The American Revolution
Thirteen colonies unite in rebellion, win their independence, and found the United States.
In Order to Be Free (May 1754 – May 1775)
S1 Ep1 | 1h 56m 9s
Political protest escalates into violence. War gives thirteen colonies a common cause.
An Asylum for Mankind (May 1775 – July 1776)
S1 Ep2 | 2h 4m 18s
Washington takes command of the Continental Army. Congress declares American independence.
The Times That Try Men’s Souls (July 1776 – January 1777)
S1 Ep3 | 1h 54m 35s
Washington abandons New York City and flees across New Jersey, before attacking Trenton.
Conquer by a Drawn Game (January 1777 – February 1778)
S1 Ep4 | 1h 55m 38s
Philadelphia falls, but the American victory at Saratoga allows France to enter the war.
The Soul of All America (December 1777 – May 1780)
S1 Ep5 | 1h 53m 53s
The war drags on and moves to new theaters: at sea, in Indian Country, and in the South.
The Most Sacred Thing (May 1780 – Onward)
S1 Ep6 | 2h 10m 41s
Victory at Yorktown secures independence. Americans aspire for a more perfect union.
From A Small Spark
S1 Ep1 | 50s
A spark ignites—quiet, unstoppable. What follows changes everything.
Episode 1: Introduction
S1 Ep1 | 9m 39s
The American Revolution will be a war that will pit brother against brother – and birth a nation.
How Land, Taxes and Rebellion Sparked the American Revolution
S1 Ep1 | 7m 28s
The Stamp Act and taxes on American colonists lead to unrest and threaten to cause a revolution.
How the Townshend Acts Fueled a Resistance Movement
S1 Ep1 | 3m 11s
When the British imposed new taxes, women joined the Resistance Movement by the thousands.
Liberty for Whom? Slavery, Protest and the Ideals of the Revolution
S1 Ep1 | 7m 32s
The revolutionary ideals of liberty spread across the colonies while many suffer from enslavement.
Rising Tensions Didn't Keep European Settlers from Coming to North America
S1 Ep1 | 2m 56s
Thousands poured down the Great Wagon Road, eager to start a new life in North America’s interior.
Tea, Tar and Tyranny: How the Boston Tea Party Changed Everything
S1 Ep1 | 9m 26s
Bostonians protest the newly passed Tea Act by dumping 46 tons of tea into the Boston Harbor.
The Boston Massacre
S1 Ep1 | 7m 52s
A bloody clash between Bostonians and the British army leaves five dead in the Boston Massacre.
The Shot Heard ’Round the World: Lexington, Concord and the Start of War
S1 Ep1 | 11m 39s
Tensions erupt as colonists confront the British Army at Lexington and Concord, beginning the war.
George Washington Goes to War
S1 Ep2 | 52s
Extolling Washington's qualities in leadership, command and mental faculties.
Preview: An Asylum for Mankind
S1 Ep2 | 30s
Washington takes command of the Continental Army. Congress declares American independence.
“Common Sense” and the Birth of a New World
S1 Ep2 | 6m 36s
"Common Sense" awakens the American colonies to the idea of true independence.
Dunmore’s Proclamation & Black Americans in the Revolution
S1 Ep2 | 9m 20s
Royal governor Lord Dunmore offers freedom to enslaved people that fight their Patriot masters.
George Washington: Farmer, Patriot, Commander
S1 Ep2 | 4m 56s
George Washington assumes command of the Continental Army and must turn it into a unified force.
John Peters… an enemy to Congress?
S1 Ep2 | 2m 5s
John Peters was the most respected man in his small settlement until the First Continental Congress.
One of the Most Extraordinary Expeditions in American History
S1 Ep2 | 6m 56s
Henry Knox leads a daring expedition to deliver artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston.
The Battle of Quebec
S1 Ep2 | 8m 18s
Benedict Arnold's army braves the fierce winter to attack Quebec City in Canada.
The Declaration of Independence & Birth of the United States
S1 Ep2 | 11m 47s
Thomas Jefferson writes the Declaration of Independence and proclaims all men are created equal.
Preview: The Times That Try Men’s Souls
S1 Ep3 | 30s
Washington abandons New York City and flees across New Jersey, before attacking Trenton.
Democracy & The Adoption of the Articles of Confederation
S1 Ep3 | 6m 14s
The Continental Congress meets to debate and adopt the Articles of Confederation.
The Battle of Bunker Hill
S1 Ep3 | 5m 24s
The British assault Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill near Boston in the bloodiest battle of the war.
The Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn)
S1 Ep3 | 6m 10s
General Clinton ambushes George Washington in the largest battle of the American Revolution.
The Battle of Trenton
S1 Ep3 | 6m 44s
Washington devises a bold plan to cross the Delaware River and attack Trenton on Christmas night.
Tsi’yu-gunsini and the American Revolution on the Frontier
S1 Ep3 | 5m 48s
Cherokee chief Tsi'yu-gunsini, Dragging Canoe in English, fights against Patriot settlers.
Warpath of Nations: The Naval Battle That Prevented a Canadian Invasion
S1 Ep3 | 5m 46s
Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold rush to stop the British sailing down Lake Champlain.
Saratoga: A Psychological Turning Point
S1 Ep4 | 33s
Historian Stephen Conway on the psychological impact of Saratoga on the British.
Turning the Tide in New Jersey
S1 Ep4 | 59s
With Washington commanding less than 3,000, the winter of 1777 became a fight over supplies.
Preview: Conquer by a Drawn Game
S1 Ep4 | 30s
Philadelphia falls, but the American victory at Saratoga allows France to enter the war.
A New Flag for a New Country
S1 Ep4 | 1m 9s
Artistic renderings of the Revolution often include the flag, but little is known about its origins.
Patriot Victory at the Battle of Saratoga
S1 Ep4 | 8m 59s
After days of fighting at Saratoga, Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates secure a Patriot victory.
Religion & the Revolutionaries
S1 Ep4 | 2m 5s
Most revolutionaries were Protestants, but there were also Catholics, Jews, and Muslims.
The Articles of Confederation
S1 Ep4 | 2m 14s
The Articles were weak by design and left Congress unable to pay soldiers in the Continental Army.
The Battle of Saratoga Begins
S1 Ep4 | 6m 18s
General Horatio Gates' force clashes with the British, beginning the Battle of Saratoga.
The British Capture Philadelphia & The Battle of Germantown
S1 Ep4 | 6m 29s
The British seize Philadelphia, but Washington plans to retake the city at the Battle of Germantown.
The Haudenosaunee Choose Sides in the American Revolution
S1 Ep4 | 8m 7s
The Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee choose opposing sides at the Battle of Oriskany.
The Real People Who Fought the American Revolution
S1 Ep4 | 4m 31s
Washington uses bonuses and drafts to encourage Americans to join the Continental Army.
Preview: The Soul of All America
S1 Ep5 | 30s
The war drags on and moves to new theaters: at sea, in Indian Country, and in the South.
Britain and the Southern Strategy
S1 Ep5 | 4m
When it becomes clear that the British won’t win in New England, they set their sights on the South.
Episode 5: Introduction
S1 Ep5 | 5m 56s
The American Revolution has spilled into a global war, but the United States hangs on by a thread.
Financing the American Revolution
S1 Ep5 | 2m 59s
The economic realities of the war start to settle in for both the Americans and the British.
Spain Joins the American Revolution Against the British
S1 Ep5 | 5m 43s
Spain joins the war, but not as an ally of American independence – as an enemy of Britain.
The Battle of Monmouth
S1 Ep5 | 8m 56s
The Continental Army engages the British in the last major battle in the North of the Revolution.
The British Siege of Charleston
S1 Ep5 | 4m 44s
The British surround and siege Charleston, South Carolina, one of the largest cities in America.
Winter at Valley Forge: Hardship & Desperation
S1 Ep5 | 4m 26s
The Continental Army threatens to unravel while suffering harsh winter conditions at Valley Forge.
Preview: The Most Sacred Thing
S1 Ep6 | 30s
Victory at Yorktown secures independence. Americans aspire for a more perfect union.
Benedict Arnold Turns Traitor and Defects to the British
S1 Ep6 | 6m 4s
George Washington discovers that Benedict Arnold has abandoned his post and defected to the British.
Bernardo de Gálvez & His Big Ambitions
S1 Ep6 | 3m 20s
When Spain enters the war, the governor of Spanish Louisiana sees his chance to retake West Florida.
Elizabeth Freeman Successfully Sues for Her Freedom
S1 Ep6 | 1m 46s
Mumbet, later known as Elizabeth Freeman, would help bring an end to slavery in Massachusetts.
Episode 6: Introduction
S1 Ep6 | 3m 8s
The American Revolution is not just the start of a nation, but an event that will change the world.
General Nathanael Greene in the South
S1 Ep6 | 2m 38s
London’s Southern strategy falls apart as Nathanael Greene takes British outposts one after another.
George Washington Stops a Mutiny
S1 Ep6 | 3m 1s
George Washington takes action when an unsigned manifesto starts circulating among his officers.
James Forten Becomes a Privateer
S1 Ep6 | 2m 36s
James Forten was 14 when he signed onto a privateer to fight for his country.
The Battle of Cowpens
S1 Ep6 | 6m 41s
Daniel Morgan leads the British into a trap, securing a crucial victory for the Patriots.
The Battle of Yorktown & The End of the American Revolution
S1 Ep6 | 10m 44s
Outnumbered and surrounded, General Charles Cornwallis surrenders, ending the American Revolution.
The Constitution & The Formation of A More Perfect Union
S1 Ep6 | 7m 17s
The American Revolution is over, and delegates convene to create a new system of government.
The Continental Army Disbands
S1 Ep6 | 2m 9s
The Continental Army was made up of ordinary Americans, like Joseph Plumb Martin.
Bunker Hill Aftermath, June 17, 1775
57s
On June 17, 1775, the British took the high ground, but at tremendous cost.
Official Trailer | The Revolution that Changed the World
2m 20s
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a new six-part, 12-hour documentary from Ken Burns.
‘We Are in the Very Midst of a Revolution’
30s
John Adams, read by Paul Giamatti. The American Revolution premieres November 16.
‘We Would Not Have Had a Country Without Him’
20s
Historian Annette Gordon-Reed. The American Revolution premieres November 16.
‘No One Expects Country Farmers Are Going to Hold Off a Trained Army’
30s
Historian Stacey Schiff. The American Revolution premieres November 16.
‘The Extraordinary Thing About the Patriot Side’
30s
Historian Jane Kamensky. The American Revolution premieres November 16.
‘The American Revolution Changed The World’
30s
Historian Stephen Conway. The American Revolution premieres November 16.
Critics Agree on The American Revolution
30s
"Explosively Interesting" - critics agree The American Revolution must-watch TV.
Inside Look | Finding Facts
3m 57s
The filmmakers discuss how the story of The American Revolution came together.
Inside Look | Making the Revolution
6m 29s
The filmmakers discuss how they crafted imagery to help tell the story of the American Revolution.
Inside Look | Our Origin Story
6m 18s
Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt on the challenges of telling America's origin story.
Inside Look | People Just Like Us
3m 37s
The filmmakers on how understanding the people of the Revolution can help us understand who we are.
Inside Look | Sounds of the Revolution
5m 13s
The filmmakers on how they tapped a broad range of influences to recreate the music of the era.
Inside Look | Voices of the Revolution
10m 33s
Filmmakers discuss how they used stories of both well-known and lesser known figures.
Fort Mifflin on Mud Island and Fort Mercer at Red Bank
2m 22s
Fort Mifflin on Mud Island and Fort Mercer at Red Bank
Upcoming Schedule
Fri 02/13
8:00 PM
KVIE HD 6.1
The American Revolution
The Most Sacred Thing
British General Cornwallis struggles to pacify the southern states; supported by the French, a victory at Yorktown secures independence for the Americans.
Sun 02/15
9:00 PM
KVIE2 6.2
The American Revolution
The Most Sacred Thing
British General Cornwallis struggles to pacify the southern states; supported by the French, a victory at Yorktown secures independence for the Americans.
Mon 02/16
4:00 AM
KVIE2 6.2
The American Revolution
The Most Sacred Thing
British General Cornwallis struggles to pacify the southern states; supported by the French, a victory at Yorktown secures independence for the Americans.
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