Prolific documentarian Ken Burns, along with co-directors Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, delivers a comprehensive six-episode exploration of the United States' origins in the new PBS docuseries 'The American Revolution.' Spanning three decades and two continents, the 12-hour series delves into the events leading to and following the Declaration of Independence. Narrated by Peter Coyote, it premieres on November 16, 2025, with episodes airing consecutively.
Overview
Ken Burns' 'The American Revolution' provides a detailed account of America's founding, beginning nearly 20 years before the 1776 Declaration of Independence. The series starts with Benjamin Franklin's 1754 proposal for colonial union, rejected at the time but revisited amid escalating tensions like British taxation, the French and Indian War, the Boston Massacre, and the Boston Tea Party. These events fueled the Patriots' push for independence from the British Crown.
Production and Style
Developed over nearly a decade, the docuseries employs animated maps, period portraits, and voice acting to vividly recreate the era without modern visuals. Notable voices include Keith David, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Samuel L. Jackson, bringing historical figures to life. Historian commentaries from experts like Vincent Brown and Maggie Blackhawk add depth, while writer Geoffrey Ward crafts a narrative that includes perspectives from Loyalists, enslaved and free Black individuals, Indigenous people, women, and Patriot fighters across the 13 colonies.
Key Highlights
The series emphasizes the war's global scope and diversity, portraying battles like the decisive American victory at Trenton in Episode 3, which boosted Continental Army morale under George Washington. It covers the soldiers' hardships—unreliable weapons, lack of pay, exposure to elements, and diseases like smallpox—highlighting Washington's early inoculation mandate. The docuseries balances triumphs with betrayals and underscores America's foundational cracks, suggesting paths to enduring liberty.
In true Burns fashion, 'The American Revolution' is exhaustive, offering a multidimensional view of the nation's birth as an evolving idea turned reality.