It’s not easy to tell a story that extends from the 18th century to today that actually pays attention to nuance and substantive issues, including the role of slavery, Indian policy, and the politics of inequality. But she pulls it off. She even manages to put some meaningful comments about Mussolini into the mix.
Trigger Warning: For anyone who thinks the only Patriotically Correct version of American history is some variation on, “Yee-haw! U-S-A! U-S-A!”, this clip will probably put you into a panicky search for a “safe space” in the first ten minutes. Don’t stress yourself out.
And, yes, the United States was understood at the time of its founding as a radical democracy in the world of the 1770s. France got into the act a decade or so later. Napoleon spread it to large parts of Europe, though not always in the most pleasant of ways. The people of Haiti also quickly picked up on the radical demands of the French and American Revolution. Even though no one I’ve ever heard of at that time held a concept of democracy, human rights, or the rule of law as it exists today in, for example, the democratic standards of the European Union. (Which still has its share of rough edges!) Tom Paine is the closest one who comes to mind for me.
Speaking of the American Revolution, here's a recent scholarly article on Alexander Hamilton and slavery: “As Odious and Immoral A Thing”: Alexander Hamilton’s Hidden History as an Enslaver (2020). Spoiler: he didn't have mainstream 2020 views on slavery.
Hamilton is enjoying a pop-culture standing as kind of a early "woke" Founder icon, not least because of the successful Hamilton musical. And that's fine. He was an important Founder. Including being the chief founder of the Federalist Party. People also found reason to quote him over the last couple of years on the meaning of the impeachment power in the Constitution. Hopefully those positive vibes around his image will make even more people interested to learn more about his real history.
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