Last weekend I watched (rented from Blockbuster) part 1 and part 2 of the PBS special entitled "John Adams".  This is a magnificent movie based on David McCullough's bestseller "John Adams".  Sometimes when movies are made theatrical license is taken or history is revised, but very little of that was done in this movie.  Yes there was license taken by collapsing the Boston Massacre trial into one trial for the officer and soldiers rather than the two trials that actually took place; however, I believe this movie was very true to history.

The thing I loved so much about this movie is that it actually tell the true history surrounding the Declaration of Independence.  Now days everyone seems to think that the 56 signers got together on July 4, 1776, voted, then signed the Declaration.... and we had independence.  This movie actually shows the debates that took place in the Continental Congress.

The movie started in 1770 with the Boston Massacre and Adams's principled defense of the British soldiers and the rule of law.  Adams did not like what the British were doing, but he believed in the rule of law.

Adams gets elected to the Continental Congress and pushes for action, but quickly becomes disgusted with Congress's inactivity and "compromise".  The movie correctly portrays John Dickinson, delegate from Pennsylvania, and the Olive Branch Petition.  Adams nominates George Washington to be commander of the Continental Army. 

Concord and Lexington is briefly shown and later the Battle of Bunker Hill.  The deplorable conditions of the untrained, undisciplined and ill-equipped troops surrounding Boston was shown.  Henry Knox returning from Fort Ticonderoga with tens of thousands of pounds of artillery and a very short segment on the fortification of Dorchester Heights driving the British from Boston was also shown.  In my view, subtitles with dates and locations would have been helpful.

But the thrust of part 1 and part 2 was the debate that took place in the Old Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) and the side discussions at City Tavern.  There were actual excerpts from Dickinson's speech against the Declaration and excerpts from Adams's speech for the Declaration taken from July 1, 1776.

That night discussions took place and on July 2, 1776, with Dickinson voluntarily absent, the vote was taken, 12 colonies for independence and one colony abstaining (New York).  Part 2 ended with the July 4th reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Abigail Adams was great along with the portrayals of Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty.  It is said that John Adams was the voice of the Revolution and Thomas Jefferson was the pen... this movie clearly shows that.

This movie is a must see and I am looking forward to watching parts 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.  And of course for a more in-depth look at these events I highly recommend reading the 700-page volume by David McCullough entitled "John Adams".