The Patriot: heroism, invisible slavery, and cutting-edge chair technology Decipher History
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- History
People
Roland Emmerich and Mel Gibson and historical rigor (or lack thereof).
Period technologies
Rocking chairs! Pushing the edge of period chair technology. Actually a relatively new thing, so you could see why Mel might have been having some trouble. Smooth-bore firearms and the eventual transition to Longrifles. Militias vs armies and the frequency of rifled weapons between them. Reload times. Minié balls, loading speed, and rifle accuracy.
Banistre Tarleton
Maybe the name was too deliciously posh and British? So they changed it to William Tavington. Maybe kind of a jerk, but clearly not the caricature we see in the film. Blowing your inheritence on women and gambling vs buying hundreds of horses. Buying your military commissions whether you deserve it or not.
Heroism
Should we even try to approach the legitimacy of the “hero?” Humans: always flawed through some lens and operating within their time and experience.
Militia
Militias vs armies. The problem in modern armies of humans not really wanting to kill other humans.
War crimes
Ungentlemanly conduct. Continental congress early investigations for propaganda. Zero documented mass-slaughter church-burnings.
Slavery
Do not be misled: it was happening during this period. Especially in South Carolina. Promises (lies) of post-war freedom. Numbers on the British and Patriot sides.
Support the show!
People
Roland Emmerich and Mel Gibson and historical rigor (or lack thereof).
Period technologies
Rocking chairs! Pushing the edge of period chair technology. Actually a relatively new thing, so you could see why Mel might have been having some trouble. Smooth-bore firearms and the eventual transition to Longrifles. Militias vs armies and the frequency of rifled weapons between them. Reload times. Minié balls, loading speed, and rifle accuracy.
Banistre Tarleton
Maybe the name was too deliciously posh and British? So they changed it to William Tavington. Maybe kind of a jerk, but clearly not the caricature we see in the film. Blowing your inheritence on women and gambling vs buying hundreds of horses. Buying your military commissions whether you deserve it or not.
Heroism
Should we even try to approach the legitimacy of the “hero?” Humans: always flawed through some lens and operating within their time and experience.
Militia
Militias vs armies. The problem in modern armies of humans not really wanting to kill other humans.
War crimes
Ungentlemanly conduct. Continental congress early investigations for propaganda. Zero documented mass-slaughter church-burnings.
Slavery
Do not be misled: it was happening during this period. Especially in South Carolina. Promises (lies) of post-war freedom. Numbers on the British and Patriot sides.
Support the show!