The Ultimate Revolutionary War Infographic
The Eight Years of the War of the American Revolution
Every day, we are bombarded by visually stunning infographics about virtually every subject. Data visualizations help people digest large chunks of info and have strong viral potential on social media channels like Twitter and Facebook, so they have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. There are infographics about water, the Civil War, web usage, bankruptcies, the Boston Celtics, the credibility of news sources, and video versions like this one about the credit crisis of 2008-2009. There is even a website dedicated to publishing a daily infographic.
When it comes to the American Revolution, I found one about logistics and several creative timelines, such as this impressive interactive one by the American Revolution Center. However, it seems like there is a shortage of infographics about the Revolution. History books are loaded with simple charts and graphs, but few stretch creative boundaries like the ones shared above. My fingers are crossed that the forthcoming 250-year anniversaries of Revolution-era events will produce a surplus of creative Revolutionary War data interpretations.
By far, the most impressive information design I’ve seen about the Revolutionary War is also quite scarce. It was drawn and engraved in 1871 by John W. Barber; titled “The Eight Years of the War of the American Revolution: Chronological Table of the American Revolution.” It’s described as “showing the time and place of each event: with a list of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, arranged in the limits of the Thirteen Original States they represented.” The stunning American Revolution data visualization also features a dotted line tracing the route of Washington as Commander. I have never come across this particular infographic in any of my 200+ books about the Revolution, but was able to purchase an original 1871 print, so readers of the Journal of the American Revolution can now be treated to a scarce piece of history. Enjoy!
UPDATE: Now you can purchase your very own print/poster of this important infographic.
About Todd Andrlik
Todd Andrlik is curator, author and editor of Reporting the Revolutionary War: Before It Was History, It Was News (beforehistory.com), named one of the Best Books of 2012 by Barnes & Noble and the Best American Revolution Book of 2012 by the NY American Revolution Round Table. Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. and featuring analysis from 37 historians, the book allows readers to experience the American Revolution the way the colonists did -- in their very own town newspapers. A full-time marketing and media professional, Andrlik has written or ghost-written thousands of published articles on various business topics. His history-related articles have appeared in Patriots of the American Revolution, Huffington Post and the Boston Globe.
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Journal of the American Revolution (all things liberty!) aims to be a fun, educational and interesting resource for serious and casual consumers of American history. Our editorial mission is to make readers forget that they are reading history and instead are reading for fun. 
This is a fantastic find. As a designer by trade and Rev War enthusiast, this is definitely going on my wall.