Ken Burns Explores America’s Birth

Six months after its 250th anniversary, the United States of America is still in its infancy. This is an empire that is constantly moving and changing, trying to decide what it will be. Prolific documentarian Ken Burns and co-directors Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt bring America's bloody origin story to life in PBS'huge, very detailed'American RevolutionThe six-part, 12-hour documentary series, spanning three decades and two continents, is a treasure trove of often forgotten history that illustrates who we were and illuminates who we are as a country.

“The American Revolution,” as told by Burns' frequent collaborator Peter Coyote, began long before that fateful day in July 1776 when the Second Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. The directors begin the story almost 20 years ago, when Benjamin Franklin first publicly called for the British colonies to form a union. Franklin's proposal was initially rejected, but as the series highlights, events in subsequent years, including unfair taxation by the British government, the French and Indian War, the Boston Massacre, and later the Boston Tea Party, led the self-described patriotic colonists to return to Franklin's plan.

Like many of Burns's works, such as The Civil War, American Buffalo, and even Jazz, The American Revolution is as complex as it is challenging. In the absence of photographs or other contemporary images, the production team used several techniques to bring the period and hard-won battles to life. Using animated maps and portraits, voiceovers from prominent speakers including Keith David, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and Samuel L. Jackson, and commentary from historians and scholars such as Vincent Brown and Maggie Blackhawk, the filmmakers and writer Geoffrey Ward create a multi-dimensional tapestry of the era. Moreover, by hearing first-hand accounts from loyalists and the English crown, enslaved and free blacks, indigenous people, women, and patriot fighters from the 13 colonies, the series shows how diverse America has always been and how this war affected everyone.

“The American Revolution” goes deep, almost tediously. It's also full of thrilling scenes, betrayals, and shocking twists and turns. Episode 3, “Times That Try Men's Souls (July 1776 – January 1777),” is particularly interesting. The episode primarily focuses on the early battles, including the Battle of Trenton, a decisive American victory that boosted morale in the fledgling Continental Army. Viewers are immersed in the horrors of a war fought face to face by landless men armed with muskets, unreliable rifles and terrifying bayonets. George Washington, who commanded the Americans, often made costly mistakes, and soldiers often went months without pay, proper food, or clothing—even though they were exposed to the elements or deadly smallpox. (Washington later required all soldiers to be vaccinated as part of an early version of the vaccination mandate.)

In true Burns fashion, The American Revolution is exhaustively thorough, leaving no popular figure or person on the periphery unattended. By portraying the war not just from an American perspective, but from a global perspective, The American Revolution presents a holistic picture of this country at its core. It was an idea that eventually became a reality. The series also highlights the cracks in our ongoing union and suggests how we can overcome our misconceptions as a nation so that it can survive and truly become the place of freedom it was intended to be. However, for now, the American Revolution continues.

“American Buffalo” premieres on PBS on November 16, with remaining episodes airing on consecutive nights.