David McCullough is an extremely accomplished non-fiction writer more than qualified to have written 1776, the story of the amateur army under General George Washington's command in the year of the Declaration of Independence. While attending Yale University, McCullough served apprenticeships at Time, the United States Information Agency, American Heritage, and Life then received a bachelors degree in English literature. Following graduation he began his career editing and writing for the next twelve years. McCullough then commenced with projects of his own (Including The Johnstown Flood, The Great Bridge, The Path Between Seas, Mornings on Horseback, Brave Companions, Truman, and John Adams) for which he received numerous prestigious awards. His education, experience, and and extensive research on the topic (Displayed in the twenty five pages of the bibliography section) prove that McCullough most definitely had the credentials required to write this book.
1776 was written to inform readers of a year during the American Revolution in which the Declaration of Independence was composed and George Washington led an extremely inexperienced "rabble in arms" in a military campaign against the well trained and equipped British army in an attempt to protect their "unalienable rights". Though Washington had at his command terribly inadequate group of yankee rebels, he was able to overcome the redcoats in a few instances yet his inexperience led to defeat in many battles. He, "…Had proven himself a leader of remarkable ability, a man not only of enterprising ideas, but with the staying power to carry them out." in Boston, but in New York his leadership was questioned as accusations that he was, "indecisive and inept" arose.
Pathos David McCullough uses emotional appeals such as inspirational quotes from George Washington and others to prove that he was a great leader fit to command the Continental Army. "Washington was a man of exceptional, almost excessive self-command, rarely permitting himself any show of discouragement or despair." This glorifies Washington and makes the reader feel as though he is a fantastic General.
Washington constantly displays his disapproval of the yankee rebels he's been given to work with. Never has he seen, "such a dearth of public spirit and want of virtue.". These quotes make the army look even further disadvantaged in the eyes of the reader, who can't help but feel disgusted by the ragtag bunch of farmers. In New York Washington was, "made to look foolish" by the victorious redcoats. He was utterly defeated and the diction makes the reader fully understand how badly the Americans had lost. |
LogosDavid McCullough uses logic to support his points as well. A myriad of quotations from newspapers and journals are deployed to help convey his thesis to the reader. When McCullough is describing an event in the Revolution he uses primary sources, such as the "New Haven Journal" and the "Massachusetts Spy", to educate the reader on the events that were taking place. Throughout the book McCullough quoted letters from George Washington, Nathaniel Greene, and General Howe which gave readers accurate accounts from those living the event. Whenever David McCullough is discussing the troops or troop movements, he consistently gives exact numbers as opposed to estimates. McCullough writes, "Howe reported his losses to be less than 400-59 killed, 276 wounded, and 31 missing." to ensure that the reader completely comprehends the event that had occured. He also uses accurate numbers when comparing the Continental and British armies, "4,500 American troops marched against the 7,500 opposing British troops." in order to show how severely outnumbered the rebels were.
|
Style
David McCullough wrote 1776 using artful diction and lengthy, impressive stylistically designed syntax to describe the American Revolution and the people fighting in it. The leaders on the opposing sides of the war were portrayed with a sense of grandeur, for example, "His Royal Majesty George III, King of England, rode in royal splendor from St. James's Palace to the Palace of Westminster." and "Washington was a man of exceptional, almost excessive self-command, rarely permitting himself any show of discouragement or despair.". This was done to reinforce the idea of how colossal the importance of the American Revolution was.
The Continental Army is bashed almost throughout the entire book not because McCullough is partial to the British, but because he wants the reader to understand how terrible the prospects of victory were. The rebels were depicted as "the most wretchedly clothed, and as dirty a set of morals as ever disgraced the name of a soldier." in order to make them the underdogs of the story. Even some seemingly inconsequential victories were made out to be gigantic triumphs because the mighty British army had been defeated by a lowly, "rabble in arms".
The Continental Army is bashed almost throughout the entire book not because McCullough is partial to the British, but because he wants the reader to understand how terrible the prospects of victory were. The rebels were depicted as "the most wretchedly clothed, and as dirty a set of morals as ever disgraced the name of a soldier." in order to make them the underdogs of the story. Even some seemingly inconsequential victories were made out to be gigantic triumphs because the mighty British army had been defeated by a lowly, "rabble in arms".
"David McCullough Biography." -- Academy of Achievement. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2013.
"11. The American Revolution." The American Revolution [ushistory.org]. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2013.
"Teaching The American Revolution." Shmoop. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2013.
"JONATHAN TURLEY." JONATHAN TURLEY. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2013.
McCullough, David. 1776. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005. Print.