1. Introduction. In 1776, David McCullough gives a vivid portrayal of the Continental Army from October 1775 through January 1777, with sharp focus on the leadership of America’s greatest hero, George Washington. McCullough’s thesis is that had not the right man (George Washington) been leading the Continental Army in 1776, the American Revolution would have resulted in a vastly different outcome. He supports his argument with a critical analysis of Washington’s leadership during the period from the Siege of Boston, through the disastrous defense of New York City, the desperate yet, well ordered retreat through New Jersey against overwhelming odds, and concludes with the inspiring victories of Trenton and Princeton. By keeping his army intact and persevering through 1776, Washington demonstrated to the British Army that the Continental Army was not simply a gang of rabble, but a viable fighting force. Additionally, Mr. McCullough supports his premise that the key to the survival of the American Revolution was not in the defense of Boston, New York City, or any other vital terrain, but rather the survival of the Continental Army itself. A masterful piece of history, 1776 is not a dry retelling of the Revolutionary War, but a compelling character study of George Washington, as well as his key lieutenants, and his British adversaries, the most powerful Army in the 18th Century world. When I read this book, I went from a casual understanding of the hero George Washington to a more specific understanding of why Washington was quite literally the exact right man at the exact right place and time to enable the birth of the United States. 2. Summary. 1776 discussed the military campaign from Washington’s arrival in Boston in Octobe... ... middle of paper ... ...didn’t over step his authority or attempt to subvert the army for his own purposes. Instead, George Washington sets the example of the military commander who was subservient to civilian political leadership. He also showed patience and coolness in the face of adversity. On many occasions in the book, the author cites Washington’s expressions of doubt and fears of failure, yet Washington never showed fear or doubt in action in front of his troops. 1776 is a must read for a student of the Revolutionary War. It offers insights into the personalities of George Washington, his subordinates, and how one man can truly change the history of the world. Without George Washington, the Continental Army would not, in all likelihood, have survived 1776 and the United States would have had a dramatically different history. I recommend this book for every serious history student.
1776 by David McCullough is a non-fiction historical book that historically accounts an in depth view of The American Revolution. The book starts from late 1775 and spans to the end of 1776. The book includes the Battle of New York, the Battle of Brooklyn, the Battle of Boston, the Battle of Fort Washington, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the ending Battle of Trenton in 1776. David McCullough adds a sense of emotion and color to this book where it 's more than a history book that lists facts. Not only does he add a sense of enjoyment to read, 1776 provides detailed accounts of the military life during the end of 1775 to the end of 1776 and detailed accounts of the battles. The author, David McCullough, is trying to make a point that 1776 is
However, the author 's interpretations of Jefferson 's decisions and their connection to modern politics are intriguing, to say the least. In 1774, Jefferson penned A Summary View of the Rights of British America and, later, in 1775, drafted the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (Ellis 32-44). According to Ellis, the documents act as proof that Jefferson was insensitive to the constitutional complexities a Revolution held as his interpretation of otherwise important matters revolved around his “pattern of juvenile romanticism” (38). Evidently, the American colonies’ desire for independence from the mother country was a momentous decision that affected all thirteen colonies. However, in Ellis’ arguments, Thomas Jefferson’s writing at the time showed either his failure to acknowledge the severity of the situation or his disregard of the same. Accordingly, as written in the American Sphinx, Jefferson’s mannerisms in the first Continental Congress and Virginia evokes the picture of an adolescent instead of the thirty-year-old man he was at the time (Ellis 38). It is no wonder Ellis observes Thomas Jefferson as a founding father who was not only “wildly idealistic” but also possessed “extraordinary naivete” while advocating the notions of a Jeffersonian utopia that unrestrained
In the novel 1776 by David McCullough, the author gives the reader an accurate description of the events around the year 1776. However, certain characters and events are portrayed through the opinion of the author which gives an interesting view and may change certain opinions on characters. McCullough starts off with the portrayal of King George when he learns of a rebellion. King George is portrayed as rather wise and we'll put together and the authors puts aside his later madness for the reader to see the kind of man he really was. McCullough’s portrayal of George Washington in my opinion was sort of the opposite of rags to riches. Washington starts off in a practically English lifestyle then later takes control of the American army and
...e gun, it seemed, the greater the owner‘s pride in it.” (McCullough 33) The Continental army certainly did not look like an army yet these people were brought together in this fight for freedom and prevailed even winning the support of Americans who had no hope the British would be defeated.” Merchant Erving had sided with the Loyalists primarily because he thought the rebellion would fail. But the success of Washington‘s army at Boston had changed his mind as it had for many” (McCullough 108). The reader must comprehend the power of this accomplishment for the rag-tag army. “Especially for those who had been with Washington and who knew what a close call it was at the beginning-how often circumstance, storms, contrary winds, the oddities or strengths of individual character had made the difference- the outcome seemed little short of a miracle.” (McCullough 294).
During the War for American Independence, 78 men were commissioned as general officers into the Continental Army by the Continental Congress. Many of these generals commanded troops with differing levels of competence and success. George Washington is typically seen as most important general, however throughout the war a number of his subordinates were able to distinguish themselves amongst their peers. One such general was Nathanael Greene. At the end of the Revolutionary War, Greene would become Washington’s most important subordinate, as demonstrated by Edward Lengel’s assessment of Greene as “the youngest and most capable of Washington’s generals.” Washington and Greene developed a strong, positive and close relationship between themselves. Greene began his life in the military after having been raised a Quaker. With limited access to literature and knowledge in his younger years, Greene became an avid reader which equipped him with the knowledge necessary to excel as a general during the war. Through his devoted study of military operations, firsthand experience and natural abilities as a soldier, Greene became an excellent military commander. He would become known for his successful southern campaign, during which, he loosened British control of the South and helped lead the war to its climax at Yorktown. Throughout the war, he was involved in a number high profile battles where he built a reputation of being an elite strategist who also understood unconventional warfare, logistics, and the importance of military-civil affairs and had a natural political/social acumen. The thesis of this paper is that Greene’s proven reputation of being a soldier, strategist and statesman would cause him to become the second greates...
At the beginning of the war, the preconceptions of each side show exactly why Britain was destined for failure. On the American team,
He suffered from stage fright and often “blushed and faltered”, (18) even at his inauguration as President, “he trembled and several times could scarce make out to read his speech” (18) This weakness of his is often glossed over as it doesn’t seem to fit in with his image as the towering, imposing “founding father”. Yet today, it is essential for a President to be able to deliver impressive and clear speeches to the whole country. Finally there are some criticisms that he was not as effective General as is often believed. Thomas Paine claimed that he was a bad general whose strategy consisted of “doing nothing” (19). Although Paine had a personal agenda in condemning George Washington as he resented not being appointed Postmaster-General, and then later by not being rescued from French persecution by the government, it is true that George Washington did lose more battles than he won (20) and often did seem to do nothing for long periods of time. There is also the issue of his harsh treatment towards his own soldiers, any who were caught deserting or plundering were “flogged” (21) and he even a “Gallows near forty feet high erected” to terrify the rest into obedience.
One theme that is a part of this is how the Colonists seized the moment the year 1776 presented as their own. From the meeting in Philadelphia of the Second Continental Congress in which the declaration of "these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states" was made to victories on the battlefield at Trenton and Princeton, the Colonists did not fail to grasp the moment that the year provided them in catapulting them to victory. Another theme that is developed is the strength of individual leadership. Washington and Greene were vital in the Colonists' success because they were able to capture the imagination and will of Colonial fighters. Given the immense difficulty of the task in front of them, it would have been unlikely that any other ordinary leader would do. McCullough makes it clear that the American Revolution fared so well for the Colonists because they had the dynamic leadership quality that inspired soldiers who fought for the
This book recounted the war in 1776 in chronological order by individuals’ experiences, and specified the characteristics and lives of important figures. In each chapter, the main event was explained with detailed informations, including personal narratives, which displayed the authentic history. The book was written about the war happened in 1776, so McCullough mainly focused on what happened to Americans during the war, and he only mentioned few stories about the British; moreover, this war was not as much important to the British than to the Americans. The goal of McCollough was to reveal the authentic history and raise the awareness of the war to the readers because this war was so significant to
At the end of 1776 the destiny of the Continental Army and its commander, George Washington, were at a low fade. Despite the great optimism inspired by the publication of Paine’s Common Sense and the Declaration ...
George Washington is known by most as “the first president of the United States” and is often referred to as “the Father of Our Country” (George Washington). Although Washington turned out to be a great, respected leader in his later years, he did not start out with a successful military career. In Washington’s first battle, “he and his men were ambushed and forced to surrender Fort Necessity on the Pennsylvania frontier” (What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader). In another battle, “Washington had two horses shot from under him”, but these failures did not stop Washington or cause him to give up (What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader). By the time the American Revolution came around in 1775, Washington was “a distinguished general”, which prepared him for his next job as “commander in chief of the colonial armies in the American Revolution” (George
Selesky, Harold. "George Washington." Encyclopedia of the American Revolution: Library of Military History. Ed. Harold E. Selesky. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. Biography in Context. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
1776 was a good year for a revolution. George Washington had taken command of the U.S. forces in 1775, with an army of old men and young boys that seemed to be bleak and unpromising. Facing harsh conditions and disease- ridden camps, winning a war against the all powerful British was an uphill battle. What Washington probably didn’t expect that the worst of his problems would come from his own army, a group of untrained, undisciplined men that would tamper with his great patience. Through it all he would stay one step ahead of the enemy.
George Washington is one of the most well-known historic figures of the United States. American Patriots, during his presidency, and time as a war general worshipped the hero. When America was separating from Great Britain, General Washington was a major factor in winning the war against Britain. Washington perfected his military tactics prior to the revolutionary war and during the French and Indian war. Washington’s heroic character during these wars kept troops moral at an all-time high. His ability to give confidence to colony soldiers led them to independence. It all started with his political beliefs and Great Britain heavily taxing the thirteen
This book tell about the life of Benjamin Franklin in a firsthand account. It tells of his early aspirations from childhood, his love of knowledge and drive to expand his mind. It was made so that he could tell people his story, record his life for future generations from his own perspective, and to tell the tale of how a poor young man with ambition became an icon for an entire country. The novel was written in a very short, almost staccato fashion where it is very easy to understand and interpret. The language is a little archaic to me, but that is to be expected with a book written in a foreign time period with a different dialect than I am accustomed to. I found the book to be very inspiring and an incredible story of a man with a dream and the knowledge of how to obtain it.