Tow #12 IRB 1-99

Tow #12 IRB 1-99

Aaron Pieroni

11/8/13

            The summer of 1776 is known to all American historians and history buffs as the most crucial, and beginning, of the American Revolution.  However many historians teach and tell this story as two separate stories or “accounts”.  The first story (account) is the political tale of how the 13 American colonies game together as one in congress.  The second is the military tale of Washington, Nathaniel Greene, and brothers Richard and William Howe fighting, a losing struggle, against the British army and navy in Long Island and Manhattan.  Joseph J. Ellis squashes this story telling tradition by showing the summer of 1776, and its intertwining situations, to fellow historians and history buffs.

            Joseph J. Ellis opens his book with the “current” political rationales of both sides leading up to America’s full out revolution.  He also quoted many political figures such as William Pitt, the House of Lords Leader and Earl of Chatham, who openly supported non-military action in America to show the complexity of this time in Britain, often overlooked by American history books.    Ellis further supports his purpose by using similar quotes and examples to show how both stories ultimately entangle into one singular American Revolution.

            Ellis is effective in doing this because he is able cite every quotation at the back of the book which further supports his ethos in changing this broad misconception of the American revolution.  Whether it is John Adams arguing law and politics or George Washington rousing the spirit of his men, both furthering “The Cause”, Ellis is sure to cite the place it was spoken and to whom it was spoken.

            Joseph J. Ellis is a Historian, Ford Foundation Professor, previously US Military Academy at West Point and Mount Holyoke College, and the writer of American Creation. American Sphinx, Founding Brothers and an assortment of other works.

The Battle of Long Island by Alonzo Chapel