The American Revolution

The American Revolution was at once a war for independence, a war of conquest, a civil war, and a world war, fought by neighbors on American farms and between global powers an ocean or more away. It impacted millions from Vermont’s Green Mountains to the swamps of South Carolina, from Indian Country to the Iberian Peninsula. In defeating the British Empire and giving birth to a new nation, the American Revolution turned the world upside-down. Thirteen colonies on the Atlantic Coast united in rebellion, won their independence, and established a republic that still endures. The American Revolution will present the story of the men and women of the Revolutionary generation, their humanity in victory and defeat, and the crisis that they lived through.

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• AI · ReviewedJun 3, 2026

  Ken Burns and David Schmidt's 'The American Revolution' Documentary

  Ken Burns and David Schmidt's six-part documentary series 'The American Revolution' was released by PBS in November 2025. The timing of the release, just under a year before the United States' 250th anniversary, was coincidental. Burns emphasized that the bicentennial was not a consideration during the production. The documentary took over a decade to complete and focuses on giving a voice to underrepresented perspectives in the American Revolution. Burns and Schmidt aimed to provide a more inclusive narrative of the events and people involved in the revolution, highlighting stories that are often overlooked in traditional historical accounts.

  Variety