The upcoming Ken Burns American Revolution documentary is one of the most anticipated television events in recent memory. The celebrated filmmaker, known for his sweeping historical series such as The Civil War, Baseball, and The Vietnam War, is returning to PBS in 2025 with his most ambitious project yet — a multi-part exploration of the American Revolution and the birth of the United States.
Produced by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, the new documentary will premiere on PBS in fall 2025, offering an in-depth look at the Revolutionary War from a human, political, and cultural perspective. The series promises to reexamine the nation’s founding in the way only Burns can: through first-hand accounts, archival images, and moving narration that brings history to life.
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A New Vision for the American Revolution
The Ken Burns American Revolution series will explore the period between 1763 and 1789, covering not just the battles, but the ideas and individuals that shaped the struggle for independence.
Unlike traditional war documentaries, this series aims to show the Revolution as both a military conflict and a social transformation. It will highlight the experiences of soldiers, enslaved people, Indigenous nations, women, and ordinary citizens who lived through the upheaval.
Burns has emphasized that his approach seeks to humanize history, going beyond textbook accounts to explore the moral and emotional complexities of the nation’s founding.
“The American Revolution wasn’t inevitable,” Burns said in a recent PBS interview. “It was fought not just with muskets and cannons, but with ideas — ideas about freedom, equality, and human rights that continue to challenge us today.”
Production and Creative Team
The project has been in development for more than six years, with research beginning shortly after Burns completed The U.S. and the Holocaust in 2022. The creative team includes:
- Ken Burns – Director and Executive Producer
- Sarah Botstein – Co-director and longtime collaborator
- David Schmidt – Producer
- Geoffrey C. Ward – Scriptwriter, who has written for Burns since The Civil War
- Peter Coyote – Narrator, returning as the familiar voice of many Burns documentaries
Filming took place across the United States, including historic locations in Boston, Philadelphia, Virginia, New York, and South Carolina. The production also used drone footage, 4K restoration of historical artwork, and dramatized readings of letters and diaries from figures such as George Washington, Abigail Adams, and Thomas Paine.
Scope and Structure of the Series
The Ken Burns American Revolution will be presented as an eight-part series, totaling nearly 14 hours of programming. Each episode focuses on a pivotal phase of the Revolution, combining historical storytelling with personal narratives and contemporary analysis.
Episode Highlights Include:
- Seeds of Rebellion – Examines the roots of discontent in colonial America after the French and Indian War.
- The Shot Heard Round the World – Details the first clashes in Lexington and Concord.
- Declaring Independence – Explores how thirteen colonies united to declare freedom.
- Valley Forge – Focuses on the hardship, perseverance, and leadership of George Washington’s army.
- A Global Conflict – Shows how the war spread beyond the colonies, drawing in France, Spain, and the Caribbean.
- Women of the Revolution – Tells the untold stories of women who resisted, organized, and fought.
- The Price of Liberty – Examines the toll of war and the contradictions of freedom in a slaveholding society.
- A Nation Begins – Concludes with the framing of the Constitution and the unresolved struggles that would shape America’s future.
A Human Story, Not Just a Military One
One of the hallmarks of Burns’ storytelling is his ability to center ordinary people within major historical events. In this new series, viewers will hear not only from well-known leaders like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, but also from everyday participants — farmers, laborers, Native Americans, and enslaved Africans who saw the war through very different lenses.
This broader focus offers a more inclusive and nuanced look at the Revolution, emphasizing that the fight for freedom was complex and often contradictory.
For instance, the series examines the story of Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who escaped George Washington’s household, and Joseph Brant, a Mohawk leader who allied with the British to protect his people’s lands.
Ken Burns’ Continued Legacy with PBS
Ken Burns has spent over 40 years chronicling the American story through film. His previous works — The Civil War (1990), Jazz (2001), The War (2007), and The Vietnam War (2017) — have become cultural landmarks, praised for their depth, emotion, and educational value.
The American Revolution series will mark his 36th collaboration with PBS, continuing his long-standing partnership with Florentine Films, the New Hampshire-based company he founded in 1976.
PBS CEO Paula Kerger described the upcoming series as “a defining moment in public television,” adding that it will “reshape how Americans understand their origins and the meaning of democracy.”
Why This Documentary Matters Now
The story of the American Revolution has been told countless times, but Burns and his team believe it carries new relevance in 2025.
In an era of deep political polarization and renewed debates about the meaning of liberty and equality, Burns says the Revolution offers both inspiration and warning.
“We’re living through times that remind us how fragile democracy can be,” he said during a recent speaking engagement. “By revisiting the Revolution, we’re reminded that the American experiment was — and still is — an unfinished project.”
The documentary will not shy away from contradictions, exploring how the same revolution that declared all men equal was also built on slavery, displacement of Native Americans, and limited rights for women.
Historians featured in the series, including Annette Gordon-Reed, Joseph Ellis, and Alan Taylor, provide context for how these early tensions continue to shape America today.
Public Reaction and Anticipation
The announcement of Ken Burns American Revolution has generated enormous buzz online. On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, history enthusiasts and educators have expressed excitement about the series’ potential to reframe a familiar story.
Educators are particularly eager to incorporate the series into classrooms. PBS has confirmed that an educational companion website will launch alongside the broadcast, offering lesson plans, primary documents, and discussion guides for teachers nationwide.
Film critics have already dubbed the project “Ken Burns’ magnum opus,” suggesting it could rival the impact of The Civil War in both viewership and cultural resonance.
Premiere Details and Viewing Information
The Ken Burns American Revolution will premiere on PBS stations nationwide in September 2025 and will also stream for free on the PBS app and PBS.org.
Following its television debut, the series will be available for digital purchase and on Blu-ray, with a companion book — authored by Geoffrey C. Ward — set for release simultaneously.
A nationwide speaking tour featuring Burns and co-producer Sarah Botstein is also planned for fall 2025, with scheduled stops in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Richmond.
The upcoming Ken Burns American Revolution documentary isn’t just a history lesson — it’s a mirror reflecting who we were, who we are, and who we still strive to become. Will you be watching this landmark PBS series when it premieres? Share your thoughts below and stay updated on this monumental release.