Liberty's Kids
PBS (ended 2004)
-
Season 1
- Ep 40We the People4/4/03
Unable to pay their debts, farmers who fought in the war find their land being taken by the government. Violence ensues and an "excess of democracy" threatens to destroy the newly formed nation. Fearing that things can deteriorate further, delegates from each state meet once again in Philadelphia to draft a new Constitution.moreless - Ep 39Born Free and Equal4/1/03
Sarah, staying with Abigail Adams in Boston, is thrilled to see Mum Bett freed and resolves to fight for civil rights. In France, Ben Franklin hopes that news of Yorktown will convince King George to surrender to his former colonies. James finds himself in a tight spot as he digs deeper for the whole story.moreless - Ep 38Going Home4/3/03
James interviews former U.S. soldiers to find out what it's like for them, and learns that farmers are having trouble paying off taxes since all their food went towards feeding soldiers. Meanwhile, Lafayette says he is going home to France and eventually invites Henri to go with him, and Henri accepts the invitation.moreless - Ep 37The Man Who Wouldn't Be King4/2/03
The Revolutionary War officially ends with the signing of a peace treaty in Paris. However, things aren't so peaceful back in the new nation: army officers during the war are upset that congress isn't paying them their proper compensation. Their contempt almost leads to violence until General Washington single-handedly stops them with a pair of eyeglasses.moreless - Ep 36Yorktown3/31/03
Moses' brother Cato, fighting for his own freedom, serves as a soldier for the British and is sent into harm's way by Cornwallis' inhuman racist orders. Aided by a sympathetic Hessian soldier, Cato escapes with his life. Moses joins the American mining corps, which is a group of men who dig tunnels and build walls needed in battle, and tries unsuccessfully to find Cato. Sarah, James and Henri witness the siege and victory at Yorktown.moreless - Ep 35James Armistead1/23/03
The Americans send out James Armistead, a slave, to spy on the British by pretending to be Benedict Arnold's slave. He finds out that Cato, Moses' brother is a British slave. The British ask James to spy on the Americans the same way he is spying on them. - Ep 34Deborah Samson: Soldier Of The Revolution1/22/03
- Ep 33Conflict in the South1/21/03
Sarah is outraged to learn that Thomas Jefferson owns slaves and discusses the issue. Meanwhile, the boys are following the campaign of Nathaniel Greene, the new American commander in the South, as he leads British general Cornwallis on an exhausting six-month chase. - Ep 32Benedict Arnold1/20/03
According to James' theory, there are British spies that are close to General Washington, how else could you explain all the conterattacks by the british? James is on a mission to find out! In the mean time, in his west point house, Benedict Arnold is bitter about the Congress. Becasue of his bitterenss, he meets up with one of the british officers and tells them of Washington's plans, plans that if the british could get a hold of, would mean the end of liberty. What will Sarah think when she finds out her hero is a traitor?moreless - Ep 31Bostonians11/11/02
While in New York to report on the fighting between the colonists and the Iroquois led by chief Joseph Brant, James sees atrocities committed by both sides. Sarah catches up with her friend Abigail Adams, whose husband John has just returned from a diplomatic assignment in France. - Ep 30In Praise of Ben11/8/02
The title kinda gives it away, the episode begins with Sarah coming 'home' to Philidelphia, she's greeted by Moses, and eventually, a slightly bitter James. The rest is 'in praise of Ben' Benjamin Franklin. It's about is education, his inventions, and many other things. - Ep 29The Great Galvez11/7/02
Sarah is in London with her mother and is having doubts about belonging there. In the end, she finally decides she is an American. ''Meanwhile James and Henri are traveling a long ways to give a letter to Galvez, but on the way are Brittish soldiers, will they stop them and find the letter?moreless - Ep 28Not Yet Begun to Fight11/6/02
Sarah's ship is wrecked on its way to England, and the passengers are rescued by American naval commander John Paul Jones. Off the coast of England, Jones and the crew of the outgunned Bonhomme Richard win a crucial battle against the British ship Serapis.'' - Ep 27The New Frontier11/5/02
Sarah decides to go off into the wild Ohio Fronteir to find her father, while there she's found by some friendly Indians who wish to help her. An English friend of the Indians comes to help and Sarah gets a very wonderful surprise and makes a sad decision. Meanwhile James and every other poor person is having trouble with the rich overcharging them. A man trys to tar and feather a rich Tori, but James disagrees.moreless - Ep 26Honor and Compromise11/4/02
Henri befriends Abraham Nimham; Sarah and Moses watch Congress debate over the Articles of Confederation. - Ep 25Allies at Last10/4/02
James learns about religious freedom from Moses Michael Hayes; Sarah and Henri are in occupied Philadelphia. In Paris, Benjamin Franklin finally succeeds in getting a commitment from the French to fight on the American side. - Ep 24Valley Forge10/3/02
When General Washington and his men endure a terrible winter at Valley Forge, James and Sarah see the hardships suffered by common foot soldiers. Lafayette helps foil a plot to overthrow Washington as commander.'' - Ep 23The Hessians Are Coming10/2/02
James witnesses the American victory at Saratoga from a unique point of view when he spends it lashed to a Hessian soldier. Sarah sees Benedict Arnold's heroics at the battle—and his anger at not receiving proper recognition afterward.'' - Ep 22Lafayette Arrives10/1/02
The Marquis de La Fayette, strongly sympathetic to the American cause, arrives in Philadelphia seeking a commission from the Continental Congress. He assures the Congress and General Washington that his motivation is fighting for liberty, not glory. La Fayette is given a commission and joins Washington and the Americans in the field of battle.moreless - Ep 21Sybil Ludington9/30/02
James learns from the courageuos Sybil Ludington that the thought of independence not only lies in the hearts of soldiers and determined young men, but also in the hearts of determined young women. Sarah travels to Philadelphia with General Benedict Arnold and witness his passion of being ranked to a higher office in the army.moreless - Ep 20An American in Paris9/27/02
Trying to show Abigail Adams' children that the new smallpox inoculation is safe, Sarah instead has a bad reaction and contracts a serious case of the disease. Benjamin Franklin settles in as America's ambassador to France, while James accompanies Alexander Hamilton to his new assignment as a member of George Washington's staff at Morristown.moreless - Ep 19Across the Delaware9/26/02
James knows a secret about a captured spy named John Honeyman, but he can't tell anyone—not even Sarah. Using the element of surprise, General Washington gets two much-needed victories at Trenton and Princeton.'' - Ep 18American Crisis9/25/02
Battlefield setbacks, questioning of George Washington's leadership from his own generals, and the flight of Congress from Philadelphia to Baltimore prompt Thomas Paine to write that "These are the times that try men's souls." The kids wonder whether the revolution is about to go down in defeat. - Ep 17Captain Molly9/24/02
With General Washington losing battle after battle, James' confidence wavers. He and Sarah go to Washington's camp to report from the front lines. However, because she is a girl, Sarah is sent to Fort Tryon with the other women and children. There, she befriends Molly, a spunky patriot whose husband was killed fighting the British. But then James finds out that the British are going to attack Fort Tryon! Meanwhile, back in Philadelphia, Moses starts teaching Henri how to read.moreless - Ep 16One Life to Lose9/23/02
After a conference fails to bring the two sides any closer to peace, American spy Nathan Hale is caught and hanged by the British. Having met Hale earlier, James and Sarah are determined that everyone hear his inspiring last words. - Ep 15New York, New York9/19/02
Sarah does a report on the loyalists opinion on the revolution in New York. Meanwhile James escapes to Manhattan with the Continental Army.''''Meanwhile, A soldier from Connecticut, Udney Wolfe-Hutchinson, seems to have a bit of a crush on Sarah - Ep 14The 1st Fourth of July9/18/02
The 2nd Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia and finally passes a motion calling for the Colonies to be independent from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson drafts the written declaration, while Sarah teaches James about the "power of words". - Ep 13The Turtle9/20/02
The kids think they've spotted a sea monster in New York harbor, but it turns out to be a submersible craft invented by David Bushnell. James talks his way onto the first mission for the new submarine, which fails in its attempt to sink a ship but does do damage that weakens the British blockade of the harbor.''moreless - Ep 12Common Sense9/17/02
James, Sarah and Henri meet Thomas Paine and learn of his belief that the common man can rule himself. The Kids also hear Paine's stand favoring full independence from England. James is particularly impressed and realizes that his work on the paper is as important as that of soldiers firing guns. ''moreless - Ep 11Postmaster General Franklin9/13/02
When the Philadelphia patriots find out that some of their mail isn't being delivered to the right people by the British-controlled postal service, James and Sarah volunteer to carry important letters to New York. Ben Franklin becomes the colonies' Postmaster General on July 26, 1775. - Ep 10Washington Takes Command9/16/02
Sarah, James, and Henri accompany George Washington to Boston, where he takes command of the American army and the city's defense. Later, James goes with Henry Knox to Fort Ticonderoga. They bring back cannons that help the rebels drive the British out of Boston. - Ep 9Bunker Hill9/12/02
James witnesses the Battle of Bunker Hill from the American side, while Sarah interviews one of the British officers, and Henri acts as a messenger. - Ep 8The Second Continental Congress9/11/02
Desperate for information on what Congress is doing behind the closed doors of the statehouse, James unknowingly befriends a British spy. Sarah and Moses meet George Washington and together use "Yankee ingenuity" to fix Washington's carriage after it breaks. - Ep 7The Green Mountain Boys9/10/02
James heads to the Grants to cover the story of the settlers' struggle; Sarah goes hoping to find a place in the Green Mountains for her family to settle, and Henri wants to find maple syrup. Sarah and James witness the capture of the fort and Sarah befriends Benedict Arnold, whom she instantly respects.moreless - Ep 6The Shot Heard Round the World9/9/02
James, reporting on the Minutemen, and Sarah, falling in with the British forces, report from both sides on the "shot heard 'round the world" at Lexington. They each leave the scene fearful of what the future will bring though James is caught up with the romanticism of fighting for liberty. - Ep 5The Midnight Ride9/6/02
Sarah and James travel to Boston to deliver a message to Patriot leader Dr. Joseph Warren and end up riding with the famous messengers so that they can write about it for the paper. - Ep 4Liberty or Death!9/5/02
James, Sarah, Henri and Moses travel to Virginia, where they witness Patrick Henry's speech. Moses is shocked to find his brother Cato on the slave auction block and risks his own freedom to rescue him. Cato sees hope for himself in Dunmore's Proclamation and in the end leaves his brother to seek his own path to freedom.moreless - Ep 3United We Stand9/4/02
Moses lets James report on Congress and after a British sailor is "tarred and feathered," James learns about the ugliness of mob rule, when emotions get in the way of compassion. Sarah and Henri meet Abigail Adams and travel with her to bring supplies and pamphlets to the occupied city of Boston. Sarah immediately finds in Abigail a strong female role model to look up to.moreless - Ep 2The Intolerable Acts9/3/02
Moses, James, Sarah and Henri hide at poet Phillis Wheatley's house in Boston, where some of His Majesty's soldiers are being quartered. Hearing Phillis Wheatley's story, Sarah is confronted with the horror of slavery for the first time. Later, though Sarah does not agree with her new friends' thoughts about Mother England, she helps them in a time of trouble.moreless - Ep 1The Boston Tea Party9/2/02
At the direction of Benjamin Franklin, Moses, James and Henri travel to Boston in search of Sarah, who has arrived from England on a tea-laden ship. When they get to the Harbor, they happen upon the disguised colonists and discover they are raiding the very ship Sarah is on.
