Ken Burns, the acclaimed documentarian, has released a 12-hour series titled "The American Revolution," which premiered on PBS in November. The series is being re-broadcast as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary of independence. Burns suggests that many Americans hold a sentimental view of the nation's origin, often simplifying it to issues of taxes and representation. However, his documentary deepens this understanding by incorporating elements like the seizure of Native American land and the oftenviolent realities of the period.
The documentary has garnered significant attention, with an estimated 20 million viewers and over 4 billion minutes streamed on all platforms by early February. It even made the Nielsen top 10 streaming list for the first time for PBS. Burns emphasizes the complexity of the Revolution, noting that factors beyond simple taxation, such as colonists' desire for westward expansion into Native American territories—which the British resisted due to the cost of protection—contributed to the conflict.
Burns suggests that democracy itself was more of an inadvertent byproduct of the Revolution rather than a planned outcome. He highlights figures like George Washington, portraying him as a deeply flawed but inspiring leader who was crucial in uniting disparate regions and famously relinquished power after the war and his presidency, setting a precedent for the office's importance over individuals. Burns believes that understanding these historical complexities can provide calm and courage during contemporary crises, viewing the current political climate as a "supreme test" on par with the Civil War, the Great Depression, and World War II, noting that the country has overcome greater divisions in the past. He argues that American history, even in its less flattering aspects, offers valuable lessons for present challenges.
He also points out that the U.S. historically harbored “dreams of empire,” much like European powers, overtly taking over “300 separate sovereign nations” of Native American tribes on the continent, a narrative often suppressed in traditional accounts. Burns aims to present a more comprehensive and “confusing” (in the sense of being multifaceted) history, believing it is more interesting and accurate. The series is available to stream for free on PBS until July 12.
