Documentary Review: Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corp of Discovery: A Film by Ken Burns (1997)

 This is a very good documentary of the Corp of Discovery.  After the Louisiana Purchase, President Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis Clark to explore the new territory.  I didn't realize that so many times they were close to disaster.  No white person had ever been along the trek they took, and they did not have any communication with their base of operations.  They met friendly Indians, mostly on the trek west, except the SIoux didn't want them to pass.  However the Mandan were very friendly.  The difficult time was finding the Shoshone went the finally go to the head waters of the Missouri.  If they hadn't eventually found them, they would have been in the mountains without horses.  And then the miracle.  The chief of the Shoshone was the brother of Sacagawea.  They were able to trade for horses.  

The Nez Perce, when they met them had a real debate on whether they should just kill them or not.  At this time the were emaciated from hunger having barely made it over the mountains.  It was a woman who argued for them to be safe, so they fed them.  She had been treated kindly by whites.  They were able to foat to the ocean, despite being caught in a storm for a coule weeks just before getting there.  They had three choices of were to stay and had a vote of the company.  Everyone had an equal vote, including Sacagawea, a native American woman and York, an African American.

They met no boats and so had to walk back the way they had come.  However this time the Nez Perce provided a guide.  On the return trip they split into two companies.  The group with Captain Clark ran into some Blackfeet.  They tried to steal horses and a rifle.  In the struggle two Blackfeet were killed.  They left as quickly as they could for fear of a large uprising.  Going down the river they traveled much quicker.  All were anxious to get home.

And then the aftermath.  Several members became mountain men, and some were chased by Blackfeet and one killed.  Lewis Meriweather had manic depressive disorder, and eventually succumbed to suicide.  He had been governor of upper Louisiana territory.  Clark took in Sacagewea's baby, and new baby daughter and raised them, after she became ill and passed away.

This film from PBS was very informative.

Chapter Review: Jack Jouett, the Ride that Saved America, Glenn Beck

Miracles and Massacres: True and Untold Stories of the Making of America, Glenn Beck with Keven Balfe and Hannah Beck, Threshold Editions, Mercury Radio Arts, New York, 2013.

Silhouette of Jack Souett, only known likeness made while he was living.

In this book, Beck brings to light little known stories about American history.  The first is that of Jack Jouett, whose ride should be just as famous as that of Paul Revere.  However these heroics were more towards the end of the war, June of 17821.  Jouett discovered that Colonel Banastre Tarleton was on the move in Virginia, with the intent of capturing Thomas Jefferson and Monticello.  He had discovered this by taking the clothes of a British captive, and using them to visit a tavern frequented by the British.  He had heard the word in a conversation, and with that knowledge was on his ride, going over back roads, where branches cut his face.  He also traveled at night, in all effort to beat Tarleton and his men.  It wasn’t just Thomas Jefferson who needed to be saved.  There were other officers in the area, as well as important communiques that needed to be guarded.  Jouett arrived at Monticello early in the morning, and quickly explained the situation to Jefferson.  He was able to get away with important papers.  However his home was invaded and inhabited by the British for a time.  Others with Jefferson also fled.  Jouett then headed to his father’s inn.  General Edward Stevens was staying at the inn recovering from a wound.  The dressed the general in shabby clothes,  and Jouett wore a bright Continental uniform, shedding his British uniform which was now rags after the ride.  The general was able to mount a horse, and leave with several Continentals.  Jouett showed himself to the British, who began pursuing him.  He lead them on a wild ride through the countryside as the general made him escape.  Thus two rides, one that saved Thomas Jefferson, and the next save General Stevens. 

Monticello

Documentary Review: Thomas Jefferson: Ken Burns

This documentary of Thomas Jefferson, deals with Thomas Jefferson as the enigma.  How can someone write, "All men are created equal" and then own 300 slaves.  He did argue for emancipation of the slaves, and in fact this was included the the Declaration of Independence, but politics postponed any handling of the slavery issue, which kept being kicked down the road.  Jefferson was resolved to live with slavery and its consequences. 
The Declaration of Independence, which Jefferson wrote, is the document which defines us as a nation.  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." 
The other piece of controversy is whether or not Jefferson sired six children by his slave, Sally Hemings.  I guess the jury is still out on that question.  For shire they were sired by a Jefferson, but it may have been a brother rather then Thomas Jefferson himself. 
This documentary shows Jefferson's life which includes his mission as ambassador to France.  He was the first Secretary of State, where he was pitted against Alexander Hamilton.  He ran against the Federalist John Adams, losing the first time, but then becoming president the second.  As the third president he doubled the size of the United States by purchasing Louisiana from France.  He was a man interested in many things, but considered himself more a farmer than anything else.  Also reading and studying were very important to him, and this was a daily activity. 

50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both passed away on the same day.  This documentary is adequate, but a bit boring.  Thomas Jefferson was an intellectual man.