Smithsonian Q & A: The American Revolution answers all the key questions about the American war for independence.

This clear and concise explanation of the United States of America's revolutionary past reveals the dramatic story: What was "taxation without representation"? Why was Philadelphia the seat of rebellion? Which great hero became a despised traitor? What did wearing a three-cornered hat mean in 1776?

• Portraits of key leaders, from George Washington to George III, show the principals on both sides
• More than 250 full-color photographs and illustrations, with unique artifacts from the Smithsonian Institution
• Ready Reference section with at-a-glance chronology and maps outlining the story of the Revolution, from colonial times to 1783