1776 By: David McCullough The book that you are about to read is about the birth of our country from a military perspective (make sure you thoroughly read it and expect a test when you return to school). As you read it, I want you to keep one question in mind. How was a rag tag militia able to defeat and repel the mightiest military of its day? The book is divided into three parts and as its title implies, solely takes place during the year 1776. “Part I: The Siege” opens with a glance at the rebellion in America from a British perspective. It then jumps right into the war, beginning with Washington and the Continental Army’s siege of Boston. “Part II: Fateful Summer” covers the march from Boston to New York City, where the Continental Army attempts to save the city from a second British attack. “Part III: The Long Retreat” portrays the frustrations and doubts that plague the American forces after New York, and then ends with the victories at Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey. Now, back to the original question: according to the battles portrayed in 1776, how in the world was a small American rag tag army able to defeat the mighty British Empire? You will want to make a list of your reasons as you read the book. *This is an independent assignment. Therefore, any group work or sharing of thoughts will be considered a violation of the Stratford Academy honor code! Now, before you begin reading, I want you to do a bit of research that will help you better understand the events of 1776. The answers to all identification and questions must be typed!! Complete the following assignments below. 1. Identify the following people, events, and key terms. All answers should be at least five or six sentences long. List your sources in MLA format after each explanation. 1. The British Empire: 2. King George III: 3. The Townsend Acts: 4. “The Boston Massacre:” 5. Sons of Liberty 6. Tory: 7. The Boston Tea Party: 8. Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts): 9. The First Continental Congress: 10. The Battles of Lexington and Concord: 11. The Second Continental Congress: 12. Lord North: 13. Edmond Burke: 14. General Howe: 15. George Washington: 2. Identify and label the thirteen colonies on the map provided. 3. On the maps provided, locate the following areas by circling them and placing their number next to the location. Map of Boston - 1776 1. Boston 2. Boston Neck 3. Charlestown 4. Bunker Hill 5. Roxbury Lines 6. Washington’s Headquarters 7. Dorchester Heights Map of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania – 1776 1. Long Island 2. Hudson River 3. White Plains 4. Philadelphia 5. Princeton 6. Trenton After reading 1776, answer each question below as thoroughly as you can. The grade you will earn is based on your answers as a whole. They should be typed and conform to standard rules of grammar and syntax (write in complete sentences). Remember, this will be your first grade in U.S. history, so make sure you provide thorough and detailed answers! 1. Describe the Continental Army. What sort of army was Washington in command of in 1776? At its peak, what was the highest number of soldiers in the Continental Army? What was the age range of the American soldiers? What did many of them do before joining the army? How well equipped were they? How well armed were they? What was missing in the American military that put them at a huge disadvantage? You must provide examples and page numbers when answering the above question. 2. Describe the British military. How were the British soldiers different from the enemy they faced in America? At its peak, what was the highest number of British soldiers serving in the American colonies? What did the British military possess that American forces completely lacked? How did this additional military component provide the British with a huge advantage over the Continental Army? What are some factors that put the British military at a disadvantage? You must provide examples and page numbers when answering the above question. 3. Compare and contrast the battles that occurred at Boston and New York City. How were they similar? How were they different? Be thorough in your explanation. Provide examples and page numbers when answering the above question. 4. Why can the American Revolution also be considered America’s first civil war? What problems did this create for the British military? What problems did this create for the Continental Army? Provide examples and page numbers when answering the above question. 5. Using examples from the book (include page numbers) and any other information that you uncovered in your research, explain how it is that a smaller, largely untrained American militia defeated the mighty British military, which many considered the best and most powerful of its day. .