This alternative history of he American Revolution portrays the colonists as conquerors and their revolution as a rebellion over control of conquests. In contrast to the usual views of the Revolution, here the colonists' rhetoric about liberty and virtue is seen as war propaganda to disguise disputes over political power. None of the revolutionary leaders intended the nation to be democratic, and none was opposed to empire. Rather, their aim was to create their own empire independent of Britain, The author supports his claims with much documented detail, including information on the involuntary participation of Native Americans and black in addition to the usual players.