To truly understand America’s identity, filmmaker Ken Burns calls America’s founding “the most significant event since the birth of Christ.” His latest documentary series, The American Revolution, doesn’t just retell the battles—it redefines what the revolution really meant. For Burns, the story doesn’t end when the war is won; it only begins.
Beyond the War: The Real American Revolution
Many people assume the American Revolution refers only to the bloody struggle for independence. But as Burns reminds us, the true revolution went far deeper. He draws inspiration from Benjamin Rush, a founding father who said in 1787, “The American war is over, but this is far from being the case with the American Revolution.” Rush believed that after the fighting ended, the real challenge began—building a government capable of turning ideals into reality.
That same idea fuels Burns’ documentary. As Ken Burns calls America’s founding “the most significant event since the birth of Christ,” he argues that the Revolution represents not just the creation of a nation, but the creation of a new kind of society—one based on liberty, equality, and shared purpose.
The Energy of Creation
Burns often describes the Revolution as “a kind of sun,” radiating energy that still fuels America today. In his view, it wasn’t just a political shift; it was a moment of creation that redefined what human freedom could mean.
“It’s all up to us to take whatever has been done and make what we can of it,” Burns says passionately. That energy, that sense of beginning, is what drives his storytelling. When Ken Burns calls America’s founding ‘the most significant event since the birth of Christ,’ he is pointing to its spiritual magnitude—a rebirth for humanity in the political sense.
A Filmmaker Who Animates History
At 72, Ken Burns has spent nearly five decades bringing history to life through powerful documentaries such as The Civil War, Baseball, and Jazz. Each film carries his signature cinematic style—archival photos, personal letters, and deeply human storytelling. Yet even after years of exploring America’s past, he continues to find new meaning in its most familiar stories.
In his editing room hangs a simple reminder: “It’s complicated.” That phrase captures his philosophy. For Burns, history is not about glorifying the past but wrestling with it—acknowledging both the triumphs and the contradictions.
History’s Complexity and Relevance
When asked why studying history still matters, Burns quotes President Harry Truman: “The only thing that’s really new is the history you don’t know.” Burns believes that understanding history helps us see that the future is never guaranteed. As historian David McCullough told him, “Good history makes you think it might not turn out the way you know it did.”
This awareness shapes how Burns explores figures like George Washington in The American Revolution. Washington was both a visionary leader and a slaveholder—a man representing the contradictions of his time. As Ken Burns calls America’s founding ‘the most significant event since the birth of Christ,’ he also highlights the moral complexity that underpins it. Washington’s strength, Burns notes, was his ability to unify people from vastly different regions and beliefs—turning thirteen divided colonies into a single nation.
The Team Behind the Epic
Burns didn’t create The American Revolution alone. His longtime collaborator Sarah Botstein and editor David Schmidt co-directed the film. Botstein describes the process as both exhausting and inspiring: “We decided to make it in 2015, and for almost a decade, it’s been the only thing on my mind.”
Working from their quiet studio in Walpole, New Hampshire, the team spent years shaping the story. For them, the Revolution isn’t ancient history—it’s a living force that continues to shape American life. Their goal, as Ken Burns calls America’s founding ‘the most significant event since the birth of Christ,’ was to reconnect modern audiences with the nation’s origin story.
Reflections on a Nation in Crisis
The documentary doesn’t ignore the present. Burns admits that America often feels like it’s in “a perpetual crisis.” The same tensions that tore the nation apart in the 18th century—regional differences, moral conflicts, competing visions of freedom—still echo today.
He draws a striking parallel to the Civil War, calling the Revolution its spiritual ancestor. “Don’t fall out,” he says. “Keep the Union together.” Through his work, Burns offers not just history lessons but moral guidance, suggesting that understanding our past may be the key to overcoming today’s divisions.
The Power of Words and Ideals
Few moments capture Burns’ passion more than when he discusses the Declaration of Independence. “The second sentence of the Declaration,” he says, “is the most important sentence in the English language—second only to ‘I love you.’” That sentence begins, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
For Burns, that line is both a promise and a challenge. It wasn’t self-evident then, and it still isn’t today. But its power lies in its aspiration—the belief that equality is possible. When Ken Burns calls America’s founding ‘the most significant event since the birth of Christ,’ he is reminding us that these words introduced a revolutionary idea that changed the course of humanity.
Rediscovering the Original Narrative
Burns believes that America’s healing begins by revisiting its origin story. “By finding our original narrative,” he says, “you have a chance to begin to heal.” His documentary urges viewers to remember that disagreement is not the same as division. “The other person who disagrees with me,” he reminds us, “is not the enemy.”
This message feels urgent in today’s polarized world. Through The American Revolution, Burns invites us to look back not in nostalgia, but in hope—to rediscover the shared values that once united a divided people. And as Ken Burns calls America’s founding ‘the most significant event since the birth of Christ,’ his film becomes more than a history lesson—it’s a call to renewal.
Why Ken Burns’ Vision Matters Now
In an era when trust, unity, and truth feel fragile, Burns’ work offers a blueprint for reflection. His storytelling connects the emotional depth of the past to the uncertainty of the present. The American Revolution, in his hands, becomes not just a film but a mirror—showing us who we were and who we still can be.
Ultimately, Ken Burns calls America’s founding ‘the most significant event since the birth of Christ’ because it gave humanity a second chance—to define freedom not by power, but by principle. His film reminds us that America’s story, like history itself, is unfinished. Each generation must decide how to carry its legacy forward.
Conclusion: The Revolution Continues
Ken Burns’ The American Revolution isn’t merely a documentary—it’s an invitation to rediscover the heartbeat of a nation. It challenges us to think, question, and rebuild. When Ken Burns calls America’s founding “the most significant event since the birth of Christ,” he’s not just making a historical claim—he’s making a moral one.
The Revolution was never just about independence; it was about imagination—the belief that people could govern themselves, pursue equality, and create a better world. More than two centuries later, that vision remains both our inheritance and our responsibility.