The Patriot was a historically inaccurate film based on the American Revolution. The Patriot incorrectly displayed main character Benjamin Martin, Colonial Tavington, the British, Loyalists, slavery, military tactics, and factual errors. The main character Benjamin Martin was primarily based incorrectly on the real militia officer Francis Marion. However, Martin was not only based on Marion, he had many characteristics of different historical figures such as Thomas Sumter, Daniel Morgan, Elijah Clarks and Andrew Pickens. The filmmakers compose Martin with all of these different characteristics, in order to form a dramatic narrative by creating a new war hero of the American Revolution that is inaccurate. (Schermaul, 2005) Martin was presented as a single family man who took care of his seven children and also described as a war hero who won over many Britons. (The Patriot) Although Francis Marion persecuted the Cherokee Indians by murdering them for fun. Marion also regularly raped slaves. (Top 10 Misleading Films 2011, 1) On the British side, the leader of the pack, Tavington, has been misrepresented as the historical figure Banastre Tarleton. Tavington has been portrayed as a Nazi leader, such as when he shoots Thomas, one of Benjamin's sons. (The Patriot) He was presented as poor and aristocratic, although he actually came from a prosperous merchant family in Liverpool. Tarleton did not die in the Battle of Cowpens as shown in the film where he died in England fifty years after the end of the war. However, Tarleton was actually a brutal officer who burned down colonial homes and executed freedom fighters, but never targeted women and children and committed violence such as that seen in the films. Also, Martin continues to talk about Taving...... middle of paper...... supplies. (The Patriot) The film misses the true depth of the distress and lack that the continent's regulars suffered for their independence. (Journal of American History 2002, vol. 87) Other factual errors in the film are when Martin's son Gabriel incorrectly salutes by placing his hand on his head, as we do now, but back then, the men saluted by removing their hats. and lower it to the sides. Another factual error is that when Benjamin, also Martin's son, gives money to a store clerk, you can tell that he just gave him a five dollar bill that had Abraham Lincoln on it. (The Patriot) This happened more than eighty years before Lincoln. was president. (Sandys, 2004) Therefore, in conclusion, the Patriot was completely inaccurate regarding the American Revolution. The film showed several inaccuracies such as characters, armies, slavery and minor details..