In a movie based in fact, there is almost always some fudging of details to be had. In the movie The Patriot, there was a fair bit of detail, but also plenty of inaccuracies. Despite the amount of truth that it presented, there were also some glaringly obvious mistakes, both for the betterment of the movie, and, certainly, some unwitting negligences. The first thing that I noticed about the movie The Patriot was that the main character’s name was Benjamin Martin. This in itself is historically inaccurate, as there is no recorded soldier named Benjamin Martin who did that which he did in the movie. In my research, I discovered that he was a mix of multiple men, most notably Francis Marion, as well as Andrew Pickens, Thomas Sumter, Daniel Morgans, and Elijah Clarke. Among them, Francis Marion was the closest to the character, with the nickname “Swamp Fox” (Cummings). He trained his men to become proficient in guerrilla warfare, which is what Martin did in the film. This could have been corrected by merely choosing to name the character Francis Marion, and sticking more closely to what the man did in truth. …show more content…
In the timeframe of the Revolutionary War, gentlemanly warfare was still practiced. If soldiers were in military garb, they could not be charged with espionage, as they were clearly not trying to hide their patriot status (Andrews). In the movie, the British officials were planning to hang Gabriel for spying, while in patriot uniform. If they had done that in real life, it would have been illegal. Martin does attempt to point this out to the official, but he goes ahead with it anyway. This part was only put in to further the plot, not to follow historical fact, and could been avoided altogether. However, this cruelty brings me to my final
The movie, The Patriot, is the story of a South Carolina plantation owner, Benjamin Martin, who leads a local militia against British troops in the South during the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. Martin, who is a widower with six children and a veteran of the French and Indian War, wants nothing to do with the war until a brutal British Colonel, William Tavington, kills one of his sons and takes his eldest son, a member of the Continental Army, prisoner. Martin, who’s character is loosely based on Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, uses guerrilla warfare to cut British supply lines and attack outposts in an attempt to slow General
Have you ever seen “The Patriot”? If you have do you know the truth behind it because some parts really happened and some parts didn’t. Meaning that “The Patriot” is somewhat historically accurate. The Patriot is somewhat historically accurate because the main character Benjamin Martin was not a real person he was based on Francis Marion, the Battle of Cowpens was exactly the same because the colonist had extra help to fight off the British, and the surrender of Colonel Cornwallis was somewhat alike because his army could not get around the French and the colonist in history and in the movie. So “The Patriot” has many differences and similarities to history.
The film 1776, directed by Peter H Hunt, produced by Columbia Pictures, and starring actors such as William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, Ken Howard, and more is a comedic and musical retelling of the events and struggles occurring in congress leading up to the declaration of the USA’s independence from Britain. The film takes place during 1776 in Philadelphia, mostly within the Carpenter’s Hall where the Second Continental Congress was held. While it only took place within Philadelphia, it was able to present the attitudes of the different colonies through the delegates.
The Patriot The movie, The Patriot, was released in the year 2000. It is a drama/action film that relates to the American Revolutionary War. Although the plot of the movie is fictional there are many aspects that relate to what happened in the war, but some have discrepancies. The Patriot is the story of a South Carolina plantation owner, Benjamin Martin, who is played by Mel Gibson. It is more a story of a family during the war then the war itself.
Who was the man behind the myth of the “Swamp Fox” and what is the legend of the general? Francis Marion was born February 26, 1732 in Berkeley County, South Carolina to a family of plantation owners. Not much is known about his early life before he began his military career. The only information that is known is that from the manuscripts of the men who served with him. What he is most known for are his accomplishments as a military leader and a solider. General Tarleton of the British forces, stated, about Francis Marion, that “as for this damned old fox, the devil himself could not catch him” this statement was the beginning of his nickname the “swamp Fox”. He was not just this myth of a General of the American Revolution he was just an everyday American who just happen to be very good at his craft of being a military leader and strategist. And who’s legend is shadowed in both fact and fiction through the years of time.
Movies are made to be sold and not history to be perfectly told. If movies include a complete history, it wouldn't be known as a movie anymore. However, it would be called a documentary, which most people get fed up of. So interpretations, exaggerations and idealistic scenes are added to the movie to make it more interesting for the audience. "The Patriot" is a similar film made during the modern day time about a time period in which none of the experienced the real revolution. Politically, socially, and culturally, "The Patriot" attempts to give a sense of the scope of aspects involved in the American Revolution. Despite succeeding in this regard, it still lacks details that reveal the true complexity of the mixed sentiments present in
But, if Benjamin Martin is fake, who historically really made this brilliant plan? According to http://www.patriotresource.com/thepatriot/factfiction/battles/cowpens.html , It was Daniel Morgan’s idea at the Battle of Cowpens to use the militia as a decoy. Benjamin Martins plan for this battle was a parody of Daniel Morgan’s plan for the Battle of Cowpens. So,in conclusion Benjamin Martin’s brilliant plan was in fact an imitation of Daniel Morgan's plan.
The Civil War was a time of fighting within the United States brought on by many events including the Missouri Compromise, abolition movement, presidential election of 1860, secession of Southern states, and other occurrences. Most Southern states seceded from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America. The big divide stemmed from the differing positions on slavery. The North had been gradually abolishing slavery and did not depend on such free labor in the way the South did. The agricultural dependant economy of the South relied on African American labor. Therefore, each side feared the stance the government would take on the issue of slavery and how that would affect the economy and politics of the nation. From 1861 to 1865, the
Martin's army however overcomes much adversity, and plays a large part in the Continental effort. They later join up with the main Continental Army, and along with the long awaited arrival of the French, force Cornwallis and the British to surrender at Yorktown. Benjamin also gets his revenge by killing Tavington in the battle. This spells victory for the Americans and personal victory for Benjamin Martin. After the white flag is raised Martin returns to his family to rebuild his house and his life.
Public consensus, similar to politics, varies greatly when it comes to American history, especially as it pertains to the classroom. Views about the content and historical interpretation included in history texts have reached a heightened polarization in recent years. This can be seen in the vast differences between the diatribes of Howard Zinn’s, A People’s History of the United States, and Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen’s, A Patriot’s History of the United States. While both books, prescribed by this introductory course into American History, cover many of the same topics, they clearly paint different pictures. I feel that any text seeking to represent a responsible survey of a
I think that the movie “The Patriot” was somewhat historically accurate. I think that it was somewhat historically accurate because of Benjamin Martin, Colonel Tavington, and the Battle of Cowpens. Also because some things that were demonstrated in the movie; are true facts. Some things that happened in the movie are not, some things are fabricated by the producers of the movie. So the movie cannot be completely historically inaccurate, and the movie cannot be completely historically accurate. So I think that “The Patriot” was somewhat historically accurate.
1776 is a film about the path to American independence. Specifically the actions and conversations that the continental congress took part in. John Adams is the first character that is introduced in the movie. He has proposed the Idea of American independence before the congress 23 times and has been rejected every time because Adams is perceived as obnoxious and disliked within the congress. Adams goes to Benjamin Franklin for help getting congress to listen to him and Franklin suggests that they get Richard Henry Lee to propose Independence instead of Adams, because the congressmen like Lee more than Adams. Richard Lee then proceeds to go to his home colony of Virginia to get approval for the resolution. Lee comes back to Philadelphia
In the two films The Patriot, and 1776, there were some similarities and there were differences. Some of the similarities and differences had to do with the setting and the time period it was in. Also in the films the some of the characters shared the same traits, the wars in the movies in the movies were also different like in The Patriot it had a lot to do with war but in the 1776 movie it had to do with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. They both both share the one important thing America’s independence.
Historic movies are often produced with the premise that they will tell an honest tale about the past, but how accurate are they really? The Patriot is a historical movie the shows the life of an ex-war hero, Benjamin Martin, and his life continuing on through the American Revolution. This includes his interaction with the soldiers and generals, his political stance, and his involvement through the towns. Because the Benjamin Martin is fictional The Patriot cannot be called 100% accurate, but that doesn't mean that other aspects shown were inaccurate. The Patriot demonstrates authentic knowledge of history militarily, socially, and politically.
The “Patriot” takes place in South Carolina in 1776 during the Revolutionary War. It is a story about a widowed father of seven, named Benjamin Martin. Benjamin was involved in the French and Indian War before marrying and starting a family. He is reluctant to join the conflict as he remembers too well his own experience in the earlier French and Indian War. After his wife passed away he does everything to keep his family together and away from war. He is a patriot who wants no part in a war with Britain.