⇒ Descargar Gratis 1776 David McCullough Books

1776 David McCullough Books

Download As PDF : 1776 David McCullough Books

1776 David McCullough Books

As a proud American who, I'm ashamed to admit, knew next to nothing about the details of the Revolutionary War, McCullough's "1776" was a much-needed history lesson for me. Written lucidly and grippingly throughout, "1776" provides a strong foundation for one's study of this most critical period of our nation's history, and has inspired me to continue my own studies by reading as much as I can about the revolution and its meaning, both then and now. One also comes away with a sense of awe toward General (and later President) George Washington. The extensive bibliography that McCullough has provided is more than enough for a lifetime of study.

I think that those Americans who read this book will, like me, feel more strongly patriotic and value more greatly the selflessness of those who fought for our country in its infancy. And I think that non-Americans who read it will better understand what it means to be an American, and hopefully see our country in a more favorable light. Yes, I realize that America has its problems, both currently and historically, and that we're certainly not beloved by everyone throughout the world, but it's nonetheless moving to at least try and perceive what we mean when we talk about the "American spirit": that feeling of unbounded liberty that allows us to truly pursue happiness. "1776" offers a path.


Tags : Amazon.com: 1776 (9780743226721): David McCullough: Books,David McCullough,1776,Simon & Schuster,0743226720,United States - Revolutionary War,United States - History - Revolution, 1775-1783,United States;History;1775-1783, Revolution.,United States;History;Revolution, 1775-1783.,1775-1783, Revolution,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Military,David McCullough, 1776, American Revolution, Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, British, King George III, colonies, colonialism, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Founding Fathers, General William Howe, Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award,David McCullough; 1776; American Revolution; Revolutionary War; Declaration of Independence; British; King George III; colonies; colonialism; George Washington; Benjamin Franklin; Thomas Jefferson; John Adams; Alexander Hamilton; Founding Fathers; General William Howe; Pulitzer Prize; National Book Award,GENERAL,General Adult,HISTORY United States General,HISTORY United States Revolutionary Period (1775-1800),History,History - Military War,History of the Americas,HistoryAmerican,History: American,Juvenile Nonfiction Language Arts General,Non-Fiction,Revolution, 1775-1783,United States,United States - History - Revolution, 1775-1783,United States - Revolutionary War,United States;History;1775-1783, Revolution.,United States;History;Revolution, 1775-1783.,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Military,HISTORY United States General,HISTORY United States Revolutionary Period (1775-1800),Juvenile Nonfiction Language Arts General,History - Military War,1775-1783, Revolution,Revolution, 1775-1783,United States,History,History: American,History of the Americas

1776 David McCullough Books Reviews

While driving cross country back home from a road trip vacation on July 4 I listened to a rebroadcast of On Point's Tom Ashbrook interview with David McCullough. At one point David noted that many Americans don't really understand the Revolutionary War, that it has been overshadowed by so much other history. He said that our view is often of men in funny shaped hats fighting off the Red Coats in broad sweeping frontal marches. As he told the tale of the year of 1776 I realized he was right on the money in my case. I knew of the shot heard 'round the world at Lexington and Concord; I knew there was a battle at Bunker Hill and later George Washington crossed the Delaware River to defeat the British and the Hessians.

"The war was a longer, far more arduous, and more painful struggle than later generations would understand or sufficiently appreciate. By the time it ended, it had taken the lives of an estimated 25,000 Americans, or roughly 1 percent of the population. In percentage of lives lost, it was the most costly war in American history, except for the Civil War"(Loc 4798)

The year 1775 closed with the British barricaded in Boston with the Colonists bottling them up. But King George had promised a new influx of troops and got help from Prussia. The invaders packed up from Boston and headed first north, then south to New York. The Colonists got there first but found it was indefensible given the enormous strength of the British fleet that dominated the waterways. The Americans lost battle throughout the year and eventually fled Long Island, then Manhattan and retreat through New Jersey to Delaware. It was on Christmas night 1776 that Washington took his army back across the Delaware River to win two battles and give the new country hope. But it would take another 7 or 8 years for war to end through a treaty in Paris after the victory in Yorktown.

Having read a few war histories now, I'm struck by how important it is for the leading generals to be so calm and resolute in the face of enormous pressures. The revolutionary army had to put up with low enlistments, poorly trained soldiers, lack of ammunition and other supplies; in short it was "a year of all-too-few victoreis, of sustained suffering, disease, huner, desertion, cowardice, disillusionment, defeat, terrible discouragement, and fear,... but also of phenomenal courage and bedrock devotion to country" (Location 4800). I can barely imagine how George Washington handled all this.

War in the age of sails was a world apart from that of steam and engines. The British needed wind and tides in order to bring their ships up the waterways of New York. Certainly, there were weather conditions for D-Day in WWII; but machinery and other advances in technology changed the face of war. Also, the establishment of West Point, Annapolis, and the other military universities have been essential to America's abilities to fight and win wars.

A terrific read of this pivotal year in our country's history. I'm going to read the Oxford history of this period in the not too distant future. It is essential, I think, for us to know "what a close call it was at the beginning-how often circumstance, storms, contrary winds, the oddities or strengths of individual character had made the difference - the outcome seemed little short of a miracle." (Loc 4808)
After reading six of Mr. McCullough's books, I've come to the conclusion that the author could write an engrossing informative work about even unclogging a toilet. In '1776' he explains how the pivotal year was make-or-break for our rebellious country. The book begins in the summer of 1775 Britain where King George III and Parliament are arguing about the situation in America. Mr. McCullough is exceedingly fair in assessing the people involved on every side of the dispute here and in the United Kingdom. The stakes were high for both sides. Understandably the person at the center of the author's book is General George Washington. '1776' shows why Washington came to epitomize our country's aspirations and really was the only logical choice to be the United States' first president.

The book has a generous 32 pages of black-and-white as well as color illustrations. Mr. McCullough demonstrates how weather, lack of intelligence, chance, communication, supplies, recruitment efforts, and luck played important roles in the outcomes. I found it interesting and laughable how both sides kept declaring their victories or lucky breaks were God's will. George Washington is front and center in the book but the author also focuses on others who have been lost to history except to the most avid history buffs. On the American side, such important figures as Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, and Joseph Reed are given credit for their efforts. On the British side, the central figure is General William Howe. '1776' avoids myth building by explaining in detail the condition of the troops, Loyalist who hoped Washington and his small ragtag army would be defeated, military successes and blunders, the states' reluctance to risk their troops on what many viewed as a lost cause, acts of courage as well as cowardice, and horrible acts done by both sides.

Great history makes an effort of giving an accurate representation of what was and not what people wish it to be. The United States is no different than any other country in trying to whitewash uncomfortable aspects of our past. Politicians and demagogues are especially zealous at spreading the patriotic manure of our country’s complete moral purity. Mr. McCullough is a necessary corrective to their jingoistic bilge. He is one of those historians who not only tells a compelling story but shows our past's successes, failures, and mixed results. '1776' only covers one year but what a year it was. The reader will conclude the book truly understanding how close we were to remaining under British rule.
As a proud American who, I'm ashamed to admit, knew next to nothing about the details of the Revolutionary War, McCullough's "1776" was a much-needed history lesson for me. Written lucidly and grippingly throughout, "1776" provides a strong foundation for one's study of this most critical period of our nation's history, and has inspired me to continue my own studies by reading as much as I can about the revolution and its meaning, both then and now. One also comes away with a sense of awe toward General (and later President) George Washington. The extensive bibliography that McCullough has provided is more than enough for a lifetime of study.

I think that those Americans who read this book will, like me, feel more strongly patriotic and value more greatly the selflessness of those who fought for our country in its infancy. And I think that non-Americans who read it will better understand what it means to be an American, and hopefully see our country in a more favorable light. Yes, I realize that America has its problems, both currently and historically, and that we're certainly not beloved by everyone throughout the world, but it's nonetheless moving to at least try and perceive what we mean when we talk about the "American spirit" that feeling of unbounded liberty that allows us to truly pursue happiness. "1776" offers a path.