Dominic Sandbrook credits Benjamin Franklin with securing the vital French alliance that ensured the success of the American Revolution.

“France's entry into the war does tip the balance. And when in 1783, the British finally agree terms with their rebellious colonies. They agree to recognize American independence, it is Franklin who has led the negotiations and it is Franklin who signs what comes to be known as the Treaty of Paris.”

Tom Holland argues that Benjamin Franklin played a decisive role in shifting American opinion toward independence and ultimately in the war's outcome.

“He would end up a a huge influence on the course of the war. It is Franklin who more than anyone else um serves to bring the French in on the side of the Americans with kind of massive consequences.”

Ken Burns argues that land, specifically Native American land, was the single biggest cause of American separatism from Great Britain.

“Land. Um, the American Revolution can be seen if you want to turn it around and take it from a purely European or British u context, a global war, the fifth global war over the prize of North America. And when you say prize, you mean the land. And when you mean land, you mean Native American land.”

Conan O'Brien views the American Revolution as a significant political experiment that should be embraced despite the flawed nature of its creators.

“It doesn't mean you can't love this experiment. It is an experiment. We can never forget that. It's an experiment, and we have to be honest with ourselves about our past.”

The American Revolution is an important story of citizenship, patriotism, and the complicated nature of the American experiment.

“And we can talk today a little bit about, I think, some of the takeaways from both of those films actually are the same and have to do with citizenship and patriotism and the complicated nature of the American experiment.”