Part 10/14:
He emphasizes that the ideas of universal rights and equality, sparked by the revolution, have repeatedly expanded. He cites the inclusion of Native Americans, women, and enslaved people in the framers’ evolving conception of rights as a process—an “expanding universe”—that continues today.
The Role of Historic Figures and Process in Unity
Burns underscores that figures like George Washington were complex—a man of flaws but also a unifying leader capable of inspiring disparate colonies to unite as Americans. He stresses that democracy is a process, not a static achievement, and that both individual leaders and institutions contribute to building national cohesion amidst divisions.