America: The story of us

[ALCOAR]

ignoring some of the speakers, I thought the overall show was good, learned a lot of things I never knew. Don't let Bloomberg showing up for 30 seconds of a 2 hour show ruin it for you.

Bloomberg's busy body ass ruins my life after 10 secs.....

[ALCOAR]

You want to have some interesting conversations, try discussing how Lincoln destroyed the social contract with all the people who have never heard anything but "he single handedly abolished slavery." Good times I tell you.

I love it and i wont even get started on that swine.....but I am sure we see eye to eye

[Red5]

I started thinking the same thing when I started watching it with the wonderful, credible historians that they all are. However, the overall show wasn't that bad. But I think that the interviews really took away.

Since they are going to be donating copies of this to school (or someone is) maybe they wanted the youth to see who the great historical figures are today so they can look up to them.

By the way...that was one of the only documentaries where I thought they did a good job of portraying the conditions at Valley Forge.

Now as someone said above...I'm not holding out much hope for how anything Lincoln forward will get portrayed. And they'll probably ignore one of the best Presidents in our century....Coolidge.

[ngi.pace]

As a recent American history college grad. I can say without a doubt that the history channel in most cases, has a horrible reputation for being historically bias and presenting the history they want you to see. One of my professor’s interviews was edited to the point that it said the direct opposite of what he actually told them. That aside “the story of us” from what I can tell is a televised version of your 8th grade textbook. Good story but no real content. It is greatly lacking in the subjective details that my be viewed as “not PC.” Its only saving grace is in its entertainment value. The reenactments are cool to watch. Other than that History Channel is crap.

Oh I forgot to add. First post, AR owner, and primarily a lurker. Thanks for all the info you guys have provided me. It is much appreciated.

I just couldn’t bite my tongue history channel is crap most of the time.

[ZDL]

*******

[Xenogy]

I watched the Pioneer and start of Civil War episode tonight on my DVR. Apparently the Civil War was started solely on the issue of slavery.

[rob_s]

We are trying to watch it with the boy. I think we've gotten through about the first hour. My plan is to use it as a jumping off point both to stimulate his interest in history and to talk about things like "winner writes history" as well as television as a way to manipulate the masses.

The problem with history has always been that teachers in K-12 suck at teaching it and make it about names and dates. What I like about this series so far is it makes it about the people, which is not only how the story should be told but also how you hook kids on paying attention.

[ForTehNguyen]

I watched the Pioneer and start of Civil War episode tonight on my DVR. Apparently the Civil War was started solely on the issue of slavery.

werd, its always spun like this

[Spiffums]

I watched the Pioneer and start of Civil War episode tonight on my DVR. Apparently the Civil War was started solely on the issue of slavery.

Which is ok because the 2nd American Civil War will be started solely on the issue of Immigration.

[HES]

Been watching and so far I and the kids are enjoying it. I think the series is going well and as it is currently formatted would serve as a good addendum to a history class. The reenactments add a context that you cant get from a book.

Take this past Sunday's episode. It could have been a bit better when covering the economics of cotton product / slave trade / taxation. I thought it was interesting how they pointed out that on the one hand the north was saying slavery was bad but on the other they quietly approved of it for economic reasons. They did also show that under the escaped slave act anyone could go north capture a freeman and accuse him of being an escaped slave in a magistrate. Magistrates were paid $5 to declare someone a freeman. They were paid $10 to declare someone captured a "runaway slave". Over all the mini series hasn't been too bad.

I Haven't see too much on the presidents or scandals though. I wonder if next few episodes will touch on the teapot dome affair or if they will cover "The Jungle", Samuel Gompers, Yellow Journalism, Unions, the industrial revolution, etc..

My guess is that they wont cover all of that because this series seems to solely focus on the core character of the nation and the people and events who built it. That is why I say it would be a good addendum to a middle or high school history class. Use it as a starting point to explore our history with your kids.