Name: Liberty's Kids
Uploaded: 2026-03-11T19:51:26.000Z
Description: Two teenage reporters cover the events of the Revolutionary War for Ben Franklin's newspaper, The Philadelphia Gazette.

Two teenage reporters cover the events of the Revolutionary War for Ben Franklin's newspaper, The Philadelphia Gazette.

WildBrain - Kids

Colonists in Boston rebel against "taxation without representation" by throwing a fortune in tea into the harbor (12/16/73). Moses, James and Henri travel to Boston in search of Sarah, who has arrived from England on a tea-laden ship.

The Boston Tea Party (Pilot, Part I)

In response to the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament passes the "Intolerable Acts," including "quartering." Boston becomes an occupied city (3/74-6/74).

Intolerable Acts (Pilot,Part II)

At the First Continental Congress, representatives of each colony meet as a group for the first time. Sam and John Adams argue that the Intolerable Acts are not just a New England problem, they are an "American problem."

United We Stand

Patrick Henry, the greatest speaker of his day, stirs the South to the cause of freedom with his famous "Give me Liberty or give me death!" speech (3/23/75).

Liberty or Death

Paul Revere and William Dawes spread the word that the "British are coming!" on the eve of "the shot heard 'round the world."

The Midnight Ride

The Revolutionary War begins with the battles of Lexington and Concord. Minutemen -- citizens taking up arms -- fight the powerful, experienced Red Coats.

The Shot Heard 'Round the World

James learns about the settlers' struggles in the New Hampshire Grants; Sarah looks for a place to settle in the Green Mountains.

Green Mountain Boys

The colonies decide they need a national army. John Adams nominates George Washington -- over other candidates who include the President of Congress, John Hancock -- to lead the new force.

The Second Continental Congress

The first major battle of the war. The Americans, with little ammunition, "don't shoot until they see the whites of their eyes."

Bunker Hill

George Washington arrives in Boston to take command of the army (7/3/75). He has no idea if the New Englanders will follow a Virginian, but he is a born leader and quickly takes charge of the defense of Boston.

Washington Takes Command

Ben Franklin is named the first Postmaster General of the colonies (7/26/75). When Patriot mail falls into the hands of the British, James and Sarah agree to carry important letters safely to New York.

Postmaster General Franklin

Thomas Paine publishes his famous pamphlet. It is an instant best seller, read by everyone from General George Washington to the lowest private in the army.

Common Sense

The first attempt to sink a ship with a submarine fails (9/6/76). Still, the blockade of New York is weakened by another example of Yankee ingenuity.

The Turtle

As Hessians arrive off the coast of Staten Island (7/4/76), John Adams finally convinces Congress that independence is the only answer to the colonies' problems.

The First Fourth of July

At the Battle of Long Island, Washington fights the British in open field battles -- with catastrophic results (8/27-29/76).

New York, New York

A failed peace conference between the British Admiral Howe and John Adams and Ben Franklin convinces the American leaders that the British have no interest in making peace (9/11/76).

One Life to Lose

Ben Franklin, appointed to a commission to negotiate a treaty with the French, sails for France aboard the Reprisal (10/24/76). Fort Washington surrenders, a catastrophe for the American cause (11/12/76).

Captain Molly

The low point of the war for the Americans. Washington's adjutant, General Joseph Reed, questions the Commander's ability to lead. General Lee ignores Washington's orders and is eventually captured by the British (12/13/76).

American Crisis

Washington re-crosses the Delaware River on Christmas Day. His troops defeat the sleeping Hessians at Trenton (12/26/76).

Across the Delaware

Ben Franklin sets up residence in Paris and begins his uphill battle to enlist France in the American cause (12/28/76). Franklin's hopes are bolstered when news of the victories at Trenton and Princeton reach France (3/77).

An American in Paris

Sixteen-year-old Sybil Ludington makes her own "midnight ride" in Westchester County, New York (4/26/77). Benedict Arnold fights for "respect" from Congress. James learns that all kinds of people can be heroes.

Sybil Ludington

The 19-year-old Marquis de Lafayette arrives after an eventful journey from France and offers his services to Congress (7/27/77). After at first being turned down he is sent to George Washington, who virtually adopts him as his son.

Lafayette Arrives

General Horatio Gates defeats Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga (10/17/77). Benedict Arnold is the true hero of the battle but is angered when he fails to receive proper recognition.

The Hessians are Coming

James, Sarah and Henri are there as George Washington and his Continental Army endure a horrible winter at Valley Forge. Baron von Stueben drafts a training program for the army and helps Washington's troops become a professional fighting unit.

Valley Forge

News of the American victory at Saratoga helps pave the way for Ben Franklin to negotiate a treaty with France. The treaty obligates the French to help fight the Revolutionary War (2/6/78).

Allies at Last

The States struggle to unite politically before the arrival of the French Ambassador (5/9/78-7/8/78).

Honor and Compromise

In the Ohio territory, Shawnee Chief Cornstalk and his people are caught between the Americans and the British, with tragic results (11/77).

The New Frontier

In a long, desperate battle, John Paul Jones and his wildly outgunned Bonhomme Richard defeat the British Serapis off the coast of England (9/23/79).Sailing to England, Sarah is shipwrecked and saved by Jones.

Not Yet Begun to Fight

Spanish Governor Bernardo de Galvez aides the American cause by capturing Baton Rouge (9/21/79), Natchez (10/5/79) and Mobile (3/13/80) from the British. James and Henri sail down the Mississippi, seeking Galvez.

The Great Galvez

Sarah returns to Philadelphia and is reunited with Moses, James and Henri. Henri gets into a scrape with a Tory boy when the Tory makes disparaging comments about Ben Franklin.

In Praise of Ben

Sarah and Henri join the Adams family in Massachusetts just as John and his son John Quincy return from France and are reunited with Abigail (8/2/79). John is asked to write the Massachusetts Constitution (8/9/79).

Bostonians

James, Sarah and Henri are there when Arnold tries to hand West Point over to British (9/21/80). Arnold's plot is uncovered when his accomplice Major Andre is captured (9/23/80). Sarah, especially, is upset by her former friend's treason.

Benedict Arnold

Deborah Samson masquerades as a man so she can enlist in the Continental army (5/20/1782-10/23/83). Washington and French general Rochambeau disagree on whether to try to retake New York or move south against Cornwallis (1/81-5/81).

Deborah Samson, Soldier of the Revolution

James and Henri follow the efforts of Gen. Nathanael Greene; Sarah's enraged when she finds out Thomas Jefferson keeps slaves.

Conflict in the South

Virginia slave James Armistead joins Lafayette and spies on Benedict Arnold (3/81). Then, working as a double agent, Armistead provides false information to British General Cornwallis (7/81).

James Armistead

The climatic battle of the war. Moses' brother Cato, a soldier on the British side, is sent into harm's way by Cornwallis and is aided by a sympathetic Hessian soldier.

Yorktown

Ben Franklin and John Adams sign the peace treaty with England, ending the Revolutionary War (11/30/83). At Newburgh, New York, some members of Washington's officer corps want him to become King and take over the country.

The Man who Wouldn't be King

With the signing of the Treaty of Paris, loyalists are forced to leave their homes. Many slaves move to Canada to avoid being returned to slavery. American soldiers return home, many of them to abject poverty.

Going Home

Massachusetts slave "Mum Bett" sues for her freedom (5/28/1781). When she wins, she renames herself Elizabeth Freeman (8/81). With this decision and that in the case of another slave, Quok Walker, Massachusetts has abolished slavery (1783).

Born Free and Equal

America's leaders meet at a convention in Philadelphia and decide to write a radical new Constitution. Ben Franklin, in his final moment on the world stage, helps forge the "Great Compromise" on legislative representation.

Liberty's Kids

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