Introduction
Although Hollywood cannot be considered the most reliable source of historical information, the movies being produced help the general audience learn more about past events and understand their significance. The American Revolution was a pivotal moment in the political and socioeconomic development of the United States, as it established the country’s national identity. The colonies settled in the New World had no shared identity and owed allegiance to the British government. While such a model had been effective for some time, the colonial economy was exploitative, with settlers becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the Crown’s rule.
The four leading causes of the revolution included the Taxation Acts (taxes imposed on British goods being imported into the colonies), the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770, the Boston Tea Party of December 16, 1773, and the Intolerable Acts of 1774 (History.com Editors 2023). Consequently, the revolution severed the colonies’ attachment to Britain and the crown, replacing it with individual independence, republicanism, and newly established national institutions.
Plot Overview and Central Themes
The Patriot, directed by Roland Emmerich, retells the story of Benjamin Martin, a French and Indian War veteran, widower, and planter. Martin was reluctant to participate in the battles against the British when, in 1776, South Carolina voted for independence (Ross n.d.). The protagonist was forced to take the side of the Revolutionaries when the British troops came and burned his home and harmed his family. Martin’s military experience paid off as he assumed leadership of the local militia in the efforts to banish the enemy from their land, including the cutting of supply lines and attacking outposts.
The story highlights the significant role that ordinary people played in achieving American independence. Even though Martin and his troops do have to pay a high personal price for the liberation from the British, they manage to persevere and play a defining role in defeating the enemy army in South Carolina. After the surrender of the Brits, the protagonist returns to his state and starts rebuilding an independent America.
Historical Inaccuracies and Omissions
The film is generally accurate in its depiction of the violence that occurred on the frontier during the French and Indian War, which took place before the main events of the plot. Despite the filmmakers’ attempts to make the movie historically accurate by consulting historians from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, some inaccuracies remain that cannot be ignored. In particular, many parts of the movie do not accurately reflect the real events in terms of both broad themes and specific details.
Robert Rodat, the screenwriter, noted that the protagonist was a composite of historical figures such as Daniel Morgan (American Revolution tactician), Thomas Sumter (legislator and officer), Andrew Pickens (leader of the patriot forces), and Francis Marion (military leader). Similar to Marion, the protagonist establishes his military headquarters on an island surrounded by a swamp. Besides, both Sumter and Pickens decided to join and take up arms after their plantations were attacked and burned by the British. Besides these facts, Martin has very little in common with his intended real historical counterparts.
One of the worst mistakes in The Patriot is the nearly complete omission of the Loyalists, who were a sizeable part of the Carolinas and Georgia population that remained loyal to the crown. Although the militia units containing the Loyalists constituted half of the British army in the South, the movie shows only one soldier, Captain Wilkins, who belongs to Colonel Tavington’s dragoons. Moreover, the violence in which Colonel Tavington and his troops are involved is extremely exaggerated, which is a significant criticism of the film.
For example, there is a scene where the militia locks screaming women, children, and the elderly in a church and sets it on fire. It is crucial to note that none of such atrocities occurred during the Revolutionary War. Finally, there is no mention of slavery, which definitely was prevalent at the time. The main character is a prominent planter in South Carolina, which means that they would have enslaved people, but this fact was omitted because it could taint the good reputation of the film’s hero. For this reason, one must not take the depiction of historical events in The Patriot seriously.
Depiction of Revolutionary War Battles and Military Tactics
What the movie did get right were the scenes showing the battles of the Revolutionary War, such as the Battle of Camden and the Battle of Cowpens. The sight of armies marching toward one another before a battle commences is something that only happens on the screen. The troops are assembled in regimented columns when preparing to fire from their rifles, which is unusual to see, considering the modern tactics involving trench warfare and taking solid defensive positions. Research revealed that during the American Revolution, guerrilla warfare was among the prevalent methods of warfare, typically implemented when revolutionaries sought to avoid direct battles.
During the head-on confrontation, Americans typically fought in conventional linear formations, as depicted in the movie. An infantry formation assembled into lines of two to three ranks was intended to be less susceptible to artillery fire compared to a block formation of infantry. Besides, as loading guns took some time, which left the infantry vulnerable to an attack, the line strategy entailed placing soldiers in three ranks. When the enemy came within the range of the shot, the first line fired and then knelt to reload, leaving the next line available to shoot and reload, and so on. Although it may appear outdated, the method was effective for some time until new approaches emerged. The movie shows that the victory of the Revolutionary Army was well worth it.
In the final battle scene sequence depicting the Cowpens battle, the British and American armies are seen assuming line formations on top of two hills and begin moving toward each other to meet within shooting distance. From behind the revolutionaries, the artillery is at work, aiming at the line formations of the matching British army. The revolutionary army gets the first shot, and the audience sees the crown’s soldiers fall to the ground, either dead or wounded. As their enemy reloads, the British shoot as well, hitting the Revolutionaries.
The British cavalry, led by Tavington, assumed positions further behind the main linear formation and was supposed to attack later. Tavington is furious with Martin’s leadership and leads his cavalry toward the Revolutionaries, potentially ruining the tactical plans made by the British. An imbalance in power is evident, which is why Martin calls for the troops to retreat quickly, leading Charles Cornwallis to believe that his army has prevailed. However, it turned out that a significant part of the Revolutionary army was hiding below a hill, and the Brits were led into a trap.
By today’s standards, such a tactical trick may seem evident and even laughable, but at the time of the American Revolution, it was frequently employed to confuse the enemy and achieve a strategic advantage overall. The final battle sequence in itself does not accurately depict the Battle of Cowpens; it also fails to accurately portray the soldiers’ attire, particularly since the Continental soldiers were severely deprived of clothing and provisions during the war (Ross n.d.). Importantly, the field artillery used by both the British and Americans could not fire exploding shells, despite what is shown in the movie. However, the scene sequence reflects the tactics of warfare of that time, although in simpler terms.
Conclusion
To summarize, The Patriot is an entertaining movie that uses the events of the American Revolution as a backdrop to show how war can affect people. Even Mel Gibson, who played the protagonist, admitted that the film did not aim for historical accuracy and that, on many levels, it was sheer fantasy. However, despite such limitations, it does not mean that one should avoid watching a film because it has some mistakes in the representation of historical events, as there is still entertainment value.
What is important is that viewers recognize the presence of inaccuracies and are able to look past them; after all, human experience during war is a universal topic. The struggle for independence remains relevant for many nations worldwide, even in the present day, and the heroic deeds of Benjamin Martin can be seen as inspirational to people.
References
Ross, William. n.d. “The Patriot: Movie Review.” Study the Past.
Phillips, Kevin. 2000. “‘Patriot’s’ Skirmish with Truth.” Los Angeles Times.
History.com Editors. 2023. “Boston Tea Party.” HISTORY.