What we learn from The American Revolution (2025)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mind you, I’ve only seen the first episode, but, my take away is that we have always been a country where the wealthy manipulate the poor to get richer.

True but the ultra-wealthy small minority hasn't always had control over our political system to the extent they do today. Government for the people and by the people was a legitimate thing for over 200 years.

It started with government for rich people.

They didn’t even want a popular vote for POTUS in the states.

[Anonymous]

George Washington was no hero.

I actually realized that the American revolution was the first civil war with neither against brother. People always say Lincoln’s War was the first American civil war, but it was not actually.

Adams paid the biggest part in putting this country together, not Washington. I loved how Abigail leaned into women’s rights. Of course she was ignored in the end.

The Brits actually took lienincy on the Americans, and could have won and ended the war sooner but never fully went all in, until of course it was too late. Either poor leadership or just not wanting to kill more people they considered their citizens.

Blacks were heavily used by both sides in the American revolution. Of course the Blacks who fought for the Patriots were mostly forced due to being owned. Whereas those who fought for the Loyalist volunteered hoping for emancipation at the conclusion of the war.

The Brits honored their pledge and did resettle a lot of Blacks in Canada after the British defeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure PBS took k liberty with the truth..

PBS didn’t create the series. Ken Burns did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mind you, I’ve only seen the first episode, but, my take away is that we have always been a country where the wealthy manipulate the poor to get richer.

True but the ultra-wealthy small minority hasn't always had control over our political system to the extent they do today. Government for the people and by the people was a legitimate thing for over 200 years.

It started with government for rich people.

They didn’t even want a popular vote for POTUS in the states.

I see the reasoning for that--direct democracy can be a wildcard compared to representative. Look at Brexit.
On the other hand, we would easily vote in universal healthcare and gun control if we all actually had a chance to vote on it rather than our shit representatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure PBS took k liberty with the truth..

PBS didn’t create the series. Ken Burns did.

Case in point. It’s an attempt to rewrite history. There are in depth documents by the founding fathers, who’s writings were ignored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure PBS took k liberty with the truth..

PBS didn’t create the series. Ken Burns did.

Case in point. It’s an attempt to rewrite history. There are in depth documents by the founding fathers, who’s writings were ignored.

Which ones? You can't just throw out this nonsense without any evidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I actually realized that the American revolution was the first civil war with neither against brother. People always say Lincoln’s War was the first American civil war, but it was not actually.

There is an interesting hypothesis that the Revolution and American Civil War were just continuations of the English Civil War.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Takeaways from PBS The American Revolution (2025) that relates to our time now?

My first insight:
Democrats (or either major party) needs to focus on
Rights of people are inherent
Humans are important
No one is entitled to pain-free life, but entitled to basic rights

A right/entitlement we deserve better is freedom from corruption.

Take this and apply to to AI, to healthcare, to immigration, careers and jobs.

Rather ironic when Conservatives have argued for many of these, but Progressives have elevated the collectivism over individual liberty.

Are you really free if there are thousands of hungry people outside your comfortable compound getting angrier by the day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure PBS took k liberty with the truth..

PBS didn’t create the series. Ken Burns did.

Case in point. It’s an attempt to rewrite history. There are in depth documents by the founding fathers, who’s writings were ignored.

Which ones? You can't just throw out this nonsense without any evidence.

Republicans do that 24x7. They just say whatever fits their narrative, facts be damned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure PBS took k liberty with the truth..

PBS didn’t create the series. Ken Burns did.

Case in point. It’s an attempt to rewrite history. There are in depth documents by the founding fathers, who’s writings were ignored.

No, it’s an attempt to tell the history more honestly than before, telling it as it was, relying in large part on the written words of the founding fathers and those who fought the war and lived the war, including women, slaves, Natives, British, and other “forgotten” people.

I do realize, as an amateur historian with a college degree in the subject, that some people feel personally threatened when someone presents something other than the “Great (white) Man” theory of history they learned as young children, or they point out that the humans that founded our country had some pretty significant flaws as humans. But I find that intelligent people do appreciate a more balanced telling of what happened and can appreciate that people who are capable of greatness are also capable of abhorrent behavior by the standards of the day as well.