As we celebrate 250 years of America, the country needs to return to its founding principles now more than ever. Hillsdale College showed this in its first feature-length documentary, Revolutionary America, which walks viewers through the story of America’s inception. The documentary begins at the conclusion of the French and Indian War, explaining how the 13 colonies forged a distinct identity apart from Great Britain. Between 1763 and 1776, the British government implemented a series of humiliating taxes, prevented settlers from moving west, and limited the colonies’ economic growth for the sake of the monarchy.
The Founding Fathers saw the Revolution as their moral duty, Revolutionary America explains. Through the writings of Hamilton, Jefferson, and Revere, the documentary lays out why the early Americans believed the British government was infringing on their rights. Factors like economic suppression and a growing military presence forced the colonies to band together. As crisis loomed, municipalities rose up in the face of tyranny, forming local militias and committees to defend themselves against mounting suppression, especially after the Boston Massacre. Wealthy men of high social status, such as Robert Morris and George Washington, put their fortunes and reputations on the line to serve what they knew was a noble cause.
