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First Chapter Of 1776 By David Mccullough

1082 Words5 Pages

The first chapter of 1776 sets a fascinating backdrop for the rest of the book. The opening quote by George Washington exudes a foreboding mood- “The reflection upon my situation and that of this army produces many an uneasy hour when all around me are wrapped in sleep.” The portrayal of both the “English regulars” and the “American rebels” sides were well balanced and realistic. The author, David McCullough, portrays King George III as a good leader, albeit slightly disconnected from his people. George Washington is portrayed as a courageous but gentle leader. The book chronicles the struggle of the rebel army and the consequent remarkability of their victory. The most striking factor highlighted in this book, however is the American …show more content…

They were already allied with each other so it was a naturally politically smart move to make. The Hessians had attacked the Continental army in Long Island in August 1776, forcing them to retreat to Manhattan. Eventually they were forced out of Manhattan and across the Hudson River to New Jersey. At this point, the British had Long Island under control and New Jersey occupied. The rebels were basically trapped. George Washington did not give up, however. He knew that most of his troops had contracts that would expire by the end of December, and they would probably disband then. He decided to attack the Hessian held town of Trenton just across the Delaware River. The night of December 25, he led his troops to a place nine miles north of Trenton to prepare for an attack. In the morning, the rebels attacked from the south side of Trenton, catching the 900 Hessians completely by surprise and bringing the possibility of winning the war up substantially. The battle at Trenton and the Hessian surrender was a harrowing choice of life or death, and it reflected the courage of George Washington and the unquenchable sprit of the rebels, some of whom had marched in the snow without shoes, not to mention risked drowning in the icy river. Elisha Botswick, one such courageous soldier who fought at Trenton, published this excerpt in his memoir after the war. “I heard his Excellency as he was coming on speaking to and encouraging the soldiers. The words he spoke as he passed by where I stood and in my hearing were

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1776 by David Mcullough published by Simon and Schuster in 2005. The book contains 386 pages from cover to cover. The book is packed full with a plethora amount of information of the United States in its early making. The most important and recognizable event is the revolutionary war which has one of the longest chapters covering this event. In part two, field of battle the book covers Washington's superb leadership, the revolutions struggles and triumphs throughout the duration of the revolutionary war.

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As dawn approached, he and his army would attack Trenton with all the force that they had at the time. The author stated that Washington had thought the battle was already lost because they would lose the element of surprise as the weather slowed them down which was pushing them into the daylight. According to Fischer, Washington and his army arrived to Trenton at around seven-thirty in the morning. They succeeded in using the element of surprise and the weather helped the colonial army and they took Trenton.

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The Battle of Trenton was a significant battle in the American Revolution. The reason for this is General George Washington decided that on December 25, 1776 he and his men would cross the Delaware River and attack the Hessians. Washington tricked and trapped the Hessians by attacking them from behind. Since the battle lasted less than an hour, Washington and his army defeated the Hessians. These are some key points on why the Battle of Trenton was so significant.

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Daniel McCullough does a excellent job through these battles of describing his tactics and talking about what is changed after every victory or defeat. For example, after the colonists are crushed by the British at Fort Washington, McCullough goes into detail on how Washington this less of one of the fellow soldiers named Nathaniel Green. Towards the end of the book, after Washington's’ major victory at the Battle of Trenton, the author does a sudden conclusion. This conclusion goes through how 1776 was an important, but also tragic year for

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“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.

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After Christmas day, Washington ordered his troops across the Delaware river and into the Trenton. He launched a surprise attack on the Hessian-Garrison troops that were based in Trenton. The Hessians, the day before were celebrating Christmas and were caught off guard by the surprise attack. The Hessians had a tough time rallying all their troops, but it was no use the colonist had won the battle.

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He starts the book at the beginning of the war and works toward the close of the Revolution. This layout allows for Royster’s main themes to develop as the war is reaching its peak points. As the book develops these key themes begin to intertwine and their significance becomes clear. The reader begins to understand how the American ideals are tied to their relationship with the Continental Army. One of Royster’s key arguments is that the revolutionaries’ loyalty to the war was based on the national character.

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Despite the large number of Hessians that escaped Trenton, Washington still won a crucial strategic and material victory. In only one hour of fighting, the Continental Army captured nearly nine hundred Hessian officers and soldiers as well as a large supply of muskets, bayonets, swords, and cannons. When the Continental Army returned to camp on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, soldiers were exhausted. They had marched and fought for two straight days through rain, snow, sleet, and hail. Washington knew that his army had far exceeded expectations at Trenton and that they faced many more challenges going

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The Book of 1776 takes place on October 26, 1775 with King George III having a procession in his-self designed 4-ton coach. Despite his high life designed coach, he was a simple man with a lifestyle of that of a farmer. Many had thought of the King to be an unintelligent and uncommonly ugly, yet this was quite opposite. King George III was tall, and robust man, with clear blue eyes and an exceptional taste for music. He was quite talented to have learned piano and violin.

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The battle of Trenton took place in December 26, 1776. The battle was in New Jersey to the southern side of the Delaware River on Christmas night. The Americans wanted it to be a surprise when they crossed the Delaware river to where the Germans were. George Washington was the head of the Americans on the boat sailing to the opposite side of the Delaware River. The battle of Trenton was in the middle of the war.

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As Washington and his men moved toward Trenton, they approached a Hessian outpost. Hessian Commander, Lieutenant Andreas Wiederholdt stepped outside, quickly spotting the Continental Soldiers. “The Enemy!” (Pavao, Pavao, and Pavao 2010) exclaimed the commander causing his Soldiers to run toward the fight but they quickly realized they were outnumbered. The Hessian Lieutenant ordered his men to retreat.

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This battle took place after a demoralizing defeat at Long island. George Washington was forced to retreat all the way across New Jersey back in Pennsylvania. Due to the cold and harsh winter and the defeats in the previous wars, the Continental Army was one the verge of abandoning the rebellion act. Therefore George Washington needed to find something to build up the spirit in his troops. As such he then decides to cross back over the Delaware River and attack the Hessians (German hired troops) at Trenton, New Jersey.

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The book 1776 rewrites the prolific story of what many historians consider to be the most important year in American history. The book contains a vast number of characters that serve many key roles in the story but one could focus in on the five that have the largest impact in the story. Beginning with King George III of England, the enemy in most American’s eyes. King George in the story appears to be genuinely wanting to gain the colony back. He was definitely strongly opposing the American push for independence from England.

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With 2400 soldiers, the Continental Army won the battle. Importance was that in this battle, Continental Army captured 900 prisoners, which inspired more soldiers to join them (many soldiers were about to leave because of their contract). After the Trenton Battle, George Washington forced toward Princeton, New Jersey. British General Cornwallis rushed to stop them, but Washington’s troops tricked them by leaving their campfires burning, and attacked British soldiers from behind.

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