Washington & Lincoln: A Watchlist of the American Spirit in Two Men

The American spirit has long sustained a great love affair with the concept of freedom.

U.S. Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, whose birthdays are celebrated together this year on February 17^th, embodied the American spirit of human dignity and freedom from oppression. Over 200 years since America's founding, movies and TV are still enthralled with them.

Washington (2020)

The History Channel offers a 3-part docuseries about George Washington, half-scripted and half-documentary. Beginning with his first command as an officer in the French and Indian War, the first episode concludes as he is called to lead the fledgling colonial army as Commander in Chief.

It’s a fascinating trip through the life and leadership of a man who, at the end of it all, happily hung up his hat to go back to his farm.

Stream on History, Hulu, Prime Video and more.

For the Kids: This is America, Charlie Brown

A childhood favorite, this is an eight-episode series about American history, narrated (and sometimes participated in) by the Peanuts gang.

Episode 2, “The Birth of the Constitution,” shows the Founding Fathers discussing and writing the Constitution, including President Washington.

Align your viewing with the corresponding historical dates through the year, or watch the series in order — each episode stands alone and is purely faithful to American history. Watch on Internet Archive, YouTube, Vudu or DVD.

The History Channel’s Abraham Lincoln (2022)

Part documentary, part drama, the History Channel presents another documentary miniseries about the president who led through some of the nation’s hardest trials.

Partially narrated by historians, it offers an even-handed take on Lincoln’s life, from his difficult, impoverished childhood to his untimely death. Civil War buffs will enjoy it, and so will any adult interested in the development of our country.

Stream on History, Apple TV, Prime Video and more.

Lincoln (2012)

Everyone knows that Lincoln (played by British actor Daniel Day-Lewis) freed the slaves, but few understand the effort it took. This film, lauded as one of director Steven Spielberg’s best, explores the efforts of the 16th president to get legislators to pass the 13^th Constitutional Amendment as the Civil War ends.

It’s gritty, in a guys-in-suits-looking-tense sort of way, and it excellently portrays Lincoln’s fight to get careless politicians to do the right thing, down to the very last vote.

Stream on Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube and more.

Hamilton (2020)

Washington also features heavily in the 2020 feature-length musical Hamilton. Written by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, it’s the somewhat-embellished story of Alexander Hamilton, an incredible lawyer, an author of the Federalist Papers, and orator.

The impetuous Hamilton had a tumultuous personal life, but his story is the quintessential, bootstraps American tale: born illegitimately in the West Indies, his brilliance was evident from a young age, and he rose high through the ranks of history.

Available on Disney+.

John Adams (2008)

HBO’s award-winning miniseries John Adams tells our second president’s story. Famous partially for the beautiful correspondence he had with his wife, Abigail, he was a lawyer, ambassador, and Founding Father who lived to see his son become our sixth president.

The series covers events from the Boston Massacre to Adams’ retirement, and includes his time in France and friendship with Thomas Jefferson.

Stream on Max, Hulu, Prime Video and more.

Image: Adobe Stock

Sophia Sariego is a Los Angeles native working in the pro-life movement. She loves Eucharistic Adoration, making music, and hitting the beaches in her spare time.