Joshua Micha Marshall of “The New Yorker” said regarding David McCullough’s “1776”
“This is history at the ground level, sometimes even a few inches below. There is squishing mud for soldiers to trudge through, letters about absent loved ones and heartbreaking deaths, driving snow, and battlefields tipped with sun-gleaming bayonets like so many teeth grasping for prey. The prose is vibrant, and there is a telling insight into each character.”For myself “1776” is my favorite of McCullough works. What do you each think?
Please share your reflections, comments, curriculum ideas and respectful responses to other’s comments regarding McCullough’s “1776” below.
I have read the first two chapters of 1776 so far and have really enjoyed the wealth of information provided. Chapter 2 was especially interesting to me. I loved the detailed introduction to many key players in the Revolution. With this background knowledge, I feel like I am already going to teach this unit a whole lot better next year.
ReplyDeleteI like the underlying tones of manifest destiny (God wills it that way) as opposed to just destiny. The storm at Boston is a good example. Washington felt it was divine providence, but many thought it was a good excuse to leave quickly.
ReplyDeleteI loved some of the quotes in Chapter I. "Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages" G.W. & "Few people know the predicament we are in" G.W. The former reminded me of the motivational speeches Winston Churchill shared during W.W.II. The latter I could relate to (unfortunately).
ReplyDeleteI was also struck in Chapter I by the divisions in Parliament, in fact I loved Charles James quote (the eloquent Whig) “He has lost a whole continent”. In addition, it surprised me to read that so little real discussion was given by Parliament to accepting the Olive Branch extended by the Continental Congress. To think that it all could have been avoided had Parliament been in a more conciliatory attitude is really quite stunning… one of the fascinating “what ifs….” of history.
Lastly I see myself using pages 3-12 in Chapter 1 and pages 41-50 as a great short text assignment for comparing the similarities and differences of George III and George Washington.
There's a sixth grade curriculum workbook that is a comparison of the "Georges". A parent of one of my students who teaches elementary school has it.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteI think the book you are referring to is George vs. George. I have used it with students who have IEP's; frankly, it is so well written it transcends age.
The School Library Journal said of the book:
"From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 3-6–A carefully researched, evenhanded narrative with well-crafted, vibrant, watercolor illustrations. Schanzer states that her challenge was to "…cram 20 years of history, biography, and philosophy into a picture book that kids could grasp and enjoy." She has been entirely successful. The introduction sets the tone, introducing both George Washington and King George III, mentioning their differing views, and noting that every story has two sides. The remainder of the book presents these two sides on spreads that alternate between the man and the monarch, with comparisons of the American and British governmental forms, views on taxation, the Boston Tea Party, and coverage of most of the major battles of the Revolutionary War. True to the author's intent, both Georges come off as decent men, with the interests of their respective countries at heart. The illustrations are amazing. Almost Brueghelesque in their detail, they show the major players as they actually looked. Speech balloons reproduce the exact words of the speakers, with appended "Quote Sources." This is a lovely book, showing historical inquiry at its best: consideration of both sides, a sound research basis, attribution of sources, and interesting writing. Written at a higher level than Jean Fritz's Can't You Make Them Behave, King George? (Putnam, 1977), this book provides the perfect meld of instructional tool and general-interest reading.–Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved." There is well thought out lesson plan, written by the Maryland Council on Economic Education, posted in the weblinks (on the left) that utilizes the book, as well as a link to the author's website. I hope you find them helpful.
-Cindy
I have to say that I am learning a lot from this book. It seems to be taking me longer to read then I thought it would, but I think that is because of all the detail. I am trying to keep all the names straight and remember who did what. I have really enjoyed the book so far. I must admit that I didn't know a whole lot about Nathaniel Greene or Henry Knox before, but after reading about them in a couple of chapters, I really would like to know more about them. I find the determination and tenacity of Henry Knox amazing as he retrieved the cannon from Ft. Ticerondoga. Both have physical ailments that almost kept them from the military, yet they play such important roles. I really enjoy the friendship between the two men as well. They are two men that I believe I will reasearch a little more and definately tie more into my discussion of the Revolutionary War in the future with my students. Also, does anyone know what they play "Cato" is about? It mentioned that it was Washington's favorite play and that he quoted it a lot. I was just wondering about it.
ReplyDeleteHeather,
ReplyDeleteGreat comments. I just finished reading it- again! Completing the Learning Logs doubled my reading time; however I learned so much more this time than in my previous readings that the logs were worth it. In reference to your question regarding Cato, you may find the following information helpful. Lastly I added a weblink on the left to a copy of the play.
"I take great pleasure in presenting the following rendering of Joseph Addison's play Cato . I first became aware of the play while reading the writings of Jim Stockdale. In an essay on public virtue, he writes:
"George Washington was so taken with the character of Cato the younger in Joseph Addison's 1713 play Cato that he made the Roman republican his role model. He went to see Cato numerous times from early manhood into maturity and even had it performed for his troops at Valley Forge despite a congressional resolution that plays were inimical to republican virtue. Washington included lines from the play in his private correspondence and even in his farewell address." (Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot, Hoover Press, 1995, p.75.)
Of course, this perked my interest and sent me out in search of Cato. As fate would have it, I found a very worn 1848 edition of The Works of Joseph Addison in three volumes at our local college in Helena and was given permission to borrow the volume containing Cato for several months to copy the text.
Joseph Addison's Cato premiered on April 14, 1713, and was an immediate success. In fact, it went on to become one of the most popular English plays of that period. In addition to being a dramatist and poet, Joseph Addison was also a prominent essayist and was noted for his graceful writing style. Samuel Johnson once wrote: "Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the study of Addison."
Cato the younger (95-46 B.C.) was a Great Roman Statesman and Stoic. He took sides with Pompey in his unsuccessful civil war against Julius Caesar. After Pompey was defeated at Pharsalus, Cato and Scipio moved their forces to northern Africa. The play takes place in the city of Utica, located in the kingdom of Numidia. Scipio has been defeated at Thapsus, and Caesar and his legions are advancing towards Utica, where Cato and a small Roman senate stand ready to defend the last vestige of the Roman Republic."
Thanks Cindy, that really helped me understand "Cato" better. I appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I have read this book and I have made it through the first 80 pages. Some of the things that have stood out to me have been the division of the of Great Brittan’s Parliament. I always just assumed that the king had the freedom to do as he pleased. I thought it was interesting that he had to address parliament. Some other interesting points were that George Washington said to start the war they only had enough gunpowder for each soldier to have 9 shots. (I don’t think you can win a war like that) I was also surprised at the poor health and alcoholic conditions of the continental army. It sounded like to me that Washington knew that his soldier’s heath problems were caused by their poor disregard for hygiene but that he felt like the Yankees were just slobs all-around and didn’t care about cleanliness and being a gentleman. I also thought it was interesting that he said if he would have known how bad the Yankees were he would have turned down command of the Army. All in all it has been an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteI finished 1776 over a week ago and really loved it. I am into John Adams now, and am seeing many similarities between the two. Being written by the same author and overlapping time periods of course plays a big part in that. Like Cindy, I love the quotes found in Chapter one, but my favorites are on other pages that I have noted in my learning logs. I love primary source material from the average joe's that participated in the war. My heart goes out to those who fought without shoes, with disease, and other conditions that made fighting even more horrendous than with proper supplies, accoutrements, etc.
ReplyDeleteThis is in response to Linda's comment on March 30th. I also noticed the references to the weather in 1776. Not only does it reflect the theme of divine providence, but adds real drama to the narrative, not unlike a Shakespearean play (as McCullough suggests on page 155).
ReplyDeleteOn August 21st, the night before the first British soldiers land at Gravesend Bay, chapter 5 tells us about "a storm like a hurricane", "To Major Benedict the roar and bloodshed of battle were something to be expected. 'But there seems hidden meaning, some secret purpose, when the bolt is launched by an invisible arm, and from the mysterious depth of space'."
FYI: David McCullough will be on Radio West tomorrow (April 16th). It airs live at 11:00 am and is rebroadcasted at 7 pm on KUER 90.1. You can also listen or download the podcast at: feed://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kuer/.jukebox?action=viewPodcast&podcastId=228.
ReplyDeleteThis is the description/advertisement for the interview from Radio West's website: "David McCullough once warned that America's illiteracy in history is a 'disease that is eating away at our national memory.' The two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of '1776' and 'John Adams' is delivering this year's commencement address at the University of Utah. Thursday, he joins Doug to talk about the lessons history has to offer - and what it means to us as a nation if we 'lose our story'."
This is in response to Linda and Jen's comment: I also noticed the reference to the weather. Amazing how there seems to be such storms before the British attack and things like that. It makes me think that there is such divine providence in all aspects of making this country.
ReplyDeleteI was reading this last week while in D.C. and I came to a section that talked about how Washington wrote to his manager and then to Martha one night while in New York. We have the manager's letter, but we have no idea what he wrote to Martha because she destroyed all of the letters that she recieved from Washington except three which survived by accident. Does anyone know why she would destroy all the letters she recieved? I really would like to know why. I would think that she would keep them, but I am totally wrong I guess. What motivated her to destroy them all?
ReplyDeleteJust finished the book. It's the first indepth reading of it (using learning logs). He's an interesting writer. It interests me how an author puts a perspective on history. Just like we teach our students huh? It seemed to me that he was more interested in events than the people. I'm not reading "Miracle" and think it's interesting how I seeing more discussion of the people involved.
ReplyDeleteAs I read, I tried to make mental notes of all the places discussed. I've spent little time east of the Mississippi and think it will be interesting to see the places discussed. Hard to imagine the damage done to such beautiful places (ie. North Church).
I love all of your comments. Didn't you feel as you read 1776 that the characters and events became real to you? I was struck in this reading by Washington's feelings regarding New York City. He called it the "most sinful place in America" and said of the people: they are fine "in their pride and conceit", "inimitable in their profaneness" and intolerable in their arrogance". I wonder what he would say of them today, In deed what he would have said of us today?
ReplyDeleteThis is in response to Cindy's comment on April 21. I also found it really interesting the comments he made about New York City and what a "sinful" place that it was. I wondered what he would think of some of our other cities today like Vegas, LA, and others. I also found it interesting in the beginning of the book how he talked about the "New Englanders." I could almost hear his distaste of them. I did notice that his attitude changed a little by the end of the book, but I wondered if he still felt some of the same feelings.
ReplyDeleteWell, I finally finished reading 1776 and must say that I learned a lot. I was very suprised at the letter Joseph Reed sent to Lee and would have felt very betrayed if I was in Washington's place. It was interesting how once again storms added Washington in his final attacks of the book. I really like the quote by Nathaniel Greene of Washington "He will be the deliverer of his own country." Washington struggled with some of his decisions, but I truely believe that if someone else was in command of the army at the time, things might have turned out differently. This book gave me different look at Washigton, but also a appreciation for him. I really enjoyed the book.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think to post these WHILE I was reading 1776 so I'm posting them now. First of all is history "the memory of a nation" as JFK once said or is it as James Joyce once said: "a nightmare from which I am trying to awaken"? I imagine it is both. Washington and his troops would be proud that Trenton, etc. is in the national memory banks. For King George and his troops it must have been nightmarish, although I think that the Brits today harbor few bad feelings about such long ago events. From the extremely long-view, all these struggles and wars must seem so silly and insignificant! Does time heal all wounds?
ReplyDeleteAnother comment, this one about McCullough as a writer: He is a brilliant storyteller who really gets you hooked in with his vivid portrayal of events and his lucid descriptions of people. How does he do it? Well, I think he makes an emotional connection with his reader BEFORE making an academic, intellectual point. For example in "1776" he states that Greene had a "quick, inquiring mind and uncommon resolve" (pg. 21) BEFORE we learn of his important role in restraining Washington from a headlong attack at Boston or before we see his brilliant recovery at Trenton after his errors in judgment in New York. I prefer to be shown the evidence first, and from there I can deduce on my own what qualities Greene brought with him. So I think this is where critics could point out methodological weaknesses in his writing. But honestly the general public is not gonna care about things like that, because if it was written in the way I suggested it would bore most people to tears! (Because we wouldn't know who to root for! Who are the bad guys? And who are the good guys? McCullough in another life could be a Hollywood screenwriter--oh wait he practically already is with the John Adams mini-series!)
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading the book, and I was unaware of many things that went on. Just reading about the tremendous obstacles to overcome- I had no idea it was that rough. Some of the things that didn't make sense to me are now that I am in the middle of reading John Adams and it seems to be coming together better for me and I am having a deeper understanding. There were so many names and places that it was a little confusing at times, but with his other book, made it all better.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks Cindy for the info on Cato- I was wondering why Washington had such a love for that guy!
BTW- I thought it was interesting that many people were questioning Washington as a leader. I always thought that he was everyone's hero- even while the war was going on- but it is understandable- given the many losses encountered.
ReplyDeleteON MONDAY APRIL 20TH MR. NESBETT WROTE:
ReplyDeleteGeorge Washington, The Cause or Fame?
I am currently reading 1776 and was thinking about how amazing it was that George Washington even took the assignment as General. He had so much going for him back in Virginia. He was wealthy, thanks to his marriage to Martha Custis, had a great home, etc. He faced having a very inexperienced staff and troops. IF they were to lose this fight he faced almost certain treason punishment.
Why then did he accept it? Was it for fame or was it for the cause? McCullough does a great job illustrating how much he gave up and that he didn't get paid for it but also in the first chapter talked about how Washington was looking for recognition because of his lack of social status because of lack of educational opportunities. I, loving Washington and the many stories about him, love to think that his purpose was that he believed in the cause. It is very interesting to think about motives that would lead these men to becoming national heroes if they win the fight or national villains if they were to lose!
After reading 1776 and the Miracle at Philidelphia, I see the Revolutionary war in a whole new light. It almost shames me to say I knew so little about the war. These books have been very helpful in painting a more complete picture about the start of our country. Some of my favorite things from the book have been to see men so devoted to their cause as well as their faith. I like that that they gave their best and then put the rest in god’s hands. I find myself developing a great respect for our founding fathers and those who helped them. I particularly like the correspondences between the men and their wives. You hear all the time that men don’t talk to their wives like they use to. I thought that the letter Henry Knox wrote to his wife Lucy demonstrates it nicely about how these men felt about their wives when he writes “ The great being who watches the hearts of the children of men knows I value you above every blessing….”. These were great men who really did value life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
ReplyDeleteI shared pages 144-145 with my history class this morning, for no other reason than that it was funny. It's about the letters from General Howe to Washington, but Howe refuses to refer to Washington as General Washington, so Washington's aids refuse to send the message along. When the letter finally gets to Washington, he refuses to read it because his title isn't included in it, rather General Howe wrote "etc., etc." That's pretty funny, and even tired 11th graders found some humor in it.
ReplyDeleteLike Becky, I too was shocked at how rough the year 1776 was for the Washington and the army. It surprised me that he had so many difficulties and that he wasn't seen as the hero then that he is now. If anyone has a suggestion for an engaging read that covers the rest of the Revolutionary War, in order to see the tide turn for the Continental army and Washington, please shoot it my way.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading 1776 I have a much greater respect for Washington. I found it very humbling in the fact that several times during the text he mentioned that he did not feel he was qualified to the task, but would continue and do the best to his ability. On the other hand- how he is described in John Adams seems as though it got to his head, espcially during the processions.
ReplyDeleteI was also suprised at how organized and almost ocd he was about different aspects in his life. I think it would be the only way he could have done what he did- but it did make me question whether I could have done the same as he.
Heather and Cindy- I also found it interesting about the Sin City of 1776. I still find myself shocked after reading descriptions like that, or of Paris in John Adams. I still have this idea in my head that Early Americans were very prudish and sex was not talked about and very taboo. Obviously I am wrong, but it still catches me off guard.
ReplyDeleteI am in the middle of 1776. I read it a couple years ago and am excited that I am getting more from it than I did last time. I wish there were modern maps of the places in the book. I have to get on the internet and check places out every time I read. It is harder to the log than "Miracle" because it is told in more of story form. I have to admit that I put it on my ipod and if you listen while laying in bed sunday morning.....well let's just say lights out!!!
ReplyDeleteCourtney I had the same experience, in fact you will note I added weblinks for maps of Boston and New York. They are quite good, if you get a chance check them out.
ReplyDeleteI have read many different books on the revolutionary war, however this book still remains a favorite of mine. The author humanizes history something we often forget about, he offers readers a chance to view the war from the perspective of those involved which is really difficult to do. In 1776 we see the war from the perspective of those who fought it not contemporary analysis. I only wish my student could read this book, and understand the impact the revolutionary war had on the creation of modern day America, we are working on it be vocabulary can be difficult for beginning ELL's
ReplyDeleteAs I am reading through 1776 I to have notice numerous sections many of you have noted. Falling into the category of not realizing how little I new of the war and the many persons involved, I also find I lack knowledge about the time period as well. The comments from the british soldiers about the wealth of the colonists viewed when they left Staten Island really surprised me. They spoke of the furniture, mirrors etc. I know Jefferson and Washington built large homes was unaware of the wealth of others. Heather, I too wonder about Martha destroying her letters. What have we missed in the history of our nation that might have been in the letters? Was it strictly privacy, or a deeper reason?
ReplyDeleteI have a quick thought after reading Linda's post again. The idea of divine intervention is very strong in the book, in fact McCullough himself said it was one of the main themes of his his book. He gave another excellent speech about the revolutionary war and the founding of the country at byu a few years ago here is a link to hist talk,
ReplyDeletehttp://speeches.byu.edu/?act=browse&speaker=McCullough%2C+David&topic=&type=&year=&x=12&y=4
It is one of my favorites hope you like.
By far this is the best of the 3. I have already jumped into it full force. I feel Washington's frustration and worry. i can inagine the British fleet of hundreds of ships comming to New York and the feeling of dreed that must have followed. It is interesting to look at how the 3 books (since they should tie in together)cover many of the same events and speak from different view points.
ReplyDeleteAngella,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the weblink. I just finished listening to it. It was a great reminder of why we do what we do! I added a hyperlink in the weblinks, if you get a chance, it is well worth the hour.
As Tamara said on the blog for John Adams, there is so much information in 1776 I would like to share with my 5th grade students and so little time. Being in the "touch the surface and move on" mode because of time, I now see what a diservice we are doing to history. There is much to learn from the workings of the soldiers, building fortifications and then abandoning them in a few hours, retreating again and again, marching with no shoes, etc. I have such a better understanding of the war,leadership and planning. I want my students to see this also. This has really started me to reflect and begin thinking of ways to incorporate so much more into my 5th grade curriculum and still move swiftly!
ReplyDeleteI know it is another hour, but I also recommend Angella's link to McCullough's speech. I listened to it last evening and found my self going back through my log and looking for passages it reminded me of and rereading those sections.
ReplyDeleteYeah...I finished 1776! I am dying for the sequel. And then the sequel to that and then finally the sequel to that! I felt that way the last time I read it.....really if I wasn't a history teacher I would have to research the rest of the war. I loved one of the last quotes by Washington in the book, "A people unused to restraint must be led, they will not be drove." I am so proud right now to be an American and feel that I am very complacent about the privileges I have and those who made and make that true. Freedom is definitely not free.
ReplyDeleteHaving finished 1776, I have a new found appreciation for the soldiers and leaders of the time. I have not been a big fan of history in the past, but now have such a greater understanding and appreciation for the perseverance and sacrifice of the soldiers and the foresight of the leaders of the Continental Army. Washington and his many support personnel did our country proud. I would not have read the book on my own, but sure am glad I did.
ReplyDeleteI agree Courtney..As I have finished 1776 I wanted 1777 and the 1778 and so on. it was masterfully written and gave such great insight of what was going on at the time. It ranked right up their with "Killer Angels", the story of Gettysburg. I loved it and have learned a great deal about Washington and the first year of the war. Thanks for these opportunities.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Marsha that there is so little time to teach all of the important events of just this one year in the Revolution. For 5th grade there is a video I use that I think is still available. It is called "The Winter of Red Snow". It is just a short video made from the Dear America book by the same name. It actually is about the winter at Valley Forge, but it does focus on the suffering of the troops.
ReplyDeleteHADYN CALL SAID:
ReplyDelete1. 1776 was a remarkable book. I really enjoyed the in depth coverage that David McCullough did on many important characters during that year. John Knox, for example, was an amazing artilleryman who Washington knew would, and could do anything he asked.
2. The endless quotes in 1776 brought the book alive. I really liked how McCullough used “average joe” quotes as well; to help us (the readers) understand the situations that were going on, etc.
3. Washington, despite the fact that over his career he lost more battles than he won, was an amazing military leader. His evacuations of, for example, New York, were amazingly executed, as even the British would agree. I also liked how he surprised the Hessian troops in Trenton and went on to Princeton to defeat British troops. Something I have learned outside of 1776 as well, as I have been learning more about this era, is that Washington loved espionage and spy tactics. Invisible ink, coding, etc. all played a part in his strategies.
This is a weird way to start my blog on this novel, but I want to respond to Cindy's comments about John Adams. Cindy, I totally agree with your discomfort with Thomas Jefferson. As a matter of fact, I have been known to tell my students that Jefferson's major accomplishments, such as the buying of Louisiana, basically came about as a benefit of dumb luck. When Jefferson made mistakes as president, such as the Embargo Act, he did a grand job of it! I really like how you put it, that "Adams was everything that Jefferson pretended to be." Amen.
ReplyDeleteI have finished the first half of 1776. Loving it. As many of the rest of you, I have been impressed with Greene, Knox, the "blessings" of weather, etc., but as usual, I am rediscovering one of my heroes, Washington. What an amazing man. He understood human nature and used it to his and the army's advantage. He was modest, yet authoritative. He loved his men (with the possible exception of Yankee soldiers), and they loved him. He was regal without the need for royalty. So far, I have to say that my very favorite new "insight" to "Mr. G" would be his response to Howe's pretend "peace" emissary in New York. Washingon told him, "Those who have committed no fault want no pardon." You go, man!
It is still a "miracle" to me after reading 1776 that the Americans ever had success in the war. They were badly outnumbered in military supply, constantly worried about gunpowder, the excess of weapons the British had, (I loved the quote where just on a few of there ships they had more firepower than the whole continental army), continued hassling and worrying about Loyalists, which I would think impossible to cope with, and lastly the experienced Generals and soldiers of the British and Hessian armies.
ReplyDeleteIt really showcased to me the extraordinary men many of these patriots were! I, like many of you who have commented early, was unaward of how grave it started looking for Washington. He had bad defeat after bad defeat and even lost confidence in one of his greatest admired friends, Joseph Reed.
I now understand why with everything not in favor of the Americans that many attributed minor successes in the revolution to "God". How was it that with such little experience they were able to outdo the British and Hessians soldiers?
I could go on and on with this but I wanted to end with my appreciation of the character of Washington. I loved on p. 293 where it expressed Washington in the light that he made mistakes he didn't always succeed but the greatest thing about him is that he "LEARNED" from his mistakes! What a life lesson to take from the book.
i have to agree with Mr. Nesbitt regarding the character of George Washington. I came across a video entitled "The Man Who Wouldn't Be King," about Washington's life prior to and during the Revolutionary War. I preface the movie for my students by asking why Washington is considered one of the most effective presidents. After going through the usual answers: "He was the first president," "he led the troops to a successful end in the war," I show the video telling about a man who was in the beginning very worldly, ambitious, out for status, and pretty selfish. But as he led his troops and saw what they were willing to give up for a cause, after he himself suffered disappointment and frustration in keeping his army together, he learned what it was to be an effective leader, self-sacrificing, committed to a cause, willing to listen and change. I end by telling my students that it was his character building and willingness to learn from mistakes and changing that made him the great leader we believe he was. Students need to learn values from our past heroes, and we need to point these kinds of lessons out for them.
ReplyDeleteI this is in regaurds to Sharon's comment. Where did you get get the video? I have never heard about it but it sounds like one I would like to use in class.
ReplyDeleteAfter finishing the book I am definitely interested in continuing the book til the end of the war. With all the problems Washington and the country faced in 1776 how in the world did they survive the eight remaining years. What about valley forge and the winter that changed the face of the army? I have read many books but like McCullough's style and insight
ReplyDeleteThis is a weird way to start my blog on this novel, but I want to respond to Cindy's comments about John Adams. Cindy, I totally agree with your discomfort with Thomas Jefferson. As a matter of fact, I have been known to tell my students that Jefferson's major accomplishments, such as the buying of Louisiana, basically came about as a benefit of dumb luck. When Jefferson made mistakes as president, such as the Embargo Act, he did a grand job of it! I really like how you put it, that "Adams was everything that Jefferson pretended to be." Amen.
ReplyDeleteI have finished the first half of 1776. Loving it. As many of the rest of you, I have been impressed with Greene, Knox, the "blessings" of weather, etc., but as usual, I am rediscovering one of my heroes, Washington. What an amazing man. He understood human nature and used it to his and the army's advantage. He was modest, yet authoritative. He loved his men (with the possible exception of Yankee soldiers), and they loved him. He was regal without the need for royalty. So far, I have to say that my very favorite new "insight" to "Mr. G" would be his response to Howe's pretend "peace" emissary in New York. Washingon told him, "Those who have committed no fault want no pardon." You go, man!
I had to copy and paste this posting - it showed up under another user name (above). Sharon
I loved this book. I finished it this morning. The Battle of Trenton has always been my favorite of all U.S. battles, ever, and I loved reading the detail and descriptions that McCullough provides his readers with. I knew that Washington had run into the same group of Hessians earlier, but I had not read about the Battle of White Plains before this book. I love Washington, warts and all. I think he is a grand example of military leadership that succeeds through tenacity and noble purpose. McCullough states, "Above all, Washington never forgot what was at stake and he never gave up." Couldn't say it better, myself.
ReplyDeleteHey,for any of you interested, I just bought 1776 the Illustrated Version. It is usually $65 but I just bought it for 70% off at Seagull books for $20. It is so worth the money. It is kind of like those musueums in a book. It has some great pictueres and copies of quite a few letters and things that are quoted in the book, but you can now read the whole letter. I don't know how long Seagull Books will have them, but I thought I would pass on the info for those of you who might be interested.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading 1776, I can’t help but have the utmost respect for George Washington. Constantly against the odds, Washington was able to make it through some serious rough patches. McCullough does a great job at portraying the war as the ultimate Cinderella story. I find it amazing how different the outcome of the war could have been had the British chosen to be a bit more aggressive, or had a fight actually occurred at Dorchester Heights. I guess it does no good to play “what if” history, but it sure makes one wonder.
ReplyDeleteI never quite realized how significant Nathaniel Greene and Henry Knox were for George Washington during this portion of the war and throughout. Washington really seems to have struggled while Greene was out sick, and truly appreciated his return. In all of my studies I have placed those two individuals in the background, or felt that the guns from Ticonderoga were the only major contributions; however, these men gave much more than that and were in for the long haul.
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ReplyDeleteOkay, so I'm really new at blogging. I've had to have several friends show me how, and obviously, as you can tell from the last removed post, I'm still not very good at it. Maybe we could have a youtube tutorial from Cindy to show us how. I'm pretty techno savvy, but this is beyond my realm of experience.
ReplyDeleteI liked 1776. Wow, what a year. I’ve been to Cambridge to what is now the Longfellow house twice. Before going there I did not know that General Washington had used that house as his headquarters. You will all love actually standing in that room where such an important sequence of events were planned.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I guess I never really thought much about the day-to-day lives of each person involved in all the events of 1776. It really is a “Miracle” in my mind that it all came together and worked together to bring about our new country and government. And it all happened despite so many of the participants having to leave or be absent from time to time, from some participants getting upset and leaving all together, from some staying silent and not saying much, and others being very vocal and arguing a lot. (Some of the debate actually sounds like teachers and the administrators or district supervisors who see situations with much different perspectives, and who at times have different goals.)
ReplyDeleteWhile I was reading 1776 I was amazed at how much George Washington had on his palette. He was researching the British war machine, active in the course the convention was taking and leading his own rag tag military. His excellence as a leader comes through the pages. I am sure that is why he was so widely respected and honored.
ReplyDeleteChapter 3 - Dorchester Heights was so illuminating. The idea of moving heavy equipment on sleds, the determination of those involved to move the equipment in terrible conditions and the resolve to make it all happen was amazing. I thought of the Trojan Horse when I read how they used stacks of hay as a covering to move the military into place. This is truly an amazing feat that spared much loss of life.
ReplyDeleteI always thought George Washington was very self-confident and those around him never doubted him. It surprised me to see his doubt and that of his confidents that questioned his decisions and choices. Looking back we always view him as such a great leader. Through this book we see the human complex side.
ReplyDeleteI have never looked at the Revolution from the English point of view. I could understand how King George III felt towards the colonies. The had given their money, the blood of their people and everything to support the people. From their point of view the did not understand why the colonies wanted to be free.
ReplyDeleteI was impressed that George Washington could become such a great leader and still have feelings of disdain for those that he was leading. He was disgusted with New Englanders and the filth, lack of education or social graces. But those were the people that he was going to be depending on to fight and have his back.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments that have been stated in this blog. This is the first time I have read this book and was very impressed with the advesities that everyone faced in everyday life and still managed to take on the responsibilities of fighting for independence. When they first started to fight they were fighting against unfair colonial laws. It emerged to fighting for independence.
ReplyDeleteI really felt bad for Washington after the retreat from Brooklyn Heights. Everyone was trying to blame everyone else, including Washington. My thought was, 'Well, what did you expect?'. He really did the best he could with what he had. There was hardly an army to begin with and compared to the British, it may as well have been one man fighting the thousands of regulars. Plus, in view of our friend John Adams, he had no navy to help.
ReplyDeleteAs the book opens, and after learning about George III, I could better understand why John Adams said he liked the monarch. He was a pretty modest and average guy. It was really about perspective. Each country was endeavoring to defend what they felt was rightfully theirs. I also commented in my notes that the debates in Parliament about what actions to take certainly mirrored those in Congress.
ReplyDeleteI was reading some of the other comments from a while ago, and Karen mentioned a video she uses. One that I use with my 5th graders is a TV series that was on (and might still be) called "Liberty's Kids". It's a cartoon and it tells the events of the Revolutionary War and 1776 in a simplified form and from the perspective of three youths-one from America, one from England, and one from France, and a freed slave. My students really enjoy it and it's a great reinforcement for the material (though it does put a little too much emphasis on Benjamin Franklin).
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing book I am nearly done with it, but I keep going back to the amazing accomplishment at Dorchester Heights. Most of you do not know this, but I have 20 in the US Air Force Air National Guard and going over the military aspect of getting the cannons on the heights of Dorchester is totally amazing. It is a feat that I think even today with our technology i find it hard to accomplish in one night. The ability of Knox to get the cannons from Ft. Ticonderoga to Boston is equally amazing. The book often talks about "Providence" meang God or by the Hand of God. Even if you are not religious you must wonder by the "luck" bestowed on the Patriots at the most needed times.
ReplyDeletePOSTED BY BOB HOOPES
ReplyDeletePost 2 by Bob 1776
What would Washington have done without Henry Knox and Nathaniel Green? Young guys who took responsibility and followed through under the most dire circumstances. Unsung heroes. Who are the unsung heroes today holding us together? just a thought. I can't imagine the stick to it fortitude that it would take to drag a cannon out of icy water without Thinsulate gloves!
Posted by Mr. Hoopes' 5th at 6:34 AM
POSTED BY BOB HOOPES
ReplyDeleteWednesday, June 3, 2009
Post 1 by Bob 1776
Hello folks: time is getting short! In the book 1776, how does one general lose so many battles and still win a war. Was America just too far away to take care of? Did we just win the war because we prolonged it like an adolescent teenager might out wait his not so determined parents?
Posted by Mr. Hoopes' 5th at 6:26 AM
I read this book a few years ago and really enjoyed it. This time was a little differnt. I was rushed and reading more for education than fun. I got a little more info out of it but found it more like my sister did when she tried to read it: "this is not fun." I'll let you know if it gets better.
ReplyDeleteOk, so the above post, I wrote in my journal then added it to the blog when I had the time. That's why most of my posts have been made today:) Anyway, 1776 did get better. I made time to read rather than trying to cram it all into a few minutes at lunch. The thing I liked best about this book is how it gives the reader a glimpse into the reality of Washington and his men. We all see the crossing at valley forge painting and think of him as a fearless leader who had no worries other than trying to stay alive but the reality was much different. He was amazing and this book really plays well with Miracle as they both give an overview of the events they discuss.
ReplyDeleteirst... I am a slacker and am posting at a tremendously late date... Although, being one of the last has added to my understanding of the book... I agree with Tamara and her post on King George. I never paid much attention to the picture history paints and the real aspect of King George. These books have helped me understand that there is so much more to history than the little clips we are often exposed. McCullough's description of King George put into perspective what the ruler had to deal with and it also showed where history had tainted his profile. Every time I re-read this description I found new notes to take and place in my own teachings. McCullough does a great job bringing that time period to life in his descriptions.
ReplyDeleteI also can't believe how tense I was for the last three chapters of this book. I wanted to know-- Who wins and how? I loved the battle descriptions. I agree with Riko that this book was my favorite of the three. I truly enjoyed the descriptions of Washington and how he dealt with defeat. There were so many details that I have overlooked on the Revolutionary War. I have never studied the battles in depth or even the people involved. The insight that McCullough brings has taught me a tremendous amount about the war. One thought that sticks out in my mind is the number of people that initially signed up for the war and by December 1--no longer were there to fight- from deserting, death, or just not signing up again. Would soldiers today stay and fight if there was a chance they wouldn't be paid? I am amazed that the Americans could hold out to the number of British. I also liked that initially the descriptions of the soldiers and the dislike or stereotype that was held between north and south colonies. I have often wondered if Washington was really a "great" as history paints him.-- I admired the portrayal of Washington and how he handled both defeat and victory.
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to see how this is the favorite of the three for many of us. It does get very tense as the final chapters are comming to an end. The amazing thing for me is that all the information leading up the end was needed. Even if at times it seemed not to matter, ultimately it did. The Revolution is much like this book in that way. All the little things did seem to matter. One of the most disturbing thing I found in the book was the number of people willing to go to the British when Adm. Howe gives them a chance as long as the pledge an oath. I loved the term "Tavern Patriots". Some were only Patriots when it served them or when the Americans were doing well. I am also always amazed at the sotic nature of Washington. Some say that he should not be on a pedestal, but I would be willing to put him on one and be one of the supports. The way he handled Reed and Lee's treachery was something that most could not have done.
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