In the historical book “1776” by David McCullough, he describes the entire year of 1776 in a very eloquent and informative manner. McCullough is the renowned author of numerous books on American history. Other popular titles, including “John Adams” and “Truman,” are examples of the desire to accurately depict American history. In his book “1776,” McCullough's thesis and focus on what he is trying to argue for in this book is best stated by himself at the National Book Awards in 1985: “History shows us how to behave. History teaches and reinforces what we believe in, what we stand for, and what we should be prepared to stand for. History is – or should be – the foundation of patriotism, not breathtaking patriotism, but reality, love of country. By analyzing the results and actions of individuals throughout 1776, McCullough wants us to learn what true patriotism is. The book describes the entire year of 1776, focusing on the war itself and its aftermath. He does a fantastic job of citing his sources by referencing journals, manuscripts, books and newspapers. Addressing the selection of George Washington to lead the Continental Army, Washington expressed concerns about his lack of ability to carry out the task. Even before he discovers that his army is made up of both old men and very young, inexperienced men. At first, the Continental Army expresses false confidence in its power as it wins battles against relatively small British soldiers. This confidence was quickly shaken when Britain chose to pour more soldiers into the war, quickly regaining lost lands and pushing the Continental Army back state by state. This wide range of sources... middle of article...... For example, McCullough pointed out the incompetence of Lee (a senior officer in Washington's army) but in reality, he had the most d experience of everyone else. officers and knew how to strike fear into the British. Overall, I enjoyed this book and the way its historical information is presented. In reality, all books about history contain some sort of opinion to add to the suspense and drama and this book does a great job of minimizing that. Additionally, how the author managed to capture the reader's attention while focusing on his thesis and achieving its fulfillment by allowing the reader to truly understand what patriotism is. Few books are inspiring, but this one is unique in that sense. Enriching our knowledge of what happened in 1776, McCullough does an excellent job of accurately describing the challenges and growth that brought about our country..