THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (2025)

                 The eagerly awaited documentary series “The American Revolution” premiered tonight. It has been long in the making. Directed by Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein, it covers the American Revolution starting with the British actions that led to the rebellion. The shooting lasted 165 days and took place in 150 locations. 100 new maps were created. The largest replica of a redoubt in America was built. The series is narrated by Peter Coyote and has an all-star roster of voices including Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Jeff Daniels, and Ethan Hawke.

                 The first episode is entitled “In Order to Be Free”. It starts off shaky by trying to link the Iroquois confederation with the Revolution. Ben Franklin did use it as a template for his urging the creation of a union. While true, it’s a stretch to link the Iroquois to the American republic. It comes off as an attempt to force Native Americans into the series. And yet, when it covers the French and Indian War nothing is said about most of the Indians siding with the French. However, it does focus on the anger of colonists when the British government prohibited settlement west of the Appalachians. This was one log on the fire that will become the revolution. Having taught the Revolution, I would not put relations with the Indians high on a list of causes of the Revolution. The series takes a similar approach to slavery in the colonies. This of course is used to up the irony that the colonists were fighting for liberty and yet they allowed slavery. That is certainly inexcusable, but I do not view it as a cause of the Revolution. This information would have been better placed in the discussion of the Declaration of Independence, specifically its reference to “all men are created equal.”

Early in the series we are introduced to George Washington. He will obviously be a central figure in the series. It will be interesting to see how many negative aspects of his personality and actions will be covered in the series. Most Americans will learn for the first time that Washington started the war and later came close to being killed with Braddock’s force in the wilderness of Pennsylvania. Washington’s bitterness about not being offered a commission in the British army is used to foreshadow his participation in the rebellion. Washington will be one amongst many key figures that are quoted in the series. Burns has managed to find some common people who left primary source material. I think we will see these individuals pop up occasionally to give a different perspective. I predict Joseph Plumb Martin will be a frequent source for what Continental soldiers went through.

The first episode covers from 1754 to 1775. It is outstandingly educational and covers all the greatest hits like the Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, and Boston Tea Party. It concludes with Lexington and Concord. This segment is excellent as it blends Burns’ famous location shots with reenactors. But the real strength of the series is the paintings that play the role photography played in the Civil War series. The paintings include portraits of all the historical figures. I did not realize that you can find numerous paintings for a power point on the Revolution. Another strength are the maps. The effort put into them is clear. The maps are animated with arrows showing movement. They are great.

The series will not disappoint. (Unless you are British.) So far it has not been overly patriotic. In fact, it has emphasized some negative aspects of the Revolution. It is not interested in making the British the villains. So far, I have not noticed any link to our current political situation. The series does not make a great case for the rebellion. Taxation without representations get a shout out, but the episode does not debate the causes. Perhaps this will come in the Declaration of Independence segment. Based on the coverage of Lexington and Concord, I look forward to the other battles.

GRADE = A