Ken Burns Breaks Down the Powerful Stories Behind The American Revolution

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Ken Burns’ new documentary, The American Revolution, tells the complete story of America’s fight for independence. It will air on PBS over six nights starting November 16th, beginning with the history of Native Americans who lived in North America before the arrival of colonists and concluding with the end of George Washington’s time as president.

This series brings history to life through interviews with experts, detailed illustrations, and dramatic reenactments of battles and daily life in the 1700s. The show also features music by Yo-Yo Ma and boasts a star-studded cast, including Claire Danes, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep, who lend their voices to portray historical figures.

Ken Burns began working on the documentary in 2015. Over the past ten years, he and his team observed striking similarities between the time of the Revolutionary War and what’s happening today. Notably, while researching the impact of smallpox on the Continental Army, the Covid-19 pandemic began.

I’ve been following this series, and even though it’s set in the past, the creators have highlighted something really relevant for today. One of the directors, Sarah Botstein, explained that the arguments about how much power states should have versus the federal government are still incredibly important. Apparently, the founding fathers constantly wrestled with this – figuring out how to balance local control with a strong national government, and how to protect states’ rights while still creating a unified country. It’s amazing to me how these debates from so long ago continue to shape our politics and public policy even now, and I think a lot of us in 2025 will really connect with that.

TIME magazine interviewed Burns to discuss key moments from the documentary and common misconceptions about the American Revolution.

TIME: Why a documentary about the American Revolution now?

I first proposed this project nearly ten years ago, and I’m thrilled it’s finished well before the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. We wanted to avoid the overly sentimental and predictable celebrations that often accompany anniversaries.

Are there new ways of thinking about the American Revolution here?

This isn’t about imposing a particular interpretation on the American Revolution. When we finished our series on Vietnam, I decided the Revolution would be our next topic. The lack of photos or news footage won’t stop us – we’ll simply find different ways to tell the story. We filmed historical reenactors to gather enough footage to realistically portray warfare, daily life in the 1700s, how news was created, and even skills like spinning cotton or wool. All these details are essential for bringing the past to life and understanding what it can teach us.

What were you most surprised to learn?

The American Revolution is full of incredibly moving stories, from heartbreaking betrayals to moments of unexpected connection. We see this in the story of John Peters, who is forced to kill his childhood friend, and in the tale of two brothers who discover they’re on opposite sides of the Battle of Saratoga and rush to meet in the river between the armies. Over the next twelve hours, we explore why this revolution is considered so pivotal, not through lectures, but through personal and emotional stories.

As a film buff, I’m always fascinated by stories that explore history from multiple perspectives. It’s crucial to understand how events like the American Revolution weren’t just fought by the colonists, but deeply impacted – and were impacted by – all the people living here at the time. I’m particularly interested in learning about groups often overlooked, like Native Americans. What role did they play? How did their experiences differ? And, crucially, how did they actually influence the Revolution itself? It’s a side of the story I really want to see explored.

The story starts with the Haudenosaunee – six tribes who united to form a powerful confederacy. Their effective organization impressed Benjamin Franklin and gave him the idea to try something similar in the United States.

What role did women play?

As someone who’s studied the Revolution, I’ve always been struck by how vital women were to its success. They weren’t just supporting the soldiers from afar – they were right there with the armies, and back home, they kept everything running by managing businesses and farms. It’s amazing to think that Mercy Otis Warren actually wrote the first complete history of the whole thing! They truly were central to everything.

How did Black experiences vary?

During the Revolutionary War, many enslaved Africans chose to support the British, who were promising freedom to slaves belonging to those fighting against them (though slaves owned by British supporters didn’t receive the same offer). Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, a young, free Black man named James Forten was deeply moved when he first heard the Declaration of Independence read aloud. He joined the fight for independence, but was captured and imprisoned on a brutal British prison ship. He managed to survive and later wrote about the ideals of liberty that motivated him.

Are there myths you want to debunk?

The popular story about Paul Revere shouting, “The redcoats are coming!” isn’t accurate. He actually warned that “the regulars are coming out.” Our film also doesn’t feature Betsy Ross, and frankly, the identity of the first flag maker remains unknown. However, the documentary isn’t focused on disproving myths so much as crafting an engaging story, which sometimes means leaving out familiar elements. Just like we expect depth and complexity in dramas like Shakespeare, Succession, or Yellowstone – with characters who are flawed and multi-faceted – that’s also what makes history truly interesting.

What’s your next project?

I’m currently working on projects about LBJ and the Great Society, and another on Reconstruction called Emancipation to Exodus. I’m also planning a project on the CIA and have already interviewed Obama extensively – I’ve done eight two-hour interviews with him so far. There are so many historical subjects that fascinate me, I could spend a thousand years studying them and still not cover everything.

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2025-11-17 23:07