The American Revolution: A Fight for Citizenship

Ken Burns, a well-known documentary filmmaker, has spent a lot of time exploring important moments in American history. He has created films about the Civil War, the Holocaust, and jazz music. Now, he has turned his attention to the American Revolution, which he believes is one of the most important events in history. In an interview, Burns talked about his new six-part series on the American Revolution. He said he wanted to show how the revolution created a new idea: citizens with responsibilities. Before this, most people were subjects under authoritarian rule. The series tells the story of the revolution through the eyes of many different people, including political and military leaders, Native soldiers, and both free and enslaved African soldiers.The first episode of the series airs on PBS. Burns also discussed what he learned while making the series. He said the Founding Fathers thought about future Americans when they created the country. They believed in lifelong learning and the pursuit of happiness, which they saw as a marketplace of ideas. Burns also talked about the brutality of the revolution. He said the fighting was often violent and brutal, but this makes the revolution even more significant. Burns also pointed out that division has always been a part of American history. During the revolution, people were killing their neighbors. He said this is something people often forget. Burns believes the series serves as a reminder of why America's experiment with democracy is so special. He said the Founding Fathers talked about future generations and the importance of understanding what they thought was important.