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1-Page Summary of 1776

Overall Summary

In October of 1775, the Revolutionary War was just beginning. The Americans fired on British soldiers at Lexington and Concord, but King George III wanted to send more troops to America. Some Members of Parliament were skeptical about sending those troops because they thought it would be a long war. However, they supported the king’s plan in the end and ensured that the American Revolution would last for many years.

Around the same time, the American army is assembled outside of Boston. George Washington, who’s leading them, knows that he’s facing a potential crisis. His troops are inexperienced and disorganized. They’re also demoralized because they feel like their cause is just but they don’t have any experience fighting in battle. Washington himself isn’t particularly experienced either; he comes from a wealthy family in Virginia where he runs his own plantation there. He has distinguished himself by fighting in the backwoods during the French and Indian War in the 1750s and 1760s but hasn’t had military experience for years before this point (he was away at school). However, most people who meet him personally really respect him because of his charisma–this quality makes people want to earn his respect or follow him into battle without question despite not knowing much about what will happen next.

The American military during the Revolutionary War is relatively meritocratic. Soldiers from modest backgrounds can rise in rank if they’re good at what they do. Nathanael Greene comes from a working-class Rhode Island family, but he’s taught himself military strategy and earns Washington’s respect as a result.

Washington realizes that the British army is occupying Boston. He wants to attack them, but his generals don’t think it’s a good idea since they’re outnumbered and outgunned by the British. Washington reluctantly agrees to wait for reinforcements before attacking. In the meantime, he sends Knox on a mission to recover cannons from an abandoned Fort Ticonderoga in order to replenish their supply of gunpowder. The commander of the British forces is General William Howe, who has been criticized as being too soft for this job and not aggressive enough against Washington’s troops.

After Knox returns from Fort Ticonderoga with cannons, Washington develops a plan to occupy Dorchester Heights. He and his men spend one night building strong fortifications there. The British realize that Boston is no longer safe for them, so they sail to New York. This victory boosts the morale of some American troops and causes others to reenlist in the army for all of 1776.

By the spring of 1776, Washington and his troops have moved into New York. There are many challenges for them in this city: there is a strong Loyalist presence (i.e., people who support King George III), and it’s vulnerable to attack from the sea. British ships land near New York that summer, which poses an invasion threat. By August, they’ve landed on Long Island and start moving toward the city itself. Washington thinks that they’re sending only a few thousand troops to Long Island, but he sends only half of his men out there to fight them off because he believes they’ll invade along the Hudson River as well. The Americans suffer a crushing defeat at Brooklyn Heights when outnumbered by more than 2-1 by British forces; pushed back to the edge of Brooklyn, Washington escapes with most of his army during one night without alerting their enemy at all.

The Americans are now based in upper Manhattan, waiting for the British to attack. Howe orders his ships to attack via Kips Bay, and a battle ensues that forces the Americans back to Harlem Heights. Shortly afterwards, a fire breaks out in New York City, destroying more than a quarter of it. It’s been suggested (and believed by the British at the time) that Washington ordered this fire as an act of sabotage against them; however there is no proof of this theory.