Essay - American History Amistad (1997) Director: Stephen Spielberg: Spielberg's Film is...

American History

Amistad (1997) Director: Stephen Spielberg: Spielberg's film is a big-budget dramatic reenactment of an actual slave revolt on board the Am*****tad. No Americ***** history class would be complete without a direct and frank reference to ***** mechanics and realities of the trans-Atlantic slave trade ***** Amistad delivers the full impact ***** the topic. Because ***** is based on a true story, ***** film is all the more important and significant as well as being enjoyable to watch. Much of the film also addresses the legal trial that *****ok place as a result of ***** 1839 mutiny. Teachers can discuss the Amistad revolt and its consequences in light of other famous slave *****s and demonstrate the long and harried process of abolition in the United States.

***** Patriot (2000) Director: Roland Emmerich: Although not an exceptionally good movie, The Patriot does successfully reenact Revolutionary War battles, illustrates the role of independent militias in the Revolutionary *****, and visually depicts the conflict between the Loyalists and ***** Revolutionaries. As such, The Patriot is an appropriate film for middle school ***** students, as it ***** bring to life the events ***** themes covered in textbooks *****d class discussions.

Colonel Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) joins a militi***** after British soldiers kill his son. ***** fueled by personal vendetta, the quest for independence becomes one reflective of overarching political and social values. The film's most ***** contribution ***** an Americ***** history ***** may be ***** depiction of militia movements and their ***** in winning the war. Moreover, ***** film shows how many Americans were on the side of the British: these Loyalists played an active role in the Revoluti***** and many of them eventually settled in Canada. Teachers can and should use ***** Patriot to illustrate the various aspects of the Revolutionary War because the film is a modern and ********** easily accessible movie for young people.

The Alamo (1960) Director: John Wayne: Th***** American classic directed ***** and starring John ***** as the legendary Davy Crockett is an apt addition to a California-b*****ed ***** history class. Before Texas or California were stars on the American flag, they were Mexican territories, ***** The ***** recalls the way the West was won. In 1836, General Santa Anna almost succeeded in secur*****g the territories now known as Texas, but a small group of Texan rebels succeeded in ousting ***** Mexican army. Precisely because the film is decidedly flawed in its culturally biased portrayal ***** Mexican culture and history, teachers in California should use the film as a media literacy exercise as well as an exercise in American history. In fact, one of the responsibilities of the American ***** teacher is to teach students how to critically examine the stories presented to ***** by the media.

Platoon (1986) *****: Oliver St*****: Platoon is one ***** the best war movies ever made, a disturbingly re*****listic ***** of ***** Vietnam War ***** its c*****ualties. Not only are civilian and military deaths dis***** in detail but ***** the consequences