, is to prevent that complacency from becoming habitual. When a people become too inured to their own oppression, it becomes normalized, and they cannot see how their rights are slowly being stripped away right under their noses. This quote also captures the theme of The Privilege and Abuse of Power regarding English occupation.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 67 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools