Tonight at 8 p.m., PBS North Carolina will air the last episode of Ken Burns’ “The American Revolution” documentary series.
I have learned a great deal about the complex nature and widespread impact of the Revolution so far and have been struck by how so many Patriots stayed loyal to the cause of liberty when times were tough. Soldiers had few provisions, lived in frigid temperatures with little to eat in winter, and wore heavy wool uniforms in 95-degree heat in summer. Children were left with no father to provide for them at a time when there was no government safety net to provide basic needs of food and protection. General Washington wondered if he would end up with any soldiers who would fight with him.
Many Patriot militia members signed up for short stints of duty and had to make tough decisions about whether to stick around at the end of that time or go home to bring in crops.
Considering the bigger picture, I did not realize how France’s entry into the war in the late 1770s impacted global politics. It was fascinating to learn how that move opened the door for Spain to enter the conflict as well and what that meant for the British Empire’s position in the world.
Tonight, the focus of the documentary shifts to the Southern colonies, and North Carolina comes front and center. The episode will discuss how the Patriots began to get on a winning track that ultimately led to American victory at Yorktown. It will be fun to watch and learn even more.
As always, if you find the Burns documentary interesting and want to learn more about North Carolina’s role in the Revolution, watch the episodes online, read our blog series about the documentary, or listen to our “Revolutionary Roads” podcast.
