I have watched this entire mini-series probably 7 or 8 times, and it never gets old. That said, WHAT A TREAT it is to see one of my favorite TH-camrs going over the series! Jared, keep up the awesome work!
Every time I reflect on the American Revolution, I remember two things. First, the colonials, with no standing army or extant navy or ranks of professional soldiers, picked a fight with the mightiest nation in Europe, possibly even the world. It reminds me of the country axiom of "going bear hunting with a switch." The sheer audacity of the concept boggles the mind. Second, the cost of failure. These men were more than aware of the price of losing the war. They risked everything--life, social standing, financial security of not only themselves but also of their families. From my perspective, that is why the public reading of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776 takes precedence rather than the vote on 2 July. They could have walked back the vote. It's a little tougher to deny a public announcement.
One thing I appreciated about this series was the accents. These people were still British, so it makes sense that they'd have accents that sound more British and Irish than everyone sounding like they're from either today's Boston, Brooklyn, Charleston, or Ohio, a state notorious for having no accent whatsoever as compared to the other 49.
Thank you! I am from NE Ohio and we absolutely do not have an accent lmao. Some people are convinced we must have a "midwest" accent - we don't lol. I appreciate you acknowledging that 😂
@@VotingBlue2024 well, you have an accent, but not to anyone in America. To anyone who isn't American you have an American accent. Just a very bland one.
@@cleverusername9369 I should have clarified - yes we have a broadly American accent to a foreign ear. But its the accent you hear on the national news...not the local. Its very boring. Lol.
@@Concetta20completely wrong, that’s a a modern Christian conservative myth. it comes from an Enlightenment world view. A liberal one, in the classical sense. Google John Locke and Bill of Rights 1689 and check out the wikis .
Being from Massachusetts the only reason I could think that the men leaving Breeds hill and going toward Braintree was that they where militia members that fought the British the month earlier May 1775 in the Grape Islands. British troops where landing looking for supply's and militia members from Braintree as well as Weymouth and Hingham drove them out.
Literally just returned from Williamsburg two weeks ago. We’ve been going for 25 years and only missed a few here and there. It was where we spent our honeymoon and have never stopped going. It’s so good to see the buildings and hear names I recognize AND bringing in the enslaved populace that Williamsburg is trying to portray more and more.
It was our history and should be told as it was. We love that place and history that goes with it. Dining at Christina Campbell's Tavern is always a treat.
@@daviddougan6961I'm more of a Shield's and King's Arms lover, but the historic area is my favorite place to be. My wife and I honeymooned there and have never stopped going. And watching the work on the historic location of the First Baptist Church site, undoing a wrong at how the historic area treated the site at the start of the project, is fantastic to watch.
Thank you for the series, I’ve always had a fair idea about what parts Liberty was taken but you guys do a good idea of explaining everything and adding context
Braintree Massachuset is South and West of Boston, for the Militia to return to Braintree would be a fairly lengthy Journey(they would have to avoid the most direct routes), probably would take more than a day to reach the Adam's residence . In the case of Knox moving the cannon to Dorchester Heights, that is actually the route they would have to take since the roads closer to the coast were not safe to take to reach Dorchester Heights, with is South and East of Boston, and the Adams more or less lived on the only road from the North that would reach Dorchester Heights(The modern roads County 3A, Newport Ave, and Hancock Ave didn't exist and bridges over Black's creek did not exist yet that close to the coast. Incidentally the road Knox had to take is now called Adams Street.
46:55 - Last fall, I finally got to go study abroad at the University of St. Andrews. During that semester, my father and I went to Inverness and visited the Culloden Battlefield. My tour guide asked me if I knew of any Jacobites who took part in the American Revolution. From a class I took at my own university, which included a day of mock debate on independence, I was able to answer that John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore, who had been part of the Jacobites and afterwards saw his father sent to the Tower of London while the rest of his family was place under house arrest, was the Royal Governor of Virginia during this time. He added that Hugh Mercer was a Jacobite who served under Washington in both the French & Indian War and the American Revolution.
I really enjoy this series, and I'm so happy to see you reviewing it! I love all the knowledge you and Emily are bringing to us. Keep up the awesome work!
Because of episode one I went ahead and watched the entire mini series. Truly excellent. I had never seen the entire thing until now. Excited to follow along now that I’ve seen it in its entirety.
In regards to what uniform Washington wore during the Second Continental Congress, the John Adam’s mini-series has him in the correct uniform. I recently read that he wore his Fairfax County militia uniform, which is the blue and buff uniform that he wears in John Adams. This eventually becomes the uniform for generals in the Continental Army. The blue and red uniform described is the Virginia Militia uniform which Washington wore during the French and Indian war. He is incorrectly shown wearing that uniform to the Second Continental Congress in the 1984 George Washington mini-series starring Barry Bostwick. I’ll see if I can find the piece that I read about this and add it to the comments. Thanks for the great content! Update: Found the info in a couple of places: "Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow and "Colonial American Troops, 1610-1774 (vol 1)" by Rene Chartrand... part of the Osprey Men-at-Arms series. According to both sources (no plagiarism!) in 1774, George Mason stood up the Fairfax County Independent Militia Company and Washington was elected as the commander. The blue and buff uniform colors were chosen for this unit because they were the colors of the English Whig Party.
To your point about the series being filmed mostly in Virginia, the Adams family farm set is located around Charlottesville and is still there to this day I believe. The front porch area was reused in 2011 in Spielberg's "Lincoln" when Lincoln and Grant have their conversation together while soldiers march by. My film class went there in 2010 to conduct some camera exercises and it was pretty cool.
Believe it or not, smallpox inoculation follows a similar procedure to this day. During my time in the country's service, a doctor used an implement (I was looking away due to queasiness) to jab a sampling of the disease into my left shoulder. It left an open wound that eventually scabbed over and left a small, circular scar, about the size of a housefly. Had to make sure the scab was properly disposed of.
Fantastic commentary by you and Emily. You make a great team. I would have loved to hear some commentary on Dickinson's decision to enlist-he's shown at the end in an officer's uniform but of course served as a private. Additionally, his reference to his former popularity deserves a gloss-prior to 1776 he was regarded one of the bolder and more eloquent voices for the rights of colonists. Maybe in another video? I'm definitely moving on to your commentaries on the other episodes of John Adams, one of my all-time favorites. I imagine your class would be a lot of fun to take.
A great deal of respect has to be heaped on John Dickinson. The Continental Congress made him a brigadier general, but all the politicking led to him resigning his commission and re-enlisting as a private in a militia. Despite the jab from Adams, Dickinson didn't let Quaker ideals get in the way of performing his duty.
I find it interesting she mentions some examples of people who freed their slaves and (rightly) calls out Jefferson for not feeling his, yet she never mentioned that Washington freed all his slaves in his will. That seems like an odd oversight when one is listing off people of that time who freed their slaves. Now of course freeing his slaves in his will is a bit late, he should have done it earlier. But still, it is a historical fact that Washington did free his slaves in his will, so it seems strange i indeed to not include him in the discussion of men who freed their slaves.
I started watching the series because of your series on it. I had watched a couple of the episodes a few years ago but lost interest and never came back (I tend to do that easily for movies/shows). Really liking it; I can see why it's acclaimed.
“1776” is my favorite film and musical. ❤❤ That and American Girl’s “Felicity” (the original Pleasant Company version) is what first got me into history. 18th century American history still has a special place in my heart. ☺️ And William Daniel’s will always be my favorite depiction of Adams.
I was but a young and impressionable lad of ten for our Bicentennial and the movie (and then the musical) 1776 set its hooks deep! What a wonderful movie! Howard Da Silva’s Benjamin Franklin will forever be the man in my minds eye! The first American! Should be required watching for every young history student.
12:30 Americans didn't "steal" English rights. We inherited them. The US founders wanted to preserve their rights as Englishmen, which led to the written US Constitution.
@@ReelHistory I'm an American and I long thought that the founders were inventing new rights when they rebelled against Britain. More recently, I learned that they understood that they were preserving rights that had been developed over centuries. I think you're right that many Americans perceive the rights expressed in our founding documents as uniquely American, but that's a misconception we should correct. I think Doherty was trying to do just that. I only object to the word "steal" and its negative connotations. Americans should be grateful for the understanding of individual rights we inherited from Britain.
I hope you continue this series! Nabby ends up marrying Pvt. John Hall from Episode 2 of Band of Brothers. The first time he showed up on screen I yelled "shut your f***ing guinea trap Gonorrhea" 😂
18:17 regarding the ages of these people, actually many were young, like in their twenties or even early twenties, that were in that Continental Congress. It's pretty crazy. Makes me feel pretty inadequate at 39, much less if you think of the average 21 year old today.
I'm wondering how you learned about Phillis Wheatley. I studied at the Longfellow house in Cambridge. That's the only place I could find her writings. Did you ever visit the Longfellow house? Also great understanding about Abigail Adams. Shes one of the greatest writers in American history.
Excellent analysis, as always. My thesis was on women's suffrage movement but so many of the original stirrings were here in the Revolution. Abigail and her letters were so important.
Richard Henry Lee actually wasn't an ancestor of Robert E. Lee. It's actually Henry Lee, known as "Light Horse Harry" for his service in the Revolution, who was Robert E Lee's father. It's definitely confusing...too many Lees!
So...we found this fun nugget from a Lee Family website that confirms your conclusion but at least explains our genealogical fumble: "Robert E. Lee was not a blood relation of any of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was born at Stratford Hall, which was the home of Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, both of whom signed the Declaration. But Lee’s father was Light Horse Harry Lee, who descended not from the Stratford line but the Leesylvania (located in northern Virginia) line of Lees. Light Horse Harry’s connection to Stratford was through his first wife, Matilda Ludwell Lee, the niece of Richard Henry and Francis Lightfoot Lee." So, Robert was born in Richard's house and shares his last name, but it not related by blood. Ha ha.
From my knowledge, in this time it would be inconceivable for an active duty militia officer (colonel, at that) to show himself in public, especially in official situations, without his uniform. He could do so, but it would be very strange.
Many people seem to like programs about 'how the game was going' I don't boring!! But this I do like. I also would have liked some comentary about the music and sounds but maybe I just need to keep watching for that. I really liked the violin in the intro. That really sounded a little before 1800, no Beethoven yet.
I enjoyed the mini series when I finally watched it during lockdown. I’ve very much enjoyed rewatching episodes after watching your presentations. It brings so much into focus - production decisions, historical context, accuracy, etc. I cannot wait for the review of episode 3! Any idea when it will come?
Grew up at the top off the hill from the Adams houses. The direction the cannons are moving in that scene is south away from Boston which is a mistake.
32:54 Fun Fact: Robert E Lee married Mary Anna Custis Lee, the daughter of George Washington Parke Custis who’s the step-grandchild of George Washington, and it’s entirely possible that Robert E Lee was entitled to inherit Mount Vernon from Custis
Jared & Emily, Thanks for this stimulating commentary! I've been wanting to watch my JA DVD lately - and curiosity lead me to youtube and your collaboration. I am loving it. Jared, why do you look & sound so familiar? I recognize another old world soul in you, via the wonderfully patrician manner in which you speak. I immerse in history & literature & have that same manner of speaking, as well as writing. Your students are lucky to have you as their teacher. Emily, hailing fr Maryland, I have spent many many 4 & 5 day sojourns in CW and had seriously pondered relocating & working there. I'm wondering......How do you do your research? At the Education & Research Center at the old Bruton Heights School , the DeWitt Museum/JD Rockefeller Jr Library? Library of Congress? Both of you are fonts of historical delights! Much appreciation to you.
Great channel !!! Are there any good Books on the Loyalist (U.E.L ) argument or history that you can recommend ? I find the opposition of these two ideas VERY interesting. Thanks again for the Broadcast Doherty and you are a fascinating team !!!
Calvin, here is the book for you! www.amazon.com/Libertys-Exiles-American-Loyalists-Revolutionary/dp/1400075475/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19GAFD5WCKVM9&keywords=liberty%27s+exiles&qid=1658080656&sprefix=liberty%27s+ex%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1
@@lordjazoijua94 interesting. Although knowing how american school curriculum has been messed with, i wouldn't be surprised to know the US doesn't even teach school kids abt the Revolution, Civil War etc. Many areas once taught are no longer & it has affected people's IQ & world knowledge capabilities.
Have noticed in this historian's videos here a lot of what I would consider to be heavy modern implementation, & what is called today "Presentism" spoken heavily in a very politically correct manner. Everyone has some fear to offend, well if we dance on egg shells all the time then history can never be taught nor viewed in any factual sense. A lot of judgement on characters of the past based on what our standards are today, which is not fair, not great history, nor is help anyone understand reality any better than just pretending it did not happen. Its awful in our modern senses that people in the 18th Century had slaves, & indentured servants whose only advantage was they were freed after a period of time while slaves were not, or sold off to other masters sometimes cruel & vicious. But that was the reality, & we miss the greatness of history, the lessons learned, the wisdom of it all, & the great figures in history if we continue to push them through this modern political prison that demands perfection all the time to not offend some faceless lunatic out there. The term "Indian Savages", was a reality of Colonists then who sometimes faced hostile tribes of Native American Indian warriors. These "savages" as they were called then, & in the Declaration were a menace to other more peaceful Native American tribes or just as much as a threat to the Colonists (later Statesmen). Calling wording offensive then it does not fit modern sensibilities really destroys peoples ability to understand the world that came before them, & all its lessons, tragedies, failures, & triumphs.
I loved both the book and the miniseries. However, I recall hardly any mention of the Boston Massacre in the book but it takes a major place in the miniseries (which I felt it should). Several other events are treated the same way but I understand that the miniseries needed a little bit more action for the audience. Like Jared I loved the loud arguments in the debates for the colonies' freedom.
Well I try not to point to movies and TV shows is you know things to go to for history at the same time I think the show does a pretty good job to the point where I don't mind showing it to other people is a good example of just how much of a debate there was over Independence I'm on the show has to condense things that is they do a good job of showing the process
I generally enjoy your videos on this series so far. But I am a bit put off by some of the tone of your comments. For instance, you stated that “Momma, Look Sharp” from “1776” highlighted the economic disparity between those who fought and those who were in congress. I am very familiar with that song. Where does it mention poverty? Or economic injustice? That song is about the horror of war and the pain of losing a young son. Why miscast it? If you want to highlight economics in that movie, take “Cool, Considerate Men!”
Thanks for your comment. I don't think we miscast the song. The song is an anti-war song that is a product of the late 1960s. There is a good musical theater book that dissects this a bit more in-depth: books.google.com/books?id=AdYYDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT614&dq=%22momma+look+sharp%22+vietnam+song&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi5zr_lpYH5AhWlGFkFHeNeA0UQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=%22momma%20look%20sharp%22%20vietnam%20song&f=false
@@ReelHistory your comment was that the song highlighted economic injustices in the waging of war. I do not see it in that song. Of course it is antiwar, but I did not get an economic message in that song at all. Thanks.
@Reel History, I wonder if you and Emily would comment upon the portrayal of Thomas Jefferson in the next episode. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on the accents used.
Merciless indian savages was deliberately written in. Let's not pretend like there were no hostile tribes at the time. They had also lived through the French and Indian war. I'm just so tired of acting like the founders were the only humans bearing sin. Yes they were flawed, but the Indian tribes did commit atrocities as well. The founders however, laid a foundation that some day the US could be a nation that recognizes all humans are created equal in God's eye and therefore are born with human rights.
Thank you, Emily, for your point that "the English constitution... gave more rights to the English people than many other European countries", which is why we don't really understand why some of our colonies around the world fought revolutionary wars to free themselves from a free country. The first 'Brexit' was Henry VIII's break from the Church of Rome in 1534. And also the inference, correctly, that England's colonies were established for trade. Today's social justice warriors would have you believe it was to "enslave" people for the purposes of creating a slave trade, but they don't seem to realise England had already abolished the owning of slaves by 1103 - yes, that's right - almost two whole hours before lunchtime!
England literally had slaves in England in the 1700s lmao they then paid all of the slave owners in the country to free them all in the early 1800s. Also literally noone claims England established their colonies just for the slave trade other than leftists who are just as stupid as you and your ilk
@@ReelHistory Thank you so much! love the content! loving the john adams content and fully enjoyed ur BoB stuff as well. looking forward to your future videos, perhaps native american films set during the same time period, id love to see your knowledge on maybe king philips war as well! not alot of great historians out there! thanks again!
John Dickinson is the most reluctant founding father. He didn’t want to found anything. The only reason he got on board was because it was going to be done with or without him. After the revolution he certainly wanted to have a say so over the constitution though. Even though he did everything he could to not found anything. Not much of a founding father in my opinion. His choices were remain a loyalist and risk you and your rich wife losing everything or roll the dice and take your chances with the side your against.
You forget his role in starting the revolution to begin with. His "Letters From a Pennsylvania Farmer" pushed public opinion towards resisting British actions. He was a rabble rouser, he just wanted to force the British to back down. Eventually events passed him by, but he did not at all just want to keep his head down and do nothing.
@@William-the-Guy his letters were half hearted. He never wanted to break from England. This is the guy who’s most famous quote was “No, gentlemen. To escape the protection of Great Britain by declaring independence, unprepared as we are would be to brave a storm in a skiff made of paper.” He fought Massachusetts every step of the way. He groveled to the crown with the olive branch petition. He refused to vote for Independence even after Great Britain made there intentions clear. He wasn’t alone in his feelings as a majority of colonists at the time still wanted to remain British but his reasons were out of greed. He didn’t want to lose everything he and his rich wife had should independence fail. He had to be dragged into revolution kicking and screaming. Granted after his arm was twisted he raised (and led) his own forces against the British but even this act is tainted by all actions he took leading up to the inevitable. We could say what else was he going to do? What choice did he have? The founding father who Barley deserves the title. This is why men like Samuel and John Adams along with Jefferson, Franklin and Washington are far more well known and remembered than he is. They led the way while he dragged his feet from the back.
@@anthonynolastname8517 Feel like you did not read my last comment. Dickenson led the way criticizing British policy, he even encouraged armed resistance when the British attacked, he was not "half hearted" at all, he was a trouble making political activist who was taking action long before Washington. He just didn't want WAR. It's like how if I spent years protesting for some political cause (end police brutality, medicare for all, whatever...) but then suddenly all my fellow activists wanted to start a WAR over those issues, I would say "no, I want my government to change the policies I am complaining about, but I don't want to fight a war over it." He was that guy. He opposed war and Independence, but he DID start out leading the charge to protest against British policy. You are making him sound like he passively did nothing. That is not true.
@@William-the-Guy when revaluation was finally declared, he did do something. However, through many of his letters ( and it is depicted in the mini series John Adams) he took his passiveness way too far with the British crown. He was afraid of losing his lands and his title, which he acquired through his sugar. Mama wife, John Adams really did accuse him of having too many quaker sensibilities, and John Dickinson really did say by the end, that most likely the revolutionists in the first Congress were right in that they would be forced in to war with Great Britain anyways. But he made it very clear that he was not willing to lift his hand to get the ball rolling. Which by default does not make him a founding father. In order to be a founding father, you have to found the nation which he did everything to avoid. He only got on board with what everybody else was getting on board with when he was left with no other choice.
@@anthonynolastname8517 You don't seem to be reading anything I wrote. You are having a conversation with your own imagination. You are responding to things you yourself made up. Dickenson opposed WAR. At the start of the conflict with Britain, the colonies were protesting Britain levying taxes without giving the colonies representation. Dickenson was very ACTIVE, not passive, in opposing that using boycotts. He got the ball rolling on the boycotts. He absolutely got the ball rolling on the boycotts, he was active long before Washington was. But later when the conflict escalated to war, he was anti-war. Your description of him as passive is not accurate. He was an active political protester who started out at the leading edge, but when war started to break out, he tried to prevent war. I am probably going to stop responding now if you give no sign of knowing what I said.
Wrong -- the doors were locked and the windows closed so no one could know what they were discussing. They were all dressed up in wool in July. You can see the sweat on some of their faces.
The bible has absolutely no opposition to slavery, that ancient evil book not only gives you permission to own slaves it gives you permission to beat them, Exodus 21: 20 & 21.
I have watched this entire mini-series probably 7 or 8 times, and it never gets old. That said, WHAT A TREAT it is to see one of my favorite TH-camrs going over the series!
Jared, keep up the awesome work!
Thanks for tuning in!
I'm on a binge right now. 👍.
Every time I reflect on the American Revolution, I remember two things. First, the colonials, with no standing army or extant navy or ranks of professional soldiers, picked a fight with the mightiest nation in Europe, possibly even the world. It reminds me of the country axiom of "going bear hunting with a switch." The sheer audacity of the concept boggles the mind. Second, the cost of failure. These men were more than aware of the price of losing the war. They risked everything--life, social standing, financial security of not only themselves but also of their families. From my perspective, that is why the public reading of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776 takes precedence rather than the vote on 2 July. They could have walked back the vote. It's a little tougher to deny a public announcement.
The language and oratory used by Paul giamatti is outstanding highly underrated actor
Agreed!
The "language and oratory" was provided him in the script.
27:00 from the book, Abigail is using vinegar to clean the floors which is not a disinfectant but does clean off dirt and build up.
As Mike Duncan put it, the Declaration Committee included 5 men: Jefferson, Adams, Guy #3, Guy #4, and Franklin.
One thing I appreciated about this series was the accents. These people were still British, so it makes sense that they'd have accents that sound more British and Irish than everyone sounding like they're from either today's Boston, Brooklyn, Charleston, or Ohio, a state notorious for having no accent whatsoever as compared to the other 49.
Thank you! I am from NE Ohio and we absolutely do not have an accent lmao. Some people are convinced we must have a "midwest" accent - we don't lol. I appreciate you acknowledging that 😂
@@VotingBlue2024 well, you have an accent, but not to anyone in America. To anyone who isn't American you have an American accent. Just a very bland one.
@@cleverusername9369 I should have clarified - yes we have a broadly American accent to a foreign ear. But its the accent you hear on the national news...not the local. Its very boring. Lol.
@@VotingBlue2024 it's true. I'm blessed with a thick North Carolina drawl, I like having an accent with some flavor
I could listen to Emily's thoughts on the 18th century history all day. She's fantastic and her erudition on the subject is remarkable
She apologizes for slavery every 4th sentence, like some kind of racism tourettes.
good point, but pretty much like every 'interpreter" at Colonial williamsburg, and every 18th century historian under 50
@@sellingacoerwa8318
One of my favorite mini series...! The more I watched it the better it was!
Huge, genius, accomplished, nerd! Thank you very much.
They didn't "steal" these ideas from the British. Most of these men were British and saw themselves as British. You can't steal from your own culture.
And also, British rights were derived from a Christian worldview, which was shared by the Americans, as the Declaration cites.
@@Concetta20completely wrong, that’s a a modern Christian conservative myth. it comes from an Enlightenment world view. A liberal one, in the classical sense. Google John Locke and Bill of Rights 1689 and check out the wikis .
Being from Massachusetts the only reason I could think that the men leaving Breeds hill and going toward Braintree was that they where militia members that fought the British the month earlier May 1775 in the Grape Islands. British troops where landing looking for supply's and militia members from Braintree as well as Weymouth and Hingham drove them out.
Literally just returned from Williamsburg two weeks ago. We’ve been going for 25 years and only missed a few here and there. It was where we spent our honeymoon and have never stopped going. It’s so good to see the buildings and hear names I recognize AND bringing in the enslaved populace that Williamsburg is trying to portray more and more.
Hope you enjoyed your travels!
It was our history and should be told as it was. We love that place and history that goes with it. Dining at Christina Campbell's Tavern is always a treat.
@@daviddougan6961I'm more of a Shield's and King's Arms lover, but the historic area is my favorite place to be. My wife and I honeymooned there and have never stopped going. And watching the work on the historic location of the First Baptist Church site, undoing a wrong at how the historic area treated the site at the start of the project, is fantastic to watch.
Thank you for the series, I’ve always had a fair idea about what parts Liberty was taken but you guys do a good idea of explaining everything and adding context
Braintree Massachuset is South and West of Boston, for the Militia to return to Braintree would be a fairly lengthy Journey(they would have to avoid the most direct routes), probably would take more than a day to reach the Adam's residence . In the case of Knox moving the cannon to Dorchester Heights, that is actually the route they would have to take since the roads closer to the coast were not safe to take to reach Dorchester Heights, with is South and East of Boston, and the Adams more or less lived on the only road from the North that would reach Dorchester Heights(The modern roads County 3A, Newport Ave, and Hancock Ave didn't exist and bridges over Black's creek did not exist yet that close to the coast. Incidentally the road Knox had to take is now called Adams Street.
Interesting insight!
I NEVER CLICKED ON A VIDEO SO FAST
Same this series is a fucking masterpiece
Diddo
Thanks folks!
Same here
Clicked it faster than a John Adams insult to Hamilton
There were actually five men on the board that generated the Declaration of Independence. Sherman and Livingston were left out.
As Mike Duncan put it, the Declaration Committee included 5 men: Jefferson, Adams, Guy #3, Guy #4, and Franklin.
TURN series i thoroughly enjoyed. I read the book also. I hope you cover that series, would look forward to the added info you bring.
46:55 - Last fall, I finally got to go study abroad at the University of St. Andrews. During that semester, my father and I went to Inverness and visited the Culloden Battlefield. My tour guide asked me if I knew of any Jacobites who took part in the American Revolution. From a class I took at my own university, which included a day of mock debate on independence, I was able to answer that John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore, who had been part of the Jacobites and afterwards saw his father sent to the Tower of London while the rest of his family was place under house arrest, was the Royal Governor of Virginia during this time. He added that Hugh Mercer was a Jacobite who served under Washington in both the French & Indian War and the American Revolution.
Oh, wow! How fortuitous that your tour guide happened to ask such a question and that you had taken part in a mock debate on independence. 🙄
You always cover my favourites, much thanks!
I really enjoy this series, and I'm so happy to see you reviewing it! I love all the knowledge you and Emily are bringing to us. Keep up the awesome work!
Because of episode one I went ahead and watched the entire mini series. Truly excellent. I had never seen the entire thing until now. Excited to follow along now that I’ve seen it in its entirety.
Glad we could help introduce you to the series!
@11:50...I don't think their slaves [or their chamber pots] were IN the hall itself for these scenes. It's OK, we all know slavery was a thing.
My mom and I watched the series for July 4 and enjoyed it immensely
In regards to what uniform Washington wore during the Second Continental Congress, the John Adam’s mini-series has him in the correct uniform. I recently read that he wore his Fairfax County militia uniform, which is the blue and buff uniform that he wears in John Adams. This eventually becomes the uniform for generals in the Continental Army.
The blue and red uniform described is the Virginia Militia uniform which Washington wore during the French and Indian war. He is incorrectly shown wearing that uniform to the Second Continental Congress in the 1984 George Washington mini-series starring Barry Bostwick.
I’ll see if I can find the piece that I read about this and add it to the comments.
Thanks for the great content!
Update: Found the info in a couple of places:
"Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow and "Colonial American Troops, 1610-1774 (vol 1)" by Rene Chartrand... part of the Osprey Men-at-Arms series.
According to both sources (no plagiarism!) in 1774, George Mason stood up the Fairfax County Independent Militia Company and Washington was elected as the commander. The blue and buff uniform colors were chosen for this unit because they were the colors of the English Whig Party.
To your point about the series being filmed mostly in Virginia, the Adams family farm set is located around Charlottesville and is still there to this day I believe. The front porch area was reused in 2011 in Spielberg's "Lincoln" when Lincoln and Grant have their conversation together while soldiers march by. My film class went there in 2010 to conduct some camera exercises and it was pretty cool.
That is pretty neat!
Believe it or not, smallpox inoculation follows a similar procedure to this day. During my time in the country's service, a doctor used an implement (I was looking away due to queasiness) to jab a sampling of the disease into my left shoulder. It left an open wound that eventually scabbed over and left a small, circular scar, about the size of a housefly. Had to make sure the scab was properly disposed of.
Fantastic commentary by you and Emily. You make a great team. I would have loved to hear some commentary on Dickinson's decision to enlist-he's shown at the end in an officer's uniform but of course served as a private. Additionally, his reference to his former popularity deserves a gloss-prior to 1776 he was regarded one of the bolder and more eloquent voices for the rights of colonists. Maybe in another video? I'm definitely moving on to your commentaries on the other episodes of John Adams, one of my all-time favorites. I imagine your class would be a lot of fun to take.
A great deal of respect has to be heaped on John Dickinson. The Continental Congress made him a brigadier general, but all the politicking led to him resigning his commission and re-enlisting as a private in a militia.
Despite the jab from Adams, Dickinson didn't let Quaker ideals get in the way of performing his duty.
I find it interesting she mentions some examples of people who freed their slaves and (rightly) calls out Jefferson for not feeling his, yet she never mentioned that Washington freed all his slaves in his will. That seems like an odd oversight when one is listing off people of that time who freed their slaves. Now of course freeing his slaves in his will is a bit late, he should have done it earlier. But still, it is a historical fact that Washington did free his slaves in his will, so it seems strange i indeed to not include him in the discussion of men who freed their slaves.
I started watching the series because of your series on it. I had watched a couple of the episodes a few years ago but lost interest and never came back (I tend to do that easily for movies/shows).
Really liking it; I can see why it's acclaimed.
“1776” is my favorite film and musical. ❤❤ That and American Girl’s “Felicity” (the original Pleasant Company version) is what first got me into history. 18th century American history still has a special place in my heart. ☺️ And William Daniel’s will always be my favorite depiction of Adams.
I was but a young and impressionable lad of ten for our Bicentennial and the movie (and then the musical) 1776 set its hooks deep! What a wonderful movie! Howard Da Silva’s Benjamin Franklin will forever be the man in my minds eye! The first American! Should be required watching for every young history student.
Great and informative video as always. Thank you.
Love the content, your channel should have a bigger following. why we'remt you my history teacher!!
Very much respect and enjoy your efforts.
We will have to agree to disagree on the same-same comparison made w today's political pandemic.
My birthday is July 2nd & I'm very proud the founding fathers voted for independence on my birthday 216 years before
12:30 Americans didn't "steal" English rights. We inherited them. The US founders wanted to preserve their rights as Englishmen, which led to the written US Constitution.
I think the broader point is that many Americans perceive those rights as uniquely American.
@@ReelHistory I'm an American and I long thought that the founders were inventing new rights when they rebelled against Britain. More recently, I learned that they understood that they were preserving rights that had been developed over centuries.
I think you're right that many Americans perceive the rights expressed in our founding documents as uniquely American, but that's a misconception we should correct. I think Doherty was trying to do just that. I only object to the word "steal" and its negative connotations. Americans should be grateful for the understanding of individual rights we inherited from Britain.
Thanks for your input and tuning in.
I hope you continue this series!
Nabby ends up marrying Pvt. John Hall from Episode 2 of Band of Brothers. The first time he showed up on screen I yelled "shut your f***ing guinea trap Gonorrhea" 😂
We're filming 2 more episodes tonight!
I love watching this series every 4th of July
Andy, our producer, does the same!
@@ReelHistory awesome
18:17 regarding the ages of these people, actually many were young, like in their twenties or even early twenties, that were in that Continental Congress. It's pretty crazy.
Makes me feel pretty inadequate at 39, much less if you think of the average 21 year old today.
I'm wondering how you learned about Phillis Wheatley. I studied at the Longfellow house in Cambridge. That's the only place I could find her writings. Did you ever visit the Longfellow house?
Also great understanding about Abigail Adams. Shes one of the greatest writers in American history.
So happy I found this channel, very interesting!!
Thanks for joining us!
Excellent analysis, as always. My thesis was on women's suffrage movement but so many of the original stirrings were here in the Revolution. Abigail and her letters were so important.
Thanks for your scholarship, Gary.
Which Washington portrayal cinematically do you think is best? My personal favorite is in Turn, John Adams is my 2nd, and The Crossing is the 3rd.
Those are excellent choices!
I love Turn, the book is excellent too
Hamilton.
Richard Henry Lee actually wasn't an ancestor of Robert E. Lee. It's actually Henry Lee, known as "Light Horse Harry" for his service in the Revolution, who was Robert E Lee's father. It's definitely confusing...too many Lees!
So...we found this fun nugget from a Lee Family website that confirms your conclusion but at least explains our genealogical fumble:
"Robert E. Lee was not a blood relation of any of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was born at Stratford Hall, which was the home of Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, both of whom signed the Declaration. But Lee’s father was Light Horse Harry Lee, who descended not from the Stratford line but the Leesylvania (located in northern Virginia) line of Lees. Light Horse Harry’s connection to Stratford was through his first wife, Matilda Ludwell Lee, the niece of Richard Henry and Francis Lightfoot Lee."
So, Robert was born in Richard's house and shares his last name, but it not related by blood. Ha ha.
From my knowledge, in this time it would be inconceivable for an active duty militia officer (colonel, at that) to show himself in public, especially in official situations, without his uniform. He could do so, but it would be very strange.
Good point!
Late to the game. But I just adore this. (You're also now my favorite couple EVER.)
Another good movie that you might want to look into is, "Paths of Glory", from 1957. Antiwar movies in the 1950's were rare.
It is definitely on our list!
Many people seem to like programs about 'how the game was going' I don't boring!! But this I do like. I also would have liked some comentary about the music and sounds but maybe I just need to keep watching for that. I really liked the violin in the intro. That really sounded a little before 1800, no Beethoven yet.
Ayyyyyyy! Welcome back!
Hopefully we won't catch hell from the copyright gods. Educational content!
I enjoyed the mini series when I finally watched it during lockdown. I’ve very much enjoyed rewatching episodes after watching your presentations. It brings so much into focus - production decisions, historical context, accuracy, etc. I cannot wait for the review of episode 3! Any idea when it will come?
Hopefully in the next few days!
Grew up at the top off the hill from the Adams houses. The direction the cannons are moving in that scene is south away from Boston which is a mistake.
Great review guys.
Thanks!
32:54 Fun Fact: Robert E Lee married Mary Anna Custis Lee, the daughter of George Washington Parke Custis who’s the step-grandchild of George Washington, and it’s entirely possible that Robert E Lee was entitled to inherit Mount Vernon from Custis
I know every and their mom has reacted to Hamilton (the musical), but would you consider doing a video on it? Keep up the good work!
A Great series makes great commentaries! Keep it up
Thanks for joining us!
Jared & Emily, Thanks for this stimulating commentary! I've been wanting to watch my JA DVD lately - and curiosity lead me to youtube and your collaboration. I am loving it.
Jared, why do you look & sound so familiar? I recognize another old world soul in you, via the wonderfully patrician manner in which you speak. I immerse in history & literature & have that same manner of speaking, as well as writing. Your students are lucky to have you as their teacher.
Emily, hailing fr Maryland, I have spent many many 4 & 5 day sojourns in CW and had seriously pondered relocating & working there. I'm wondering......How do you do your research? At the Education & Research Center at the old Bruton Heights School , the DeWitt Museum/JD Rockefeller Jr Library? Library of Congress?
Both of you are fonts of historical delights!
Much appreciation to you.
Thank you very much for the kind words!
I want a series that depicts the American Revolution from the POV of an indian cannibal.
Great channel !!! Are there any good Books on the Loyalist (U.E.L ) argument or history that you can recommend ? I find the opposition of these two ideas VERY interesting. Thanks again for the Broadcast Doherty and you are a fascinating team !!!
Calvin, here is the book for you!
www.amazon.com/Libertys-Exiles-American-Loyalists-Revolutionary/dp/1400075475/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19GAFD5WCKVM9&keywords=liberty%27s+exiles&qid=1658080656&sprefix=liberty%27s+ex%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1
"Give Me Librium Or Give Me Meth"!- Patrick Henry.
I'm British, I have never heard of the Lexicon and Concord battle. I'd never even heard of John Adams!
oh, No. Weren't Brits taught the American Revolution in school?
@@synchronicity1470 No we not taught about that war.
@@lordjazoijua94 interesting. Although knowing how american school curriculum has been messed with, i wouldn't be surprised to know the US doesn't even teach school kids abt the Revolution, Civil War etc. Many areas once taught are no longer & it has affected people's IQ & world knowledge capabilities.
Finally thank you God. Lol love you guys
Have noticed in this historian's videos here a lot of what I would consider to be heavy modern implementation, & what is called today "Presentism" spoken heavily in a very politically correct manner. Everyone has some fear to offend, well if we dance on egg shells all the time then history can never be taught nor viewed in any factual sense. A lot of judgement on characters of the past based on what our standards are today, which is not fair, not great history, nor is help anyone understand reality any better than just pretending it did not happen. Its awful in our modern senses that people in the 18th Century had slaves, & indentured servants whose only advantage was they were freed after a period of time while slaves were not, or sold off to other masters sometimes cruel & vicious. But that was the reality, & we miss the greatness of history, the lessons learned, the wisdom of it all, & the great figures in history if we continue to push them through this modern political prison that demands perfection all the time to not offend some faceless lunatic out there. The term "Indian Savages", was a reality of Colonists then who sometimes faced hostile tribes of Native American Indian warriors. These "savages" as they were called then, & in the Declaration were a menace to other more peaceful Native American tribes or just as much as a threat to the Colonists (later Statesmen). Calling wording offensive then it does not fit modern sensibilities really destroys peoples ability to understand the world that came before them, & all its lessons, tragedies, failures, & triumphs.
I loved both the book and the miniseries. However, I recall hardly any mention of the Boston Massacre in the book but it takes a major place in the miniseries (which I felt it should). Several other events are treated the same way but I understand that the miniseries needed a little bit more action for the audience. Like Jared I loved the loud arguments in the debates for the colonies' freedom.
Well I try not to point to movies and TV shows is you know things to go to for history at the same time I think the show does a pretty good job to the point where I don't mind showing it to other people is a good example of just how much of a debate there was over Independence I'm on the show has to condense things that is they do a good job of showing the process
Remember 12 year olds fought
How many different flags did we have in the revolution?
Would you consider reviewing the PBS show Libertie's Kids?
If we were ever to do a kid's sub-channel, yes!
You should do a video on the movie, The Crossing, Jeff Daniels plays George Washington
This is a childhood favorite of Jared's. It is definitely on our list!
I generally enjoy your videos on this series so far. But I am a bit put off by some of the tone of your comments. For instance, you stated that “Momma, Look Sharp” from “1776” highlighted the economic disparity between those who fought and those who were in congress. I am very familiar with that song. Where does it mention poverty? Or economic injustice? That song is about the horror of war and the pain of losing a young son. Why miscast it? If you want to highlight economics in that movie, take “Cool, Considerate Men!”
They have a quota of woke comments they must fulfill.
Thanks for your comment. I don't think we miscast the song. The song is an anti-war song that is a product of the late 1960s. There is a good musical theater book that dissects this a bit more in-depth: books.google.com/books?id=AdYYDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT614&dq=%22momma+look+sharp%22+vietnam+song&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi5zr_lpYH5AhWlGFkFHeNeA0UQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=%22momma%20look%20sharp%22%20vietnam%20song&f=false
@@ReelHistory your comment was that the song highlighted economic injustices in the waging of war. I do not see it in that song. Of course it is antiwar, but I did not get an economic message in that song at all. Thanks.
Is there gonna be a video today?
Andy is on vacation and he left Jared with a couple video ideas. Maybe not today but this week sometime for sure.
@Reel History, I wonder if you and Emily would comment upon the portrayal of Thomas Jefferson in the next episode. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on the accents used.
Merciless indian savages was deliberately written in. Let's not pretend like there were no hostile tribes at the time. They had also lived through the French and Indian war. I'm just so tired of acting like the founders were the only humans bearing sin. Yes they were flawed, but the Indian tribes did commit atrocities as well. The founders however, laid a foundation that some day the US could be a nation that recognizes all humans are created equal in God's eye and therefore are born with human rights.
Thank you, Emily, for your point that "the English constitution... gave more rights to the English people than many other European countries", which is why we don't really understand why some of our colonies around the world fought revolutionary wars to free themselves from a free country. The first 'Brexit' was Henry VIII's break from the Church of Rome in 1534.
And also the inference, correctly, that England's colonies were established for trade. Today's social justice warriors would have you believe it was to "enslave" people for the purposes of creating a slave trade, but they don't seem to realise England had already abolished the owning of slaves by 1103 - yes, that's right - almost two whole hours before lunchtime!
England literally had slaves in England in the 1700s lmao they then paid all of the slave owners in the country to free them all in the early 1800s. Also literally noone claims England established their colonies just for the slave trade other than leftists who are just as stupid as you and your ilk
Why arent you guys doing the rest of this series? Not enough actual history?
Episode 3 comes out saturday
Gordon Wood. I've heard that name somewhere.... lol
Good Will Hunting. ;-)
Reel History, do you do lectures online or on youtube as well
There are a couple we've done on here if you go back through the video history.
Search Jared Frederick on TH-cam and you'll find a few on other channels as well.
@@ReelHistory Thank you so much! love the content! loving the john adams content and fully enjoyed ur BoB stuff as well. looking forward to your future videos, perhaps native american films set during the same time period, id love to see your knowledge on maybe king philips war as well! not alot of great historians out there! thanks again!
57:45 Follow up to previous comment. Make a movie about the Meck Dec.
John Dickinson is the most reluctant founding father. He didn’t want to found anything. The only reason he got on board was because it was going to be done with or without him. After the revolution he certainly wanted to have a say so over the constitution though. Even though he did everything he could to not found anything. Not much of a founding father in my opinion. His choices were remain a loyalist and risk you and your rich wife losing everything or roll the dice and take your chances with the side your against.
You forget his role in starting the revolution to begin with. His "Letters From a Pennsylvania Farmer" pushed public opinion towards resisting British actions. He was a rabble rouser, he just wanted to force the British to back down. Eventually events passed him by, but he did not at all just want to keep his head down and do nothing.
@@William-the-Guy his letters were half hearted. He never wanted to break from England. This is the guy who’s most famous quote was “No, gentlemen. To escape the protection of Great Britain by declaring independence, unprepared as we are would be to brave a storm in a skiff made of paper.” He fought Massachusetts every step of the way. He groveled to the crown with the olive branch petition. He refused to vote for Independence even after Great Britain made there intentions clear. He wasn’t alone in his feelings as a majority of colonists at the time still wanted to remain British but his reasons were out of greed. He didn’t want to lose everything he and his rich wife had should independence fail. He had to be dragged into revolution kicking and screaming. Granted after his arm was twisted he raised (and led) his own forces against the British but even this act is tainted by all actions he took leading up to the inevitable. We could say what else was he going to do? What choice did he have? The founding father who Barley deserves the title. This is why men like Samuel and John Adams along with Jefferson, Franklin and Washington are far more well known and remembered than he is. They led the way while he dragged his feet from the back.
@@anthonynolastname8517 Feel like you did not read my last comment. Dickenson led the way criticizing British policy, he even encouraged armed resistance when the British attacked, he was not "half hearted" at all, he was a trouble making political activist who was taking action long before Washington. He just didn't want WAR. It's like how if I spent years protesting for some political cause (end police brutality, medicare for all, whatever...) but then suddenly all my fellow activists wanted to start a WAR over those issues, I would say "no, I want my government to change the policies I am complaining about, but I don't want to fight a war over it." He was that guy. He opposed war and Independence, but he DID start out leading the charge to protest against British policy. You are making him sound like he passively did nothing. That is not true.
@@William-the-Guy when revaluation was finally declared, he did do something. However, through many of his letters ( and it is depicted in the mini series John Adams) he took his passiveness way too far with the British crown. He was afraid of losing his lands and his title, which he acquired through his sugar. Mama wife, John Adams really did accuse him of having too many quaker sensibilities, and John Dickinson really did say by the end, that most likely the revolutionists in the first Congress were right in that they would be forced in to war with Great Britain anyways. But he made it very clear that he was not willing to lift his hand to get the ball rolling. Which by default does not make him a founding father. In order to be a founding father, you have to found the nation which he did everything to avoid. He only got on board with what everybody else was getting on board with when he was left with no other choice.
@@anthonynolastname8517 You don't seem to be reading anything I wrote. You are having a conversation with your own imagination. You are responding to things you yourself made up. Dickenson opposed WAR. At the start of the conflict with Britain, the colonies were protesting Britain levying taxes without giving the colonies representation. Dickenson was very ACTIVE, not passive, in opposing that using boycotts. He got the ball rolling on the boycotts. He absolutely got the ball rolling on the boycotts, he was active long before Washington was. But later when the conflict escalated to war, he was anti-war. Your description of him as passive is not accurate. He was an active political protester who started out at the leading edge, but when war started to break out, he tried to prevent war.
I am probably going to stop responding now if you give no sign of knowing what I said.
1776 What Hath God Wrought? Oh The Humanity!
Wrong -- the doors were locked and the windows closed so no one could know what they were discussing. They were all dressed up in wool in July. You can see the sweat on some of their faces.
The bible has absolutely no opposition to slavery, that ancient evil book not only gives you permission to own slaves it gives you permission to beat them, Exodus 21: 20 & 21.
Your shadows are making out.
Jeez... I'm fine with commentary.... not all commentary.
We are limited in the amount of film we can show due to copyright. Work with us!
@@ReelHistory then why can people have two 45 minute videos reacting to fellowship of the ring and its basically all of the movie? Actually curious.
mabey talk more about class?
Please leave the woke comments out of it , stick to the telling off the story, thats your strength!
It's inaccurate regardless of whether or not you find it woke.
@@ReelHistory please explain!
What do you consider "woke?" Please explain. Regardless, I'd rather be wide awake to history than in a coma.
Way to picayune you two are.😢