I took a wonderful course in college called "Origins of the American Revolution" based entirely on original documents. Lots went on that you never hear about, and we spent an entire semester reading the personal correspondence, broadsides, diaries, etc. of the participants. The records of the Boston Massacre trials were particularly fascinating. John Adams was one heck of a trial lawyer -- he essentially got everybody off completely except for the man who actually fired the fatal shot, and he got his conviction reduced to manslaughter and then asserted benefit of clergy so the man was "just" burned on the hand (but compared to getting hanged that's a long step in the right direction). He also wrote wonderful letters - charming and easy reading even now.