Ken Burns on Trump’s America 250: ‘Washington needed no monuments’

The American Revolution was a complex, bloody conflict that established foundational democratic principles including religious freedom, self-governance, and the pursuit of happiness as lifelong learning and self-improvement, rather than mere freedom to do whatever one wants; George Washington exemplified the humility and self-possessed character that made him a great leader, needing no monuments to himself, and understanding this complexity helps Americans recognize that history rhymes rather than repeats, providing perspective during challenging moments.