By focusing on the soldiers, the very heart of the Continental and British Armies, as well as the people on the top, like King George III as well as George Washington and crew, McCullough makes the story of the American Revolution both intensely human and passionate. ... In other stories, the author would portray King George as a villain, a smug British know-it-all king, who didn't understand the little people. ... Much of this stuff seems irrelevant to the whole of the story, but McCullough wanted readers to understand that beyond the quotes about tearing down the rebellion, there was a...

• Word Count: 1720
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

With his strong sense of narrative and his gift for capturing the humanity of his subjects, McCullough leads readers through a well-known story with both style and grace. ... The story opens in England, October 26, 1775, with King George III of England addressing the British Parliament on the war in the North American colonies. ... At its heart, 1776 is a story of men and action. ... He is often able to capture the essential humanity of one of his characters through just a few words or a particularly apt quote from primary material. ...

• Word Count: 1576
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

" (Henry 3) Arguably the most famous quote of this time period, Patrick Henry is saying that he would rather die than live under oppression. ... This lays the basis for the adventures they incur, and the freedoms they both experience throughout the story and how they own earn their own independence. ...

• Word Count: 969
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

John Adams is quoted as saying that a "full one third were adverse to the Revolution an opposite one third conceived a hatred of the English the middle one third were rather luke-warm." ... There are countless stories told of fathers who would have one son in one army and another in the opposing camp in an effort to play both sides and keep his property no matter what the outcome of the war. ...

• Word Count: 1791
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

John Adams is quoted as saying that a "full one third were adverse to the Revolution an opposite one third conceived a hatred of the English the middle one third were rather luke-warm." ... There are countless stories told of fathers who would have one son in one army and another in the opposing camp in an effort to play both sides and keep his property no matter what the outcome of the war. ...

• Word Count: 1702
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate