Fighting for Freedom: Revolution & Civil War

On the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier monument, located in a park near Philadelphia's Independence Hall, there reads an inscription, "Freedom is a light for which many have died in darkness." In the 18th century the idea of human liberty was considered a reckless, radical, subversive notion. Yet there was a growing belief, held by our Founding Fathers and others, that human beings possessed certain "inalienable" rights, which neither governments nor tyrants could usurp. This documentary, based on Joy Hakim's book Freedom: A History of US relates the epic tale of how the ideals of liberty, equality, and self-government spawned a daring, dangerous, still unfinished experiment in democratic government. Hosted by Katie Couric, the video describes the growing discontent American colonists felt under the heavy boot of King George III's policy of "taxation without representation," ultimately spurring citizen-soldiers to take up arms at Bunker Hill, Lexington, Concord, and Valley Forge. Of course, there was a contradiction at the heart of the Founding Fathers' declaration of democracy: "we the people" didn't include all the people, certainly not black slaves, and the film explores the young nation's attitudes about race and slavery, and the ambivalence blacks felt when asked to support the American Revolution. Other topics include the 1787 Constitutional Convention, early threats to American liberty, and the growing storm clouds gathering on the horizon as Americans realized that "a house divided against itself cannot stand"--causing a rift that split the country in the Civil War. Although this PBS-aired program occasionally plays like American history lite, its familiar story is well told, with colorful characters, good illustrations, expert testimony from historians, and lively readings from Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Whoopi Goldberg, Morgan Freeman, Robin Williams, and more. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)