In the past week or so, I had an opportunity to view a BBC TV Mini-series called Rebels and Redcoats, which focused on the American Revolutionary War in the 1770′s and 1780′s. I have always been a fan of history and enjoy learning more on the subject. I would not, could not, consider myself an expert on the American Revolution by any means, but I probably know more on the subject than the “average” American, I would say.
Frankly, I had never heard of this TV mini-series before, but last week I was thumbing through a guide of TV shows, looking for something that I might enjoy viewing, and came upon a listing for this show. I almost passed it by, not having a huge interest. But, then it struck me. Hmm… BBC. BBC? Of course, the BBC is the British Broadcasting Corporation. The thought came to my mind… “Hmm… I have never thought about the American Revolution from the British Standpoint!” So, I decided that this might be an interesting show to watch.
The end of the American Revolution. The British Surrender to the Americans as the French look on.
The show was a series of four 1 hour programs. As I sat down to watch Episode 1, which was entitled “The Shot Heard Around the World” I was ready to see what this was all about. The show was hosted by British Historian Richard Holmes. He seemed a nice and likable fellow, but as he got started in Episode 1, I found myself feeling a bit hostile toward him. I could not really understand my feelings, because I have no anti-British feelings. After all, I am an American, and the British are among our very closest of allies. We have a rich history of cooperation with the Brits. Of course, not during the American Revolution, though, because the Americans were fighting against the British for our freedom and liberty at that time. So, as Holmes began the show, he was in Boston, MA, and he was talking about the American Rebels who were going against the British and trying to “stir things up” in the colonies so as to start a fight against the British. He had some harsh words to say for American heroes like Samuel Adams and other early voices in the revolutionary movement. In fact, he called them “propagandists.” I felt offended and angry at some of the things he was saying.
British General Cornwallace
Of course, this was all coming from a British perspective, and I was looking at this through an American perspective. We were on polar ends of the debate, something which I was not used to for a Brit and an American.
After the first episode aired, I spent some time thinking about my feelings and reactions to the show. I did find the show quite interesting and eagerly awaited the next episodes. As I analyzed my thinking, I calmed down a bit, and wanted to just try to watch the show dispassionately to see what was said, and compare that to the things I learned during my American Education. I realized, of course, that the education I received may be tainted a bit in favor of the American side, while the TV show seemed most certainly tainted toward the British. Naturally.
One of the comparisons that Holmes kept bringing to the forefront during the show was that the American Revolution had close parallels to the Vietnam War in the 1960′s and 70′s. Hmm… I had never thought of that before. How could it be.
Of course, the comparison was that the British forces were equivalent to the US forces in Vietnam, while the American Revolutionaries were equivalent to the Viet Cong. This kind of sat uneasily with me. I am a bit young to say that the Vietnam War was the war of my generation, yet I was just becoming a teenager as the conflict ended. As many Americans would testify, the Vietnam War was a very decisive subject among American people. The American Revolution would have nearly complete support as an honorable war among Americans, though. So, how could the two be compared with each other?
Well, from a British perspective, the analogy was pretty spot on, as I kept listing to the comparisons throughout the series. When we Americans went into Vietnam, we were the powerful force, a world power, yet the lowly Viet Cong beat us, or at least fought to a draw, depending on the perspective. Same thing in the Revolution, the Brits were no doubt the world Superpower at the time, yet a rag tag band of American “rebels” (the show was constantly calling the Americans rebels, which I suppose they were from the Brit view) beat the Brits. Another comparison which was given was that in Vietnam the Americans won almost all of the battles, yet lost the war. Same thing with the Revolution, the Brits won the vast majority of the battles, yet lost the war there. Probably the most accurate comparison was that the British were fighting in a land that they were not familiar with, just as the Americans did in Vietnam. Being unfamiliar was a disadvantage and helped the superpower be overwhelmed by a less powerful force. Anyway, there were plenty of such Vietnam War vs. Revolutionary War comparisons, and the more I listened, the more I started agreeing with the comparison.
In the end, this was a highly interesting TV series for me, and I learned a thing or two – both about the War itself and also about myself. I had never considered the war from the British perspective, nor, do I think, have most Americans.
So, what does this have to do with Habits for Smart People? Well, it is a good habit to view a problem or a situation from multiple viewpoints. Don’t get pigeonholed into a single point of view if you are making an evaluation, if you do that, your final results may not be accurate.
"The American Revolution would have nearly complete support as an honorable war among Americans, though" – that is the received wisdom that has been passed down, but is quite far from true. No more than 1/3 of the Americans at the time supported the revolution. Many fought with the British or fled to Canada.
Hi Miguk – When I wrote the part that you quoted, I was talking about opinions today, in 2010. I agree with you that at the time, the Revolution was very much a wedge issue among those living in the colonies, and was in fact, the first Civil War. But, in terms of today's opinion, most Americans would not have any problems supporting what happened in 1776 and beyond. That's my opinion, anyway.
Oh in that case I agree 100 percent. Funny how most people think that Canada is just an extension of the U.S., but most of the Canadians are desendents who either left or were driven out of America, so there is still some lingering anti-Americanism there
Hi Miguk – A big percentage of Canadians are of French descent, and also a number were also from England back in the same time of the US colonies.
Thus even more latent anti-Americanism
I personally believe that the U.S. 'Founding Fathers" was one of the greatest collection of thinkers ever assembled in one place at one time. They were certainly men of their time, but they thought far ahead and pulled off the amazing feats of defeating the British, forming a government, and composing documents of historic and hopefully eternal importance: The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution.
Hi Mike – After watching this show, albeit British, and some other reading that I've done, it would seem that today we look back on these founding fathers in a more positive light than many of them were looked upon with in their day. Of course, I look back and think what wonderful men they were to come up with a wonderful free system of government. But, back in their days, these men were quite controversial, and some were even though of harshly by their compatriots.
I feel that they did a great disservice to the nation by dodging the issue of slavery.
They certainly avoided the issue to the point where another war had to be fought!
Like I said, they were men of their times….
Slavery, as terrible as it is and was, was part of life in almost every country/region on Earth at the time…Let's not demonize the Founding Fathers any more than anyone else for something that almost everyone was doing…
Slavery still exists in this world..And in America, it's known by another name: Pimping.
Yes, the Founding Fathers were flawed, yes, they did some things that are now considered very politically incorrect, yes, they neglected to do other things, but let's not discount their great achievements!
They set the ball rolling…Rome, and America, were not built in a day…
Hi Mike – If you felt that by my comment I "demonized" the founding fathers, then you must have misinterpreted me, because that was not my intention at all.
No, not you Bob!
We are cool.
I think Miguk sees things a little less rosey than I do I guess. I think that for all our flaws, in 1776 or 2010, we are a pretty great place!
Considering how effective Europe, Asia, and Africa have been at conflict resolution and human rights, America pales in comparison!
Oh you have misread me also. They brought forth an idea that has stood the test of time and bequeathed us a system that we can be proud of and is the envy of the world. I just noted that they did dodge the issue — knowingly so — just for the expedient of passing the Constitution. And the ironic part is then (as now) it was recognized as an immoral as well as an inefficient economic model but they failed to show the courage of their convictions. All men are created equal only applied to white men at that time I guess.
You are totally correct there Miguk, but like I said about Rome…
In hindsight, I think we may still not be able to say whether expediting the Constitution was worth the price of keeping slavery.
If the Founding Fathers had done away with slavery at that time, would they or could they have passed the Constitution?
What would this country be if we had abolished slavery at the time, but not passed the Constitution?
I just thank my lucky stars I am an American, here, now, forever.
I love the Philippines for different reasons, and my wife, like many of Bob's readers, is a Filipina. But I will always be an American, proud of it, warts and all…
Thank you Bob and Miguk for great conversation, as always!
Does anyone here get the Military History Channel?
Awesome programming last Sunday, about the mistreatment of black soldiers and sailors during WW2. The aftermath of ending slavery so late. These guys are heroes, and they amazingly harbor no ill will. Wise men these guys certainly are.
It's always so difficult to say what should or should not have happened after an event has occurred. One small change in history and everything changes. If you watch Star Trek at all, you know about this!
Hi Mike – As far as I know, that channel is not available here in the Philippines where I live.
May I write you a little letter privately?
Sure, Mike. I don't have a contact form on this site, but all of my others do, just click "Contact" on any of my websites and send it along.
I didn't realize that I had no contact link on this site, but I will be adding it.
Yes, I am amazed that they did and still give so much to the nation which fails to fully recognize their contributions.
I am also proud to be an American. But we can't be blind to the fault either.