Women Are Absent from Hillsdale College's "Revolutionary America"

The documentary, "Revolutionary America", produced by Hillsdale College is currently showing in movie theaters. It is Hillsdale College's first feature-length documentary and is billed as a historical documentary that "tells the story of America's Founding and those who risked their 'lives, fortunes, and sacred honor' fighting for liberty." In actuality, the documentary is an interesting primer on The American Revolution that gets to be a bit bogged down by battle details towards the middle of the documentary.

While "Revolutionary America" is worth seeing since it does include some details about The American Revolution that are not often mentioned or are overlooked, it seems to go out of its way to avoid including any women in the documentary. Were it not for some historical sketches that are aired in the documentary that do include some women in them, one would think from the documentary's portrayal of events, that women had not yet been created during this epoch in American history. For every single one of the professors and narrators that are consulted in the documentary are male. With not every one of the men who are consulted in the documentary being necessarily top experts in the field. Such as Michael John Knowles, who was a history major at Yale University, but is primarily a political commentator affiliated with "The Daily Wire".

Abigail Adams famously wrote to her husband, John Adams, on March 31st, 1776, "Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors." Which are wise words that the producers of Hillsdale College's "Revolutionary America" should have heeded. For there are a plethora of lady professors who specialize in The American Revolution that could have provided valuable insight for the documentary. Professors such as Dr. Serena Zabin, author of "The Boston Massacre: A Family History", Dr. Kathleen DuVal who specializes on The American Revolution and its impact on the Native American and who was featured in the Ken Burns documentary, "The American Revolution". As well as, Dr. Carol Berkin, who has authored "Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for American Independence" and "First Generations: Women in Colonial America". There is also Dr. Joanne B. Freeman, a professor at Yale University, who hosts the popular history podcast, "BackStory" who could have provided the documentary with valuable insight.

However, that being said, "Revolutionary America" does include some details, especially about the events leading up to The American Revolution that are of interest. Their explanation about how from the time the English settlers started eking out a living in The New World in the 1600s until the 1750s, the British monarchy essentially maintained a system of "salutary neglect" with regards to the colonies is of note. For during that time, the British allowed the colonies to prosper economically and govern themselves. However, that changed after the French and Indian War. When the British parliament decided that to pay off the debts incurred during the war, they would tax the colonials. A notion that met with resistance from the colonials, for while the British soldiers did participate in the French and Indian War, the frontier settlers knew better how to fight in the New World and they felt that they had done their part in the war. With taxes on account of said war, being viewed as punitive.

Some other interesting historical details featured in the documentary include how after the French and Indian War, the territory that Great Britain gained from it, made the British empire in North America as large as the ancient Roman empire during its peak. The documentary focuses heavily on the taxation aspect of the events leading up to The American Revolution. Oddly enough, "For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent", is the 17th reason listed in The Declaration of Independence for seeking independence from England. With the other reasons that are listed before the one pertaining to taxes being the quartering of large bodies of armed troops among us, for protecting those troops by a mock trial from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of the colonies, for cutting off our trade with all parts of the world, leaving the state exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without and convulsions within, and obstructing the administration of justice.

A cute anecdote that is mentioned in the documentary is how John Hancock actually strongly desired to be named the leader of the Continental Army. With his military experience primarily being that of colonel of the Governor's Independent Company of Cadets in the Massachusetts militia. However, George Washington, who was known to have incredible bearing, showed up to the Congress attired in his military uniform. For he had previously served as commander of all of the Virginia Colonial forces from 1755 through 1758, been a major in the Virginia militia in 1753, a lieutenant colonel during the first engagements of the French and Indian War, an aide de camp to the British General Edward Braddock, and in an act of foresight, had begun actively drilling and financing local volunteer militia companies in Virginia to prepare them for war beginning in 1774. Clad in his uniform, George Washington was promptly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army on June 15th, 1775.

"Revolutionary America" is an hour and fifty-three minutes in length. Although, it feels more like two hour and a half. It is showing in movie theaters through June 02nd. It is suitable for all audience, but due to the nature of the documentary, it is probably going to garner more interest among historically inclined viewers twelve years of age and up.

Luisa Reyes is a Tuscaloosa attorney, piano instructor, vocalist, poet, reporter, and columnist who writes about politics, current affairs, and the arts.