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How Land, Taxes and Rebellion Sparked the American Revolution

Season 1 Episode 1 | 7m 28s

To reduce debt suffered from the Seven Years' War, Britain levies several new taxes on American colonists. Unrest grows as colonists fear that giving into these new taxes will open the floodgates to even harsher taxes. Whipped up by pamphleteers and influential figures like Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry, mobs of American colonists take to the streets to intimidate tax collectors and troops.

Episodes presented in 4K UHD on supported devices. Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
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Extras
George Washington discovers that Benedict Arnold has abandoned his post and defected to the British.
Daniel Morgan leads the British into a trap, securing a crucial victory for the Patriots.
The filmmakers discuss how they crafted imagery to help tell the story of the American Revolution.
The filmmakers on how understanding the people of the Revolution can help us understand who we are.
The filmmakers discuss how the story of The American Revolution came together.
Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt on the challenges of telling America's origin story.
The American Revolution is not just the start of a nation, but an event that will change the world.
The filmmakers on how they tapped a broad range of influences to recreate the music of the era.
Filmmakers discuss how they used stories of both well-known and lesser known figures.
With Washington commanding less than 3,000, the winter of 1777 became a fight over supplies.
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