The
popular film The Patriot is loosely based on the exploits of
several real life historical figures including a British officer,
Lt. Col. Banstre Tarleton and several American patriots: the
"Swamp Fox," Francis Marion, Daniel Morgan, Elijah
Clark, Thomas Sumter and Andrew Pickens.
Watch
the trailer
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Exploration
1: Fact and Fiction
Like
many historical films, "The Patriot" involves a mixture
of fact and fiction. In one scene, a British officer orders
his troops to burn down a church that is crowded with Patriot
women, men, and children. Although no such episode occurred
during the Revolution, a similar event occurred during World
War II, when a German Panzer Division burned down a church in
the French village of Oradour-sur-Glane on June 10, 1944.
Information
about Oradour-sur-Glane (http://www.oradour.info/)
Why
do you think the film included this incident?
Exploration 2: As Evil As the Movie Claims?
The
British officer in the film, who is named Col. Tavlington, but
who is based on Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, is depicted as cruel
and evil.
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To
learn about Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, go to:
http://www.patriotresource.com/people/tarleton.html
For
a comparison between the real life Banastre Tarleton and the
cinematic Colonel Tavington, see:
http://clioseye.sfasu.edu/chronicles/patriotchron.htm
and scroll down to "The Real Colonel Tavington"