Book review: 1776 by David McCullough

Review, Pages 7 (1507 words)

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Thesis statement

The year 1776 was the year of battle for the revolutionary war. Great Britain had abandoned slavery many years ago but the revolutionaries had not stopped up until 1862 when they decided to stop it.

Book summary

The book talks of the revolution in the good year 1776. It was a year that was well started with the barefoot boys and men who came to the farm and the streets to become an army of provincials. According McCullough (1), the old men and the little boys were playing the fife and drum.

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After chasing the red cots from Boston, later the rag tag revolutionaries of British subjects who had few guns were chased from New York. The book advocates of the ill clad fundamentals and traitors to the top people who fought the legal government that was composed of 13 colonies. On July that year the continental congress took a step forward to dissolve the relationship with Britain. It was considered to be a dangerous move of fighting the most powerful nation of the world.

King George was not happy with this and spoke before the parliament to order the revolution to be stopped. The commanders chosen by the king had their own view on this revolution. Lord George German thought that the upheaval had crushed with a critical drive. Edmund Burke was speaking considerably for the pioneers of the revolution but used to term it as their colonies. After 236 years the early part was considered to be a myth and history and the revolution was already forgotten.

McCullough (1) emphasizes that the CIA can fight revolutionaries; these are the people who flock behind the populists as Fidel’s and trespass out for Oriented province into Havana. The year 1776 had its Tories who would flee behind the British lines to spy against the Americans and withdraw through the islands of Nova Scotia and common wealth. The black slaves would join the Tories when necessary. Great Britain had abandoned slavery many years ago but the revolutionaries had not stopped up until 1862 when they decided to stop it.

David McCullough a great story and good record that is an action adventure of a history. He wrote about the myths and stories of the people who would write to the leaders of the nation. However it is believed that the story of David McCullough does not come true. The king, George Washington would always stay brave and straight always as this was a requirement for a leader. Everyone believed in him to lead them in the fights, encouraging and examination of the men in order to learn them. The king was referred as the Virginia gentleman who came after the introduction of the dollar. The English colony or the world power lies on the braveness of this king who introduced the most valuable money in the whole world.

However there has been a decline in the nations economy. The revolutionary that took place put the constitution in danger. There was an introduction of a democratic government that was ruled by law and not kings. The formation of a government is the start of having a nation in a country. The king was a brave person and presented his character as symbol that he can solve the problems of the nation. He was elected at the continental congress though he was not sure of his eligibility. The king had a burden of defeat and failures in various areas, people were dead and others were continuing to die.

Also he was burdened by the men who could not act on the attack that was heading towards the Delaware River to stop the battle of Brooklyn.

The beginning of august came with the rebel siege of Boston and Washington discovered that the available gunpowder was only 10, 000pounds. This was not enough to fight the experienced British army and hired Hessians who were well equipped with better weapons. Cowley & Beevor stressed that, the army had about nine rounds per man and this was not sufficient to beat the British army and hired Hessians. In December 1776 were the difficult moments for most of the men. Washington was tempted when his army became undisciplined and would go away after their period of service was over. He had difficult times of changing the army in the middle of the battle. The congress had given him a command to handle the army but not enough money. This is what made the army to go away very easily in the middle of the battle.

Fort Washington and his army were defeated in the disastrous Battle of Brooklyn and this led to the loss of New York City. In this battle the continental Army was the only successful withdrawal and this left their enemies surprised that they are defeated but it did not mean that they would win the battles. The army matched with fear towards Philadelphia where two men became frozen to death during the march. General Nathaniel Green suggested wisely of a trail of goods that were to be taken as long as the British navy and the nature of New York arrive at the port. Washington was seen to continue defending facts that could no longer be defended. He was brave and charismatic and would lead the colonies to nationhood but he was not always right.

Fort Washington surrender on the 16^th of November and this was a severe blow to the colonists. It was a big blow to the colonists at the time, Two thousand of the colonists were taken to prison, fifty-nine killed, one hundred and forty six guns were lost to the British and Hessians within hours. However, the loss of fort Washington created a new achievement in that a new heroine known as Molly Corbin. She was the widow of John Corbin who came from Pennsylvania. She was a brave colonial woman who accompanied her husband into the battle and after his death she took his position. She continued loading and firing the cannon until she was shot nearly to have her arm removed. This is when her captors allowed her to go back to her home in Pennsylvania.

The story given by McCullough is clearly described with maps and clear descriptions of the forces placement and the landscape. The scene in the battles can be represented by movies of blood, spear and glory. In this book there is good explanation of why Washington crossed the Delaware. The withdrawal from New York was accomplished without losing the army and the war that outnumbered the British and their navy. In order to cross the Delaware, the General with his staff planned to pass above Trenton and New Jersey by three elements of his army. However only one element could succeed in crossing due to the blowing cold wind and snow. The other two elements of flanks would be prevented from crossing by the freezing river.

On 3^rd of August 1776, the soldiers were ordered to prohibit blasphemy. The American values have changed definitely since the troops are now allowed to have an opportunity to attend public workshop. They are also permitted to rest after going through the great fatigue. In future, the General except at the shipyards or on special occasions excuses them from fatigue duty on Sundays. The General cannot be pleased with the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing. The officers are expected not have the influence of these practices.

Strengths and weakness of the book

This book is seen to be an amazing book because it is not exactly a book but an experience. It was designed to instill a feeling of pride among the people who served them. The book does not cover many of the areas that readers expected from his book. Hence more details should have been given about the revolutionary war. To add on the book is not clear because many readers may find themselves not remembering anything about the revolutionary war at the end of the book. The book is seen to be attractive as well as convincing; this is because it is written in an educational approach that makes the reader feel present at the events that are happening.

Conclusion

The book is a very detailed account of the American revolutionary war as told by chronicles of the real people who lived through it. The only thing it did not mention a whole lot was the pivotal role Vin diesel played when taking the guns from Ft. Greyskull or the path where George Washington jumped the Delaware River on his wacky big front wheel bike.

Work Cited

McCullough David, 1776, New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005:1-4

Cowley Robert & Beevor Anthony, What ifs? Of American history: Eminent historians

Imagine what might have been. USA: Penguin group. 2004.

Drake Samuel, the Campaign of Trenton, 1776-1777, Washington DC: Lee & Shepard, 2007:23-30

Dwyer William, the day is ours, November 1776-January 1777, an inside view of the

Battles of Trenton and Princeton, New York: Viking press. 1983: 101-156

Wood Gordon. The creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787. New York city: UNC

Press. 1998: 1-9