George Marshall

ENG 251 American Literature

Movie Review on “1776”

This movie is about a series of congressional meetings between the 13 colonies to discuss the legislation on declaring independence from England. It is of a “quest” of John Adams, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson to persuade the members of Congress that deny the declaration will work. Throughout the movie this is achieved through Adams’ thorough and intense preaching to the delegates in Congress that the colonies are under a physical and mutual war with Great Britain. The only way to stop the people’s suffrage of Britain’s grip on them is through a standing of all 13 colonies to declare themselves as free and independent states.

This movie shows great resemblance to how the views and opinions of the colonists were. In this time, many of the people were not pleased by the king’s harsh treatment of their rights. Therefore, the wants and needs of the colonists were up to the leaders in Congress. Some delegates, such as from Pennsylvania and Delaware, did not want to start a rebellion simply on the fact of facing a large British army as well as their belief that such an issue would be considered treason. One person such as John Dickinson, representative to PN, held strong opposition to independence. Having this, it took persuasion and debate to answer the question of what would be better for the people: Free and natural rights for all mankind, or to live under a monarchy of taxes and despair. Of course, all of the colonists were persuaded that freedom was important and voted to adopt the declaration. This was the first important step in creating our country.

Also in the movie, the virtues of war with the great empire are shown through the words of General Washington in his dispatches. The words tell of a British army of mass proportion, and the great challenge ahead with a Colonial army consisting of very young and old men, men who are not able bodied for such a task. Also, there were reports of the soldiers going wild in the cities and not doing their duties. This took great discipline from Washington to make a strong Continental army. But despite the unnecessary play, it shows the courage of the colonists to take on such an important step in attempting to become free: To challenge such a great country and break from its hold in order to establish it’s own. The road of war ahead would indeed be bloody and hard on the Colonists as they fought for their opinions and beliefs.