Nation to Be Born

Megh Poudel

Prof. M. Pride

History 102

27 October 2012

The nation to be born

1776 is a book written by David McCullough, an award winning author which refreshes the memory of glorious American Revolution. The book recreates the scene and event of initial stage of American Revolution. The title itself focuses on the year 1776; which was one of the crucial and important year for the conflict between Great Britain and thirteen colonies. David McCullough a famous historian and a winner of Pulitzer Prize clearly depicts the initial engagement of the army led George Washington against the mighty British Empire.

In first 20 pages, the book circles around the parliament and king in London where the strong debate on war between the England and thirteen colonies was on a full swing. The army with no history of war and experience fought against the superpower and dominant empire of that time which led to the formation of the great nation of United States of America as we know of today. The book starts with the year 1775, where Parliament and Kings in London are expressing their concerns about engaging in a war across the Atlantic with their colonies. At the time, Great Britain saw this event as a small revolt organized by some small group of people in the thirteen colonies. When lord Sandwich, a member of the British parliament in March of 1775 was challenged of Great Britain winning a war in a distant colony, he explained this by saying American as “they are raw, undisciplined, cowardly men” (page 6). There were some members of the parliament who opposed this war and were in the favor of American cause. Some of the members included Edmund Burke and Lord Mayor of London, John Wilkes. John Wilkes supported the American view in his speech in parliament. “I speak sir, as a firm friend to England and America, but still more to universal liberty and the rights of all mankind. I trust no part of the subjects of this vast empire will ever submit to be slaves. Never had England been engaged in a contest of such import to her own best interests and possessions”, he said (page 15). There is a strong emphasize on the struggle within the colonies and the leadership and courage of George Washington and his loyal soldiers. Some of the character that is strongly emphasized included George Washington, Nathanael green, Henry Knox and John Adams. George Washington, a veteran of French and Indian war has been shown a character of strong leadership and motivators who was able to influence