Advanced Placement United States History Summer Reading Assignment
Instructor: Mr. Paul Friedrich
Time: Summer 2010
Due: Friday, 20 August 2010
Book: 1776
Purchase: Borders, Amazon, etc.
Author: David McCullough
Contact: [email protected]
Welcome to A.P. United States History (APUSH)! We are preparing to embark on a great journey of discovery
and analysis together. In this class, we will explore the broad scope of U.S. history from first contacts between
American natives and Europeans in 1492 all the way up to our present time. The history of this nation is, at
once, glorious and heroic as well as shameful and confusing. We will explore all aspects of our history – and
attempt to mesh together both the beautiful and the questionable. To get us started, we will examine a
common text – the story of a single year in American History – a year vital in the very creation of this American
nation. As you read David McCullough’s account of this year (1776), you will be asked to respond to some
guided questions for each chapter. This will, then, serve as the basis for our discussion of this book, this time,
and these events. If you have questions about this assignment, please contact me at the e-mail noted above.
Instructions
1. You will turn in an electronic copy of your assignment to the website turnitin.com. This website will
check your paper for originality and will also be used for paper evaluation and commentary. If you do
not already have a turnitin account, you will need to set one up (don’t worry, it’s easy ). If you do
have an account, you may use your current user login information.
 To set up a new account: Go to turnitin.com.
 Follow the on-screen instructions to “create account” – it’s easy. If you have difficulty, use their
video tutorial 
 For all submissions – our enrollment password is vhhsapush. The class ID# is 3257297
 If you have problems with your submission, I can help during the first days of class in August.
2. You will define a series of Identifications, answer guided chapter questions, and write a brief summary
essay. All of this is described in greater detail below.
3. You must write in complete sentences and the context of the question must be made clear in your
response. Avoid the use of pronouns – “He needed to cross the river so he took what was needed”.
Rather, contextualize the response with specific references “Washington ordered the flatboats to be
confiscated because he needed to get his army across the Delaware River.”
4. Section the assignment into the groupings noted. That is, place the identifications together, the
general questions together, the chapter questions, then your end summary response.
5. This assignment is worth 50 points – roughly the equivalent of the points available for a test grade.
6. We will also be discussing the book in class – it is highly suggested that you annotate the book itself –
write margin notes, chapter summaries, term definitions, etc. as you read to allow for more concrete
recall during analytic discussion.
Assignment
NOTE: Context is important. You must confine answers to the context of this book. Therefore, for example,
George Washington must not be identified as the first President – he was nowhere near that lofty position in
1776 – in fact, the office of the President did not even exist – heck, the title of “President” did not yet exist.
Identify him and all others within the context of this specific text and time.
Part I – Identifications/People: Identify the significance of any 13 of the 21 listed individuals
George Washington, King George III, Edmund Burke, Lord Frederick North, William Howe,
John Burgoyne, Charles Cornwallis, Henry Clinton, Nathanael Greene, Israel Putnam,
Martha Dandridge Custis, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, Richard Howe, Charles Lee,
Henry Knox, Alexander Hamilton, George Germaine, James Monroe, Joseph Reed,
Thomas Paine
Part II – Identifications/Events & Places: Identify the significance of any 7 of the following 12 events/places.
Lexington & Concord, Breed’s Hill, Siege of Boston, Charlestown Massachusetts,
Mount Vernon, Fort Ticonderoga, Fort Washington, Battle of Brooklyn Heights,
Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Delaware River
Part III -- General Questions: Answer any 3 of the following 4 questions.
 How does the British government view the rebellion in 1775? Is there disagreement among the British
leadership over the war in America?
 What is in the minds of Americans in 1776? Why do they rebel? What do they hope to accomplish?
 What training did George Washington have to lead the rebellion?
 How do you account for the American success at the Battle of Trenton?
Part IV -- Chapter Guiding Questions
Part I: The Siege
Chapter 1 – “Sovereign Duty”: Answer any 2 of the 3 questions.
 What was the purpose of the address to Parliament by King George III?
 How does the author describe George III?
 Explain the varied views held by members of Parliament regarding the war in the Americas.
Chapter 2 – “Rabble in Arms”: Answer any 6 of the 9 questions.
 In what way was Nathanael Greene an unlikely general?
 What was General Greene’s opinion of the way to keep the British in Boston?
 Of what groups was the Continental Army composed? What various names were given the army and
how well were they equipped?
 Describe the conditions and behavior in the camps of the Continental Army. How were officers
distinguished from regular troops? Why was this necessary?
 What was the length of the service in Continental Army? Why was this considered a drawback?
 Describe the differences of opinion held by Washington and officers from other states. How did he
personally regard the request that he lead the armies?
 What did Washington originally want to do in Boston in dealing with the British? Why did
Washington’s council of war discourage his ideas?
 Was independence the goal early in the war? Explain.
 Explain Henry Knox’s contribution to the siege at Boston.
Chapter 3 – “Dorchester Heights”: Answer any 4 of the 7 questions.
 Describe why it was difficult for either the British or Americans to occupy Dorchester heights.
 What issues surfaced with the British command over whether to leave Boston for New York?
 Why was Boston a difficult place for the British to camp in the winter?
 Explain Washington’s decision to take Dorchester heights.
 Describe the seizing of Dorchester Heights. Who succeeded and why?
 Describe the departure of the British from Boston, the mood of Americans, and the reaction of
Congress.
 Evaluate Washington’s performance throughout the siege of Boston.
Part II: Fateful Summer
Chapter 4 – “Lines are Drawn”: Answer any 4 of the 7 questions.
 Describe the move of the Continental Army from Boston to New York. How did defending New York
differ from that of Boston?
 How did Loyalists living in New York City complicate Washington’s urban defense?
 What affect did the Declaration of Independence have on the Continental Army?
 What ominous warning were the British sending Washington when ships from the Royal Navy bombed
New York City on 12 July 1776?
 As the British awaited the arrival of the full fleet and more troops, how did many British officers expect
from the Americans in New York City to act when the fighting began?
 Describe the effort of General William Howe to initiate a discussion with George Washington on 13 July
1776. Why did it take three attempts, and what was the result?
 In defense of New York City, Washington violated what one fundamental rule of battle?
Chapter 5 – “Field of Battle”: Answer any 3 of the 4 questions.
 Describe the British invasion of New York on 22 August 1776.
 Compare and contrast the British troops with that of the American troops on 24 August 1776.
 Describe the attack by British General Henry Clinton at Brooklyn on 26 August 1776, and evaluate
Washington’s leadership at this time.
 Describe the reaction by Americans and British at the Battle of Brooklyn Heights.
Part III: The Long Retreat
Chapter 6 – “Fortune Frowns”: Answer any 3 of the 4 questions.
 What was the result of the meetings between Washington and his council of war in September 1776?
 Explain the causes of desertions in the Continental Army. What was Washington’s plan to stop these?
 Why was the surrender of Fort Washington so devastating for the Americans?
 After the surrender of Fort Washington, General Washington’s detractors attacked his decision,
especially General Lee. Why does Lee feel so strongly and how does Lee express these feelings?
Chapter 7 – “Darkest Hour: November—December 1776”: Answer any 5 of the 8 questions.
 What was the size of Washington's army when he departed southward into New Jersey from New York
on 21 November 1776? How would this number change by 1 December 1776?
 Describe how the British Proclamation of 30 November 1776 affected Washington’s ability to raise a
fighting force in New Jersey.
 Describe the actions of the British and the Hessians in New Jersey during the last two months of 1776.
 Describe the capture of General Lee by the British.
 Describe the problems the Continental Army experienced in crossing the Delaware River to Trenton.
 Describe the Battle of Trenton. Why did the Americans succeed? How does this battle affect the war?
 By the end, how does McCullough evaluate General Washington and the men who fought the war?
Part V -- Concluding Essay: Respond to 1 of the two prompts in a 2 -3 paragraph formal essay. You do not
need to write an introduction but your essay must be lead by a clear thesis statement which serves to frame
you response.
 Does this depiction of 1776 differ from earlier history lessons you have been taught about the
Revolution? Were you surprised at the conditions of the army or the mistakes made by leaders on
both sides? Did the lack of training of the American leaders affect the war effort before the Battle of
Trenton? Explain.
 Do the things you have learned in this book bear any relation to efforts to bring democracy to other
parts of the world today? Does reading this book give you any new ideas concerning war, revolution,
patriotism, nationalism, and democracy? Explain.