The launch of PBS’s latest offering, a documentary series titled “The American Revolution”, arrives at a pivotal moment and sheds new light on the Revolutionary War. This fresh series brings together new voices, inclusive narratives and deep analysis of the struggle that gave birth to the United States.
Bold New Approach to the Revolutionary War
The six‐part, twelve‐hour documentary from director Ken Burns (along with co-directors Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt) premiered in mid November 2025.
Rather than presenting the Revolutionary War as a tidy, singular fight for independence, the series clarifies that it was simultaneously a civil conflict, a global contest and a societal upheaval. It delves into internal colonial divisions, the roles of Indigenous nations, enslaved people and Loyalists, and links the conflict to broad continental and Atlantic dynamics.
What Sets This Series Apart
Key features that distinguish this latest PBS Revolutionary War series include:
- Broad scope: By allocating 12 hours of screen time, the story can explore lesser-known participants and groups, beyond the traditional founding figures.
- Rich reenactment & visuals: On-location filming, archival materials, aerial shots and immersive scenes recreate the war’s environments and events.
- Inclusive narrative: The series significantly expands the story to include voices of enslaved people, Indigenous nations and colonists loyal to Britain, as well as the European powers engaged in the Atlantic theatre.
- Complexity over myth: Instead of simplifying the war to taxation and liberty alone, the documentary examines motivations of land, empire, loyalty and identity — showing how the Revolutionary War affected and was affected by global forces.
Timeline & Access
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 16, 2025 | Series premiere on PBS begins. |
| Streaming release | Full episodes available via PBS streaming services. |
| Ongoing | Related virtual events, discussion programs, educational tie-ins roll out. |
Why U.S. Audiences Should Care
The Revolutionary War shaped the United States’ founding era, and this series invites American viewers to reconsider familiar stories (e.g., the battles of Lexington & Concord, the Declaration of Independence) through new lenses. The timing is notable: the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary of independence, and this documentary helps situate the founding conflict within a broader, more nuanced context of identity, freedom, contestation and inclusion.
For Americans today, the series prompts meaningful reflection on how the founding generation faced internal division, external threat and global warfare — all of which still resonate in current debates over national purpose and collective memory.
Viewer Tips & Takeaways
- Check local PBS listings for broadcast times and streaming availability.
- Watch with supplemental materials (maps, timelines, discussion guides) to deepen understanding of the Revolutionary War’s many fronts.
- Notice how themes of division, loyalty and identity reappear in the narrative — the war was not simply colonists vs. Britain, but neighbours vs. neighbours, Native nations vs. settlers, empire vs. rebellion.
- Use this series as a springboard to explore lesser-heard stories: the role of Indigenous nations, the perspective of Loyalists, the experiences of enslaved persons during the war, and the global dimension of the conflict.
In Summary
The PBS Revolutionary War series “The American Revolution” provides a comprehensive, multi-perspective exploration of the founding conflict. By highlighting marginalized voices, exploring external impacts and unpacking internal divisions, it offers American audiences a much richer understanding of the Revolutionary War’s legacy.
We’d love to hear your thoughts after watching — did this series change your view of the Revolutionary War? Stay engaged, stay curious.