The Russell Moore Show Ken Burns on the American Revolution
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Nov 12, 2025 
Acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns discusses his new PBS series on the American Revolution. He argues that understanding the complexities of the founders is essential for today's unity, emphasizing both their heroic and hypocritical traits. Burns tackles the misconceptions on religious beliefs among the founders and explores how hypocrisy, like slavery, often coexisted with their ideals. He also highlights the significance of empathy and shared civic values in an era of division, making a case for a more honest engagement with America's past.
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Revolution Created Citizens And Tolerance
- Ken Burns argues the American Revolution created citizens and religious tolerance unlike previous authoritarian regimes.
- He calls it possibly the most important event since Christ for its creation of civic identity and pluralism.
Mount Vernon Screening Weatherproofs Interest
- Burns describes screening clips at Mount Vernon where rain didn't stop 8,000 viewers from watching.
- He uses the story to show public appetite for revisiting founding narratives despite divisions.
Virtue And Lifelong Learning Are Civic Duties
- Burns emphasizes founders debated virtue as necessary for republican survival and lifelong learning.
- He warns citizenship requires continual self-improvement, not passive entitlement.
