The Great War: Chapter 2 Recap, the Dark Side of Patriotism

In its second chapter, PBS’ American Experience’s The Great War explores the darker side of patriotism.

PBS’ The Great War continued last night with an episode on America going to war. The second chapter dove into the struggles for women’s suffrage, the identity of German Americans, the plight of African Americans during this time period and the darker side of patriotism.

To say that The Great War’s second chapter wasn’t easy watching is an understatement. WW1 is a huge event in the history of the world, and even when you try to limit your exploration of the event to America you have your hands full.

Much of this chapter was spent pulling away the shiny veneer of patriotism and exposing the dark currents flowing through the United States. The actions of the government in regards to women’s suffrage, worker’s rights, African American rights, its German citizens, and even the freedom of the press are all motivated by a twisted idea that patriotism in war should come above all else.

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The episode beings with the famous WWI song “Over There” and a rousing patriotic feel, but by the time the episode ends you come to question whether those patriotic songs and posters aren’t doing more harm than good.

Americans, on the whole, don’t know much about World War I, and they know even less about the actions the government of the United States took during this dark time. You can’t help but compare the thinking and motivation behind things like the Sedition Act and the Patriot Act. Whether intentional or not this chapter of The Great War will have you thinking about the state of America today.

The Great War will conclude on PBS tonight, Wednesday, April 12.

What did you think of the second chapter of The Great War? Let us know in the comments below.