The Congress
The U. S. Congress is one of the country's most important and misunderstood institutions. Ken Burns tells the story behind this branch of government.
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"This documentary explores about 200 years of Congress, from its inception along with the Bill of Rights through its tempestuous Civil War years and its subsequent booming Railroad-era "Millionaire's Club" days, which were followed by New Deal Progressivism and modern-day Congress. The documentary particularly shines when describing some of the big personalities throughout congressional history, who in turn gave the legislative branch a personality of its own. (To name a few: Clay, Calhoun, and Webster; "Uncle" Joseph Gurney Cannon; and Everett "The Wizard of Ooze&..."
💡 Did You Know?
In the introduction, a passing reference is made to slaves who served as congressman. One such example was Benjamin S. Turner. Turner was born into slavery, but after the American Civil War he was elected as a Republican to the Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1871 - March 3, 1873). Another example is Robert Smalls, whose daring escape from slavery during the Civil War deserves its own documented chapter in U.S. history. Smalls was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1874, when he served two terms.
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📖 Synopsis
The U. S. Congress is one of the country's most important and misunderstood institutions. Ken Burns tells the story behind this branch of government.