The American Revolution

From a small colonial uprising to a global conflict, the series traces how ordinary people on farms and frontier towns lived through a moment that fused rebellion with empire building. It shows that the Revolution was not only a bid for independence but a civil struggle and a contest among great powers across the oceans. The creators center the humanity of the era by spotlighting both leaders and everyday men and women as they faced difficult decisions about loyalty, liberty, and the future of a fledgling republic. By weaving intimate stories with sweeping events, it invites viewers to understand how this crisis reshaped a nation and the world.

Released in 2025, the series is directed by Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt and created by Ken Burns and Geoffrey Ward. It uses archival footage, documents, and interviews, with Peter Coyote narrating. The presentation emphasizes narrative depth, careful pacing, and a broad cast of voices across generations.

Awards: No major nominations or wins are listed in the available data. The project continues Burns' tradition of screen history with a focus on archival rigor and storytelling craft, though as of now it has not publicly disclosed specific honors or festival accolades.

Early reviews praise its sweeping scope and careful balance of big events with intimate moments from the Revolutionary era. The show foregrounds liberty and equality, conflicting loyalties, and the costs of turning ideas into a republic. Its structure invites viewers to compare past and present civic debates and to consider the costs of independence.

As a new Burns project, its cultural footprint is forming, but it aims to extend the reach of historical documentary making. By weaving personal stories with national upheaval it may influence how audiences think about liberty, memory, and civic identity. Its approach may influence how future historians frame the era.