This six
part 12-hour documentary on the American Revolution from Ken Burns may well
be more than most can digest, but I found it fascinating. There is much I
had forgotten and even more that I had never learned. This is not your hip-hooray
version of the war of independence that most of us Americans are taught in
school, but equal portioned slices of heroism and venality. And I expect
much to the discomfort of MAGA viewers is the filmmakers DEI approach to
this. There is much space made for the stories of blacks/slaves, Native Americans
and women and how they fared in these times. It also takes the time to follow
the stories of just ordinary people who either joined the army or were witnesses
to the events. A couple things struck me.
1. If the English had simply pulled back
at the beginning to the status of colonies before they imposed taxes, the
chances are there never would have been a revolution. Most colonists were
happy to consider themselves English and loyal to the King. Today we could
be part of the Commonwealth!
2. How the hell did the Americans win?
They lose practically every battle. Washington is a terrible tactician and
makes mistake after mistake. But he has balls of steel and by personality
alone keeps the Continental Army together though they rarely got paid or
had supplies. The hell they go thru is horrific. He really only wins one
battle. Yorktown. The big one.
3. Though liberty and freedom are always
the banners, in truth Americans before the war probably had more freedom than
any people in the world including the English. The war was initially about
economics and it was the land or slave owners that led the way. As the war
progressed, it became more about liberty as much of the populace began to
hate the British and Hessians. Most of the fighting was done by the un-landed
of course.
4. It was astonishingly brutal. In particular
between the Patriots and the Loyalists. Much of the country remained loyal
to George III and they were terrorized and murdered by Patriots. Many Loyalists
joined the English army and there were battles between Americans.
5. Damn, Benedict Arnold was an incredibly
brave general. Wounded twice. Won the battle at Saratoga by rallying his men.
When he turns traitor for money, it is very sad.
It leaves us with Washington being elected
President but the Civil War is already being hinted at.
