David McCullough's "1776" provides readers with a thorough and insightful analysis of the events that took place during a pivotal year of the American Revolution. Through extensive research and attention to detail, McCullough examines the key figures, decisions, and battles that shaped the nation's destiny. He did research in twenty-five different libraries, archives, and special collections. He even went to several historical sights in the United States and the United Kingdom to make sure that all of his facts were correct and to give the best depiction of what happened in the year 1776. Throughout the book, McCullough puts a huge emphasis on specific military figures, such as General Charles Lee, John Sullivan, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, …show more content…
Washington was not going to give up on this attack, and despite all the setbacks, he still managed to pull off an extraordinary victory. He then also managed to pull off a massive victory at Princeton just a few days later. Washington organized and perfectly executed two of the most significant victories of the war in the span of a week. McCullough's description of the American military situation at the beginning of the war showcases the determination and resilience of the American forces despite facing overwhelming odds. When the Continental Army was founded after the Battle of Bunker Hill (it was fought by militiamen), George Washington was named the commander in chief of the army. However, the state of the army was really, really bad. It didn’t even have a name. Washington had sixteen thousand men, but less than fourteen thousand of them were able to fight. More than fifteen hundred were sick, and another fifteen hundred were absent. Another problem was that the army didn’t even have a proper …show more content…
When people learn about the American Revolution, most of the time, they don’t take the time to analyze and understand the military leaders and their strategies. It isn’t something that should be overlooked, and it is really a shame that it is, because it is very interesting and important. This book is excellent for people who already know the basics of the Revolution and really want to dive deep into all of the behind-the-scenes military stuff. It is also very entertaining, which is great because sometimes books can be boring, but this book does a great job of keeping you engaged and always has you wanting to know more, which is great for the field. David McCullough’s 1776 is a must-read for anyone interested in the American Revolution, or even just American history in general. It was interesting, informative, and had so many interesting perspectives. I really did not appreciate the military leaders of the Continental Army nearly as much as I do