A Few Thoughts on Ken Burns' The American Revolution

This past week, I watched Ken Burns' six-part documentary The American Revolution on PBS. 

Well, I should qualify that statement somewhat. Although I tuned into all six episodes, I actually dozed off during three of the six installments and missed some significant chunks of the documentary. I may very well rewatch these episodes but will need to do so during the daytime hours.

It is not for lack of interest in the subject. Although I think it might be a combination of Peter Coyote's narration, the music and the languid pace which made me conk out. Perhaps I have also reached an age where I cannot go past a certain hour before I need to go to bed or bed will come for me.

Of course, some of it depends on the subject matter. I was wide awake when it came to Burns' 2022 documentary The U.S. and The Holocaust. Indeed, I saw a preview of that documentary when Burns promoted it at Symphony Hall. I also found his 2017 documentary on The Vietnam War quite compelling. I also had a generally favorable view of his 2016 two-part mini-series Jackie Robinson. However, his 2009 documentary The National Parks: America's Best Idea is the perfect cure for insomnia. 

As to The American Revolution, I come at this with the perspective of someone who spent his formative years in Canada. Yet in about three years from now, barring any dramatic life changes, I will have lived in this country longer than I have lived in Canada.

As a resident of Massachusetts, I live in the cradle of the American Revolution as the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord. I have visited Minuteman National Historic Park in Concord on a couple of occasions during my time here. The first two episodes focused on Massachusetts, and it is always a delight to get further insight into local history while knowing the proximate areas where these events took place. The Boston Tea Party occurred less than a mile from where I work. 

I mention all this because the American Revolution was fought between Patriots and Loyalists, the latter of whom would eventually become United Empire Loyalists. Many of these Loyalists or United Empire Loyalists would later call Canada home preferring peace, order and good government over life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

Although the Patriots ostensibly stood for the high ideals of self-government of the people, by the people and for the people, they were not particularly tolerant of Loyalists and often committed violence against Loyalists including tarring and feathering. It isn't to say that the Loyalists didn't commit their share of violence against the Patriots, but most attacks were carried about by the Patriots against the Loyalists.

At the time of the American Revolution, many people residing in the Americas tried to stay out of it and those who did choose sides generally did so out of self-interest or as an act of vengeance. Idealism decidedly took a back seat. For Black and Indigenous peoples, choosing between the Patriots and the Loyalists was a question of choosing the lesser of two evils. 

Of course, the Patriots would prevail, and a Republic was born. It is a Republic which has contributed much to the world for nearly 250 years. But all things must come to an end. While America might continue to exist, it will likely do so in name only as President Trump turns this country from a Republic to an authoritarian state no different than Russia or China. 

We know live in a world where information can travel the globe in minutes. Whereas during the time of the American Revolution it would take months for news to travel across the Atlantic Ocean. Not only was there no social media, but there was also scarcely any media at all save for newspapers and pamphlets along with word of mouth. Physical travel was only possible by land or by water. I suspect that most people born in this century have little to any appreciation for these facts. Mind you, it doesn't help matters that our education system places very little emphasis on history except from an ideological perspective which fails to convey the big picture. 

Ken Burns has made an effort to rectify the matter, but it involves the commitment of time and the people who need to learn about this history the most are the least likely to be receptive to it.