TELEVISION

Liberty's Kids

Series: Liberty's Kids
4.6
(501)
Episodes
10
Rating
NRC
Year
2002
Language
English

About

Two teenage reporters cover the events of the Revolutionary War for Ben Franklin's newspaper, The Philadelphia Gazette. James, an American colonist, brings the rebels' point of view to life while Sarah, a young Englishwoman stranded by fate in America, gives us the British viewpoint in her letters to her mother back in London. Meanwhile, in Paris, Ben Franklin creates strong diplomatic bonds with France, America's first and staunchest ally. Caught on opposite sides of the hostilities, Ben's teenage reporters confront the real, physical dangers of the conflict, forced to choose between their friendship and their countries, their understanding of good and evil, and the moral dilemmas of war. All the while trying to look after mischievous Henri, an immigrant French boy whose comical escapades constantly lead to trouble, as they bear witness to the high points of the American revolution.

Related Subjects

1. The Boston Tea Party

23m

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.

2. The Intolerable Acts

23m

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.

3. United We Stand

23m

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.

4. Liberty or Death

23m

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.

5. Midnight Ride

23m

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.

6. The Shot Heard Round the World

23m

James, reporting on the Minutemen, and Sarah, falling in with the British forces, report from both sides of the "shot heard 'round the world" at Concord Bridge. They each leave the scene fearful of what the future will bring though James is caught up with the romanticism of fighting for liberty.

7. Green Mountain Boys

23m

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.

8. The Second Continental Congress

23m

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.

9. Bunker Hill

23m

Sarah searches for a British officer who may know her father's whereabouts. James, with Dr. Joseph Warren at Bunker Hill, witnesses the battle and learns firsthand the high price of freedom. Henri makes mischief as a messenger between the battle lines. They are all saddened when they are faced with death.

10. Postmaster General Franklin

23m

When Patriot mail falls into the hands of the British, James and Sarah agree to carry important letters safely to New York. On the way they evade British troops and get help from the New Jersey Committee of Correspondence. They learn of how deep the resistance movement is and that it is even involved in making sure communication within the colonies continues.

Extended Details

  • Closed CaptionsEnglish

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