‘The American Revolution’ presents a fresh picture of America’s complex founding

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I still remember when Ken Burns’ “The Civil War” came out in 1990 – it was a total game-changer. It wasn’t just a documentary; it defined how historical documentaries could be made. And honestly, everything he’s done since feels like a continuation of that style. It’s a really deliberate pace, almost mesmerizing, and he uses these incredible scanned photos and paintings. He’ll have actors read actual letters and documents from the time, and you’re almost always guided by Peter Coyote’s voice – it’s just a really immersive experience.

Ken Burns, known for his in-depth documentaries on American history, is back with a new six-part series, “The American Revolution,” which begins Sunday on PBS. This series acts as a kind of introduction to his earlier work, exploring the Revolutionary War not just as a fight for independence, but also as a civil war, and highlighting the roles played by enslaved African Americans and Indigenous people. Burns has previously tackled related topics in films about figures like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, as well as broader series on events like the Vietnam War and World War II. But this new series feels essential, as it covers the very foundations of the American story – a story Burns has consistently and masterfully told through documentaries about subjects ranging from the Dust Bowl to baseball to the National Parks. For me, his films collectively represent a complete course in American history.

Ken Burns, directing alongside Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, isn’t an academic historian himself, but he’s excellent at bringing experts together. He assembled a diverse group of historians and scholars – including women, Black Americans, and Native Americans – each offering unique perspectives and specialized knowledge. The series features letters, diaries, speeches, and other historical documents brought to life by a remarkable cast, including Meryl Streep, Kenneth Branagh, Morgan Freeman, and many others – with Paul Giamatti returning as John Adams. Together, they paint a nuanced and complicated portrait of the American Revolution, moving beyond simple patriotic narratives. Burns and his team weren’t interested in a straightforward story; that’s why “The American Revolution” (written with Geoffrey C. Ward) spans twelve hours.

This book covers all the key events of the American Revolution, from the initial attempts to resolve issues with the King of England to the Declaration of Independence. It details familiar stories like the Boston Massacre and Tea Party (with a note on how the Boston Tea Party has been historically portrayed in relation to Native Americans), Paul Revere’s ride, Thomas Paine’s influential pamphlet, and George Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware. It also explores the roles of important figures like Benedict Arnold (highlighting his earlier successes), John Paul Jones, and the young Marquis de Lafayette. Importantly, the book emphasizes the vital financial and naval support provided by France. Even if you think you know these stories, they are presented in a fresh and engaging way.

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The creators of the six-episode documentary series explain that the events it covers are often seen through a romanticized lens, filled with both myths and fond memories. This led them to discover some unexpected viewpoints.

It’s been noted repeatedly that the promise of liberty wasn’t extended to women, enslaved people, or Native Americans during the Revolutionary War. While African Americans fought alongside the colonists at the start of the conflict, many more joined the British, hoping for freedom – only to be returned to their owners after the colonists won. (Interestingly, colonists themselves sometimes used the term “slavery” to describe their relationship with England.) According to historian Darren Bonaparte, for the Mohawk people, the war was simply about survival, and it wasn’t clear which side would offer the best chance of that. History shows us the outcome: women contributed significantly to the war effort, tending to the wounded and burying the dead, and eventually gained the right to vote in 1920.

Life is full of ups and downs, and fortunes can change quickly. The Revolutionary War was a particularly brutal time, marked by widespread violence – including sexual assault, lawlessness, theft, and fires – which Burns effectively portrays. Large numbers of both soldiers and civilians were constantly moving, depending on their loyalties. The American army faced serious problems, with soldiers rebelling, deserting, or simply going home after their service ended (especially since they weren’t being paid). During a harsh winter at Valley Forge, which temporarily became one of America’s largest cities, Washington worried his army wouldn’t survive, fearing they would either starve, fall apart, or scatter in search of food. Of course, history shows that they ultimately prevailed.

“The American Revolution” stands out among David Burns’s works because it focuses on the war’s progression, detailing each battle. The program uses both historical and modern 3D maps, with visual cues like arrows and colored bars, to show how the American and British armies moved and were positioned. It also incorporates original battlefield sketches, large-scale paintings created after the war, portraits of key leaders, watercolors, and short, subtle live-action scenes to vividly tell the story.

Like Ken Burns’ other documentaries, this film tells a story through many personal accounts. However, George Washington, the army’s commander, is the central figure – just as he was in real life, standing remarkably tall at 6 feet 3 inches when the average man was 5 feet 7. The film portrays him as the force that united the fledgling nation’s different groups. While he made tactical errors, his strong leadership often turned the tide of battle simply by his presence.

It’s widely known that George Washington, like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, owned enslaved people. However, I recently learned that Washington, as one of the richest men in America, also profited from speculating in land taken from Native Americans – a practice shared by Jefferson, Franklin, and Patrick Henry. I was also surprised to discover his order to completely destroy the villages of the Seneca and Cayuga tribes, who had allied with the British, with instructions to reject any peace talks until their settlements were utterly ruined. As historian William Hogeland puts it, Washington was intensely focused on his own advancement, which was characteristic of his social class – he simply became the most famous example of it.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and honestly, with things feeling a bit shaky for democracy right now, it’s striking how much the warnings of the Founding Fathers about manipulative leaders are playing out. It feels like there’s a real attack on established history, with some people trying to rewrite things to avoid discomfort. But honestly, watching this documentary, “The American Revolution,” feels like a real celebration. Despite all its flaws, our country has lasted this long, and that’s something to acknowledge.

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2025-11-14 14:03