Liberty! The American Revolution is a six-hourdocumentaryminiseries about theRevolutionary War, and the instigating factors, that brought about theUnited States' independence from theKingdom of Great Britain. It was first broadcast on thePublic Broadcasting Service in 1997.^[2][3]

The series consists of six hour-long episodes. Each episode is introduced byForrest Sawyer and narrated byEdward Herrmann.^[4] Period photographs and location filming are intercut with stage and screenactors in appropriate period costume reading as figures of the time, includingCampbell Scott (Thomas Jefferson),Philip Bosco (Benjamin Franklin),Victor Garber (John Dickinson),Alex Jennings (King George III),Roger Rees (Thomas Paine),Philip Seymour Hoffman (Joseph Plumb Martin),Terrence Mann (Gen. John Burgoyne),Colm Feore (Alexander Hamilton),Sebastian Roché (TheMarquis de Lafayette),Donna Murphy (Abigail Adams),Austin Pendleton (Benjamin Rush) andPeter Donaldson (John Adams).Stephen Lang read the words ofGeorge Washington, but is not seen on camera.^[5][6][7]

British and American historians and authors, includingCarol Berkin,Bernard Bailyn, Ron Hoffman,Claude-Anne Lopez,Pauline Maier, George C. Neumann,Richard Norton Smith,Gordon S. Wood (U.S.) andJeremy Black, Colin Bonwick,John Keegan, andN.A.M. Rodger (U.K.) add historical background, explaining life and society of the time while interpreting events from the perspectives of the two sides of the conflict. Historical perspectives also include the status of black slaves and freemen, the participation of American Indians, and the strivings of American women as events progress.^[8][9]

1. "The Reluctant Revolutionaries" (1763-1774): Introduction of the major players, life as British colonists, theStamp Act, TheDeclaratory Act, theBoston Massacre,taxation without representation,The Boston Tea Party
2. "Blows Must Decide" (1774-1776):The Coersive/Intolerable Acts, military reinforcement of Boston, the firstContinental Congress, thebattles of Lexington and Concord and theBattle of Bunker Hill, loyalists and theOlive Branch Petition,Common Sense,The Declaration of Independence^[8]
3. "The Times That Try Men's Souls" (1776-1777): The British army arrives underGeneral Howe, Washington's formation of an American army, division of colonies aspatriot orloyalist, the defense of New York, fall of New Jersey,The American Crisis, thecrossing of the Delaware River and theBattle of Trenton^[7]
4. "Oh Fatal Ambition!" (1777-1778): Benjamin Franklin appeals for French assistance,Gen. Burgoyne's incursion from the north and the fall ofFort Ticonderoga, the war in New England, theBattle of Brandywine Creek, theBattle of Saratoga and Burgoyne's surrender, America signs a treaty with the French^[5]
5. "The World Turned Upside Down" (1778-1783): The French alliance,Gen. Clinton's campaign in the south, thesiege of Charleston,Gen. Cornwallis's strategy to conquer the south,Benedict Arnold joins the British, French troops underGen. Rochambeau reinforce Washington's army,Gen. Nathanael Greene reclaims the south, theBattle of Yorktown, the British surrender^[9]
6. "Are We to Be a Nation?" (1783-1788): Creating the new nation,Washington resigns his commission,Noah Webster standardizesAmerican English,Shays' Rebellion, theConfederation Congress,Alexander Hamilton andJames Madison envision a new system of government, theConstitution,Bill of Rights and formation of a central government^[6]

American singer-songwriterJames Taylor sings the traditional song "Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier" during the end credits. Original music was composed by violinistMark O'Connor, who accompanies Taylor; the score, which blends new and traditional music, was performed by O'Connor, Taylor, cellistYo-Yo Ma, trumpet playerWynton Marsalis^[1] and theNashville Symphony.^[3] A collection of the music from the soundtrack was released asa companion album in 1997.

Liberty! was produced forPublic Broadcasting Service (PBS) byTwin Cities Public Television (TPT), and won aGeorge Foster Peabody Award.^[1] The directors wereEllen Hovde and Muffie Meyer,^[7] who also collaborated on the 2002 TPT productionBenjamin Franklin.

• List of television series and miniseries about the American Revolution
• List of films about the American Revolution

• Liberty! atIMDb

• 1997 films
• Peabody Award–winning television programs
• 1990s American television miniseries
• Television series about the American Revolution
• Cultural depictions of Thomas Jefferson
• Cultural depictions of Benjamin Franklin
• Cultural depictions of George Washington
• Cultural depictions of George III
• Cultural depictions of Thomas Paine
• Cultural depictions of Alexander Hamilton
• Cultural depictions of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
• Cultural depictions of Benedict Arnold
• Cultural depictions of James Madison
• 1990s English-language films
• PBS original programming

• Use mdy dates from March 2025
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata