David McCullough
Simon and Shuster
May 2005
In the book 1776, David McCullough covers numerous series of events. In the beginning he starts with the war against the American Colonies by King George III up until the great American victory at Trenton. Washington led an army of Americans, from many areas, which had no experience and were not well trained. Henry Knox, a bookseller, and Nathaniel Green, a Quaker, were both inexperienced generals in General Washington’s army. Another army, the British Redcoats, were well equipped, experienced, and were being commanded by General William Howe.
The book starts off with the battle of Bunker Hill, where the Americans are defeated by the British. The Americans recovered and attempted an attack on Boston. The British were caught by surprise, causing them to surrender and retreat back to England on their ships. The American spirit could not be any higher and Washington earned many great honors. After returning back from England, the British victory would no longer last. They had with them a substandard navy that would leave the America’s speechless. America’s then went to New York and lost Boston with no trouble. The British highly underestimated the Americans and thought they could defeat them without any problems. Americans were then forced to retreat to New Jersey, causing them to lose valuable territories. Many Americans contradicted themselves and went back to the British to show their loyalty towards the king. The British then had many more defeats and retreats by General Washington and his inexperienced army. While British had many navy based ports, Washington was suffering from his loss with other states. Washington’s army soon began to doubt him, but kept everyone all together. The turning point came when Washington demanded his army to cross the Delaware River and then began the Battle of Trenton. It was the first battle that gave the Americans hope for the cause after the British evacuation of Boston