Liberty: The American Revolution (Episode 1)

Seems like a fitting time to run this series over the next several days. This six-hour 1997 PBS documentary on the American Revolution covers the 25 year period from the passage of the Stamp Act (1765) through the ratification of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights (1789).

In addition to narration and interviews with historians, the series uses re-enactments of military engagements and excerpts from letters, diaries and other documents of the period, spoken by actors. I watched this several months ago. It’s actually quite a good treatment of the Revolution that dispels many of the popular myths and common misconceptions surrounding its causes and military events, as well as the war’s socio-economic and political underpinnings.