Against all odds the American colonists won independence, but the journey there was long and hard fought. The book of 1776 by David McCullough, illustrated efforts and battles of the founding fathers and the militia. The events of 1775-1776 described the moment when King George the third declared war on America to the American Victory at Trenton. Laws like the Sugar Act and Stamp Act that levied taxes against the colonists are one of the primary causes that sparked the American Revolution, but the book focuses mainly on battles and the hardship, rather than the political events that spawned the revolution. McCullough’s descriptions of the wins and losses on the battlefield show the development of the revolution, how it shaped the future leaders …show more content…
The Americans are defeated, but there were major British casualties. The Patriots reacted, and at Dorchester Heights there was impressive work being put on by 4,000 American troops, even the finest troops in the world was surprised. General Howe exclaimed, “My God, these fellows have done more work in one night than I could make my army do in three months,” (Mccullough, pp.93) THIS SHOWS WHAT? WRite about how you think the description of this battle shows that troops were underdogs. The Battle at Bunker Hill was won by Britain, but it showed American courage, and showing the British that inexperienced men can work hard and take them down with great leadership from George …show more content…
American troops were cold, sick and hungry, and it seemed that all hope was lost. George Washington told Lee that had to cross the Delaware river and take New Jersey. William Howe said,” The possession of Trenton was extremely desirable”(Mccullough, p/262) The blue coats crossed from Mckonkey's Ferry in big boats, to get to Trenton before dawn. Washington's plan would only work in their advantage if they pulled off a surprise attack. A call that the General had to decide, if the should call it off or not when that element of surprise could have been blown. George Washington was at a crossroad with many wrong decision he had made already in this war, and the young men life that were at stake, I believe it was a difficult call to make. It was one of the best calls he made in 1776. This call changed the outcome of the war, and gave hope to the colonist of
As the troops are traveling to Boston McCullough tells about the troubling conditions happening in America in this time. McCullough also depicts how terrible the America’s soldiers are and tells the points of view of the leader of the colonies. General Washington troops faced Boston Harbor, in early March 1776. Washington had a huge problem with the men in his army as they were suffering through winter months with lack of food, diseases and even homesickness.
Dorman T. Shindler of The Denver Post calls 1776 a book that “Should be required reading in living rooms from coast to coast”. That is a very bold statement considering the historical information isn’t always the most interesting. McCullough tells the tale of the fight for independence highlight the key people, such as Washington himself, and how it all came to be. The book is structured into three large subdivisions, making it easy to follow and keeping the events in order. It is written with all sides of the war in mind, actual fighting and the literal thinking, as well as the points of view for all sides.
David McCullough, in his Quill award winning book 1776, takes readers on a 294-page journey, which provides a vivid description of how Virginian born General George Washington became the first commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, and led them to victory against the British Red Coat Army commanded by General Howe, in the year of the American’s Declaration of Independence. McCullough, a Pulitzer award winning writer, diverts from his renowned biography writing of major historical figures such as John Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harry Truman, to focus on the war and politics that shaped the most important year in America’s long and storied history in his book 1776. The book 1776 is said to be a companion piece to its predecessor John
One of the problems that he faced outside of Boston was that he did not know the lay out of the land; it was very different from any military experience. Other problems that he faces included a lack of troops that had gathered outside of Boston, there was only sixteen thousands troops not enough for a regular army nor that within his entire army there was not one trained engineer to overlook the design and the defense and he knew that winter was fast approaching and knew that his troops were without firewood and barrack and that there was still a lack of supplies. Another problem that he faces was that there was a loss of men and there was still a lack of gun powder, but there still was enough for an attack, another problem that he face was that the army did have little artillery, another problem that he face outside of Boston was that it was easy for the British to bottle up the American from the neck to keep from coming in. Another problem that George Washington faces outside of Boston was that the weather brought few ships with supplies because many of the lakes were frozen over; one of the problems that George Washington face outside of Boston was that many of his men was getting sick and dying from
If he had not made that decision, the British would have killed the colonists. In order to cross the river, the colonists needed boats. They had asked a nearby proprietor for boats, and when questioned about pay, the Continental general
Anna Wilson Ms. Keri Hamrick HIS 201 June 6, 2015 Review of 1776 1776 by David McCullough is published by Simon and Schuster. In 1776 David McCullough perfectly illustrates how the American army was always on the edge of defeat during the year of 1776. The story was limited to only one year with little background information; this causes confusion. Those who do not have a good understanding of the American Revolution will have an especially difficult time deciphering what the book is describing.
The book 1776 of David McCullough is very interesting history book. It took you back to the most relevant history time of American history of 1776. The book captures your attention with well-written narrative and format. The New york Times reviewed the book as “ the book is nonetheless a stirring and timely work, reminding us that it is soldiers rather than tavern patriots and windy politicians who have always paid the price of American idealism and determined successes” in 2005. David McCullough is a native Pennsylvanian.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. Perhaps the most famous line from the Declaration of Independence, written on July 4, 1776. 1776 by David McCullough is about just that: the year 1776, though it does mention events in previous and following years, in American history. McCullough’s purpose for writing the book is very clear: to educate readers about the details of the American Revolutionary War from the view of both sides in and around 1776. McCullough achieves this through mostly logos, but uses ethos and pathos just as well.
The Battle of Trenton was a turning point for George Washington and his army, and his decision to attack the Hessians was a strategic move that earned the Continental Army a desperately needed victory after a string of losses. In source one, the author states “With great boldness, Washington formulated a plan to strike by surprise at the Hessian garrisons at Trenton and Bordentown on Christmas night, when the troops might be expected to relax their guard for holiday revelry” (Stewart). Washington’s shrewd plan to surprise-attack the Hessians allowed the Continental Army to begin their ascend to victory. In source three, Washington states, “That even a Failure cannot be more fatal than to remain in our present Situation in short some Enterprize
On June 15, 1775, Washington was appointed Major General and Commander-in-Chief of colonial forces. Washington was the colonies’ best choice because he had experience, had been advising the congress, and the biggest factor that went into it was that if he had not been given the job Virginia, a key colony in the resistance, would have backed out. Washington’s troops were not very successful and they lost many battles, but they were victorious in March of 1776 when they forced the British to withdraw from Boston. He then moved his troops to New York City where they fought in the largest battle of the revolution. The british army launched an attack that killed 2,800 men.
The chapters of our textbook, America: A Narrative History, written by George Brown Tindall and David Emory Shi, takes us on a historical yet comparative journey of the road to war and what caused the American Revolution, an insight into the war itself, and a perception to what life was like in America after the war was over. The essays of the book, America Compared: American History in International Perspective, collected by Carl J. Guarneri gives us a global context and a comparison between the North and South Americas in the dividing issues of labor, slavery, taxes, politics, economy, liberty, and equality. Part One These chapters in our textbook Tindall describes; the road to the American Revolution, the road to the surrendering of the British, and the road to the American colonists receiving their independence and developing the government which the people of the United States will be governed by. The road to the American Revolution consisted of several events, which escalated to the war that began April 19, 1775, as the tensions between the American colonies and the British Government advanced towards breaking point.
Events that occurred during the American Revolution Ever wondered what led to the American revolution? Or what happened in early America? This will be covering events during the period of 1763 – 1775 that caused conflict between colonial America and Great Britain. Furthermore, how the Virtual Representation of 1775 represents American colonist’s feelings about the Crown and the Great Britain Parliament. Moreover, the arguments and justification for independence of Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson.
It’s been over 200 years since the original thirteen colonies of America fought their revolutionary war against Great Britain, in hopes of achieving their independence. We shall be going through a few areas of the Revolution, such as the military, social hierarchy, the role of men and women during the war, the colonists’ values of equality and their social contract response to the British government’s abuses, and we’ll compare these areas to the present day. The American Revolution started around April of 1775, when British redcoats and American militiamen exchanged gunshots in Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. However, that was only the beginning of the fighting; the reasons for the war date from years prior, when resistance from the
Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces inflicted considerable casualties against the invading British, and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost. Colonel Prescott’s leadership throughout the battle is an excellent example of good mission command. Upon receipt of mission from higher and given limited resources, Colonel Prescott effectively issued orders to his soldiers, which ultimately led to
In 1776, one of the most popular and well known founding fathers led the fight for independence in the royal colonies. In David Hackett Fischer’s book, “Washington’s Crossing”, he describes the troubles and even the unknowns of Washington’s experiences during the Revolutionary War. Fischer goes into detail about the first approach of the British as their massive naval fleet surrounds the state of New York all the way up to the point when the British became the defensive force rather than the offensive. “Washington’s Crossing” illustrates how the American Revolution wasn’t just pure success as at the beginning of the war, the Americans took many losses that almost completely crushed the revolution entirely. However, eventually the tides would