⋙ PDF Gratis Washington Crossing Pivotal Moments in American History David Hackett Fischer Books

Washington Crossing Pivotal Moments in American History David Hackett Fischer Books

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Washington Crossing Pivotal Moments in American History David Hackett Fischer Books

This is an excellent piece of historical research which won the Pulitzer Prize. The research is first rate and when combined with the literary skill of its author, the result is one of the best history books written in the 21st century. I was ecstatic to read this book. As I began I could tell early in the first chapter I was reading a really good narrative account. I really have to commend David Fischer for this work. Fischer is the Earl Warren Professor of History at Brandeis University. This is his eighth historical monograph. He has written on several aspects of American History, but tends to concentrate on the American Revolution era.

One of the complaints we hear about history books is that they are hard to read and many are. Fischer has written enough books to develop a good writing style and has learned to write so that the general public can read the works. This is a major defining point for historians who often are not understood by the public. Some are not able to move beyond academic writing styles, but as this book proves, Fischer has moved past that point and that is a very good thing.

Normally, I do not read too much military history, but this book is the exception to my policy. The narrative sets up the battles that took place at New York, Trenton, and Princeton as well as covers what took place afterword. Instead of being nothing but military history, Fischer takes pains to include the political and human aspect of the events in question. The analysis is heavily dependent upon primary sources, specifically personal correspondence. I kept noticing what was being used as evidence throughout the book and it was plainly obvious that personal correspondence drove Fischer’s interpretations.

I was very happy to see that he also did not bring up John Adams’ phantom list of Americans to be executed when he was mentioning the events in the New York City campaign. To me, that showed Fischer was not using secondary sources as his inspiration, but instead using the primary sources almost exclusively. (I am pretty sure that the list was a figment of John Adams’ vanity as no one else ever mentioned it). It is also plain to see that Fischer actually walked the grounds he was describing in the book. I noticed his maps reflected both the modern and past details.

This is definitely a must read book for anyone who studies the American Revolution. Fischer’s work answers some questions I had about this particular event as well as reveals what is legend and what is factual. History is often seen through the legendary lens which results in severe distortions, but not in this book.


Tags : Amazon.com: Washington's Crossing (Pivotal Moments in American History) (0000195170342): David Hackett Fischer: Books,David Hackett Fischer,Washington's Crossing (Pivotal Moments in American History),Oxford University Press,0195170342,Biographies & Memoirs - Biographies,Military,Military - General,United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800),USA,Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.) - History - Revolution, 1775-1783,Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.);History.,Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.);History;Revolution, 1775-1783.,United States;History;1775-1783, Revolution.,Washington, George - Headquarters - Pennsylvania - Valley Forge,1732-1799,American history: c 1500 to c 1800,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Military,Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.),General Adult,HISTORY Military General,HISTORY United States Revolutionary Period (1775-1800),Headquarters,History,History - Military War,History, American | Colonial & Revolutionary,HistoryAmerican,HistoryMilitary - United States,History: American,Military - United States,Non-Fiction,Pennsylvania,Revolution, 1775-1783,UNIVERSITY PRESS,USA,United States,United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800),United States - Revolutionary War,United States;History;1775-1783, Revolution.,Valley Forge,Washington, George - Headquarters - Pennsylvania - Valley Forge,Washington, George,,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Military,HISTORY Military General,HISTORY United States Revolutionary Period (1775-1800),HistoryMilitary - United States,Military - United States,United States - Revolutionary War,History - Military War,1732-1799,Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-De,Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.),Headquarters,Pennsylvania,Revolution, 1775-1783,Valley Forge,Washington, George,,History,History: American,American history: c 1500 to c 1800

Washington Crossing Pivotal Moments in American History David Hackett Fischer Books Reviews

History books on the American Revolution do not get better than this. In Washington's Crossing Fischer discloses the true difference between what Washington and his men fought for and what we now say they fought for. Things have changed dramatically since our Revolution, and what people make of it now isn't accurate. Washington's Crossing attempts to adjust our viewpoint of Washington and his army.

Fischer is also able to convey the pickle the British found themselves in. Their viewpoints and ideology are critical to understanding how the Revolution came about and why the Americans won.

Excellent in every way. Easy to read, comprehensive in scope, excellent in research. The maps are valuable as well. Very highly recommended.

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David Hackett Fischer has done an excellent job of supporting his thesis - that Washington's bold maneuvers on Christmas Day of 1776 and the next days and weeks were absolutely vital to changing the momentum of the Revolutionary and preventing an early termination to the fight for independence by the continental forces. His book is well written throughout and it is hard to pick out highlights, but the following are some of the elements of the book that I consider memorable.

The painting by Emmanuel Leutze is praised for dramatically symbolizing how the Battle of Trenton and the Revolutionary War were "a collision between two discoveries about the human condition that were made in the early modern era." One discovery was that a society based on liberty could actually work and the other was that soldiers (and other citizens) could function effectively, responsibly, and creatively if they were trained not as servants or robots, but as willing participants.

Mr. Fischer devotes several chapters to the British forces, including the Hessians. He points out that the British army was experienced, disciplined, and put together to be successful. The fifteen British generals on Staten Island were "on the average forty-eight years old in 1776, with thirty years of military service. By comparison, the twenty-one American generals who opposed them in New York were forty-three years old, with two years of military service." Its primary leaders, Cornwallis and the Howe brothers were sympathetic to the American cause, but were still committed to terminating the revolution as efficiently and quickly as possible.

The raw numbers that summarize the three battles might not have been dramatic, but the effect on the momentum and attitudes were monumental. At Trenton on December 26, 1776, the Americans won a decisive victory. Twenty two Hessians were killed and 896 captured. Washington's initial guess was that Americans had "two officers and one or two privates wounded," but Fischer points out that many more died of exhaustion, exposure and illness. Total losses at the second battle of Trenton, initiated by General Cornwallis one week later, were 100 Americans, 140 Hessians, and 225 British troops. Then at Princeton, British casualties (killed, wounded, and captured) were 450 as compared to American casualties of 70. Then the forage wars of the winter of 1777 were also significant, but probably would have been less effective if not for the impact on morale of the Trenton and Princeton victories.

The difference between Washington and Cornwallis was meaningful. Cornwallis tended to dictate strategy to his officers, while Washington listened to his officers and requested suggestions. It seems that Washington's style was successful in building consensus while still resulting in great respect from the soldiers.

Besides George Washington, there were many other American officers whose roles were important. Three that stood out were
* Colonel John Cadwalader (1742 - 1786) was commander of all of the Philadelphia Associators (militia), who was to cross the Delaware several miles south of Trenton, but was unable to get his artillery across because of the heavy ice. He did, however, play a significant role in the second battle of Trenton and the battle of Princeton.
* Colonel John Trumbull (1756 - 1843) was 20 years old in 1776 and fought at Trenton and Princeton and, after the war, did wonderful paintings of Washington and the New Jersey battles.
* Captain Charles Willson Peale (1741 - 1827) commanded a company of Philadelphia Associators in the second battle of Trenton and the battle of Princeton and, also after the war did wonderful paintings of Washington and the New Jersey battles.

Mr. Fischer concludes his book with some excellent appendices, including a wonderful Historiography that discusses the literature, paintings and sculpture that have been inspired by the events in the book. Of course, the paintings of Trumbull and Peale are an important part of the Historiography.

The only issue that I have with Mr. Fischer is his statement on page 367, “Americans … were deeply suspicious of power and hated to pay taxes, a major weakness in the War of Independence. Then, as now, sleazy politicians pandered to that prejudice.” Americans were motivated to fight for independence because they had seen power and taxes misused. That motivation helped soldiers and others overcome substantial hardships to be successful in their revolution. And, after the war, their experience with misused power and taxes gave them a vision to set up a revolutionary government with limited powers and a system of checks and balances. So, even though Mr. Fischer criticizes this “prejudice,” some prejudices – such as a prejudice against injustice, a prejudice against tyranny, and a prejudice against irresponsible government – are admirable qualities.
This is an excellent piece of historical research which won the Pulitzer Prize. The research is first rate and when combined with the literary skill of its author, the result is one of the best history books written in the 21st century. I was ecstatic to read this book. As I began I could tell early in the first chapter I was reading a really good narrative account. I really have to commend David Fischer for this work. Fischer is the Earl Warren Professor of History at Brandeis University. This is his eighth historical monograph. He has written on several aspects of American History, but tends to concentrate on the American Revolution era.

One of the complaints we hear about history books is that they are hard to read and many are. Fischer has written enough books to develop a good writing style and has learned to write so that the general public can read the works. This is a major defining point for historians who often are not understood by the public. Some are not able to move beyond academic writing styles, but as this book proves, Fischer has moved past that point and that is a very good thing.

Normally, I do not read too much military history, but this book is the exception to my policy. The narrative sets up the battles that took place at New York, Trenton, and Princeton as well as covers what took place afterword. Instead of being nothing but military history, Fischer takes pains to include the political and human aspect of the events in question. The analysis is heavily dependent upon primary sources, specifically personal correspondence. I kept noticing what was being used as evidence throughout the book and it was plainly obvious that personal correspondence drove Fischer’s interpretations.

I was very happy to see that he also did not bring up John Adams’ phantom list of Americans to be executed when he was mentioning the events in the New York City campaign. To me, that showed Fischer was not using secondary sources as his inspiration, but instead using the primary sources almost exclusively. (I am pretty sure that the list was a figment of John Adams’ vanity as no one else ever mentioned it). It is also plain to see that Fischer actually walked the grounds he was describing in the book. I noticed his maps reflected both the modern and past details.

This is definitely a must read book for anyone who studies the American Revolution. Fischer’s work answers some questions I had about this particular event as well as reveals what is legend and what is factual. History is often seen through the legendary lens which results in severe distortions, but not in this book.