Reliable historical sources History is the study of the past, of what really happened and who was involved in it. To study history itself, it is essential that the source from which the information was taken is real and reliable. It is not acceptable if it contains errors and defects or mixes the truth with some fiction. This essay will investigate and evaluate historical evidence, the Hollywood film The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger, in order to determine whether or not it is reliable and could be used to determine the actual events that occurred during the American fight for the Revolution. To determine the reliability of The Patriot as an accurate historical source is to know whether it is a primary or secondary source of information. A primary source of historical information comes from a person directly involved in that period or from a document written in that period, such as diaries or the Declaration of Independence. In this case, this film is considered a secondary source. One of the advantages of a primary source is that it brings the researcher as close as possible to what actually happened in history and is almost one hundred percent true. It helps to know what the people involved think and their individual points of view on certain events. However, the problem with the primary source is whether they want it or not, historians will have to believe what was written about the source, since there will be no eyewitnesses three hundred years after the event. This is quite challenging... middle of paper... and mixing fact with fiction. There were some real events, but almost all parts of the film are joined by fictional events to add flavor to the action. However, the filmmakers tried to make the film as close as possible to the real events of the American Revolution, basing the characters on real-life people and bringing the scenes to life with special effects and breathtaking costumes. What was probably missing was only the essence of the reliability of the facts and the veracity of all the events contained in the film. Therefore, while providing a fantastic film with great acting and special effects, it is concluded that The Patriot is not an accurate historical source and cannot be used as a reliable documentation of the history of America's Revolutionary War for Independence..