“An Asylum for Mankind (May 1775 – July 1776)” presents the period leading up to the Declaration of Independence as uncertain, contested, and shaped by fear, violence, and competing interests. How does this portrayal of 1775–1776 compare to the versions of the Revolution implied by Jill Lepore and Newt Gingrich? Which elements of the documentary align more closely with Lepore’s view of the past as contingent and unstable, and which elements—if any—support Gingrich’s emphasis on moral clarity and national purpose?