"The American Revolution" is a new six-part, 12-hour documentary series that explores the country's founding struggle and its eight-year War for Independence. The film premiered on November 16, 2025 on Panhanle PBS and is now available for viewing on the PBS App.

The film series examines how America's founding turned the world upside-down. Thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired centuries of democratic movements around the globe.

"The American Revolution is one of the most important events in human history," said Ken Burns. "We went from being subjects to inventing a new concept, citizens, and set in motion democratic revolutions across the globe. As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our founding, I'm hopeful that people throughout the country will come together to discuss the importance of this history and to appreciate even more what our ancestors did to secure our liberty and freedoms."  

An expansive look at the virtues and contradictions of the war and the birth of the United States of America, the film follows dozens of figures from a wide variety of backgrounds. Viewers will experience the war through the memories of the men and women who experiences it: the rank-and-file Continental soldiers and American militiamen (some of them teenagers), Patriot political and military leaders, British Army officers, American Loyalists, Native soldiers and civilians, enslaved and free African Americans, German soldiers in the British service, French and Spanish allies, and various civilians living in North America, Loyalist as well as Patriot, including many made refugees by the war. The American Revolution was a war for independence, a civil war and a world war. It impacted millions – from Canada to the Caribbean and beyond. Few escaped its violence. At one time or another, the British Army occupied all the major population centers in the United States, including New York City, for more than seven years. 

For more on "The American Revolution," visit https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-american-revolution.

Educator Workshop

Wednesday, January 21

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Texas Panhandle War Memorial Center, 4111 S Georgia St, Amarillo, TX, 79110

Teaching the American Revolution for a New Generation

(With Region 16 Education Service Center, Panhandle PBS, and the Texas Panhandle War Memorial and Education Center)

Educators will step back in time and experience the era that forged America in this collaborative event with Region 16 Education Service Center, Panhandle PBS, and the Texas Panhandle War Memorial and Education Center.  In this immersive workshop for all K-12 social studies teachers, participants will celebrate the 250th anniversary of America by re-examining the American Revolution using the new documentary "The American Revolution" from Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt and accompanying lesson plans and resources from PBS LearningMedia. To begin the session, the group will dive into the deep-seated causes that drove the colonies to independence. Next, the group will trace the pivotal figures and events of the Revolution, culminating in an exploration of the enduring legacy of the Revolution. The workshop will be hosted at the Texas Panhandle War Memorial and Education Center in Amarillo, TX, with a guided tour to explore local collections and resources.  Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Educator Workshop

Wednesday, February 25

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Region 16 Education Service Center, 5800 Bell St, Amarillo, TX, 79109

The Shot Heard 'Round the World: How the American Revolution Reshaped Everything

America is turning 250! This workshop with Region 16 and Panhandle PBS will offer a powerful one-day deep dive into the global earthquake that was the American Revolution. Participants will explore the Revolution not as a stand-alone event, but as a pivotal moment that continues to reshape global history and government. 

• Part 1: A World in Upheaval — Contextualization of the American Revolution within the broader Age of Revolution and trace its immediate and enduring global legacy. (World History)
• Part 2: The Blueprint for Governance — Delving into the profound influence of the American founding on our government and the design of governments worldwide. (Government)

The cornerstone of this workshop will the documentary “The American Revolution” from Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt and the accompanying lesson plans and resources from PBS LearningMedia. While this session is specifically tailored for World History and US Government teachers, all educators will be welcome to attend. The workshop will take place at Region 16 Education Service Center in Amarillo, TX, with lunch and refreshments provided. 

Curriculum Connect Conference at West Texas A&M University

July 14 & 15, 2026

West Texas A&M University, 2501 4th Ave, Canyon, TX

The Shot Heard 'Round the World: How the American Revolution Reshaped Everything

In addition to a promotional booth at this comprehensive Region 16 Education Service Center conference for educators all grade levels and subject areas from across the Texas Panhandle region, Panhandle PBS will provide multimedia promotional awareness about “The American Revolution” PBS LearningMedia lesson plans and will co-host breakout sessions for both elementary and secondary educators about the classroom resources around the film.  Visit https://www.esc16.net/ or call Region 16 at 806-677-5000 for more information.

Revolutionary History, Panhandle Stories

Thursday, November 13

Doors open at 5 p.m., Open House until 7 p.m.

Downtown Amarillo Public Library, 413 SE 4th Ave, Amarillo, TX, 79101

Join Amarillo Public Library, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, and Panhandle PBS for an evening of American Revolution history and beyond!

• Preview film clips from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, the new film from Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, premiering on Panhandle PBS November 16th at 5:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
• Explore a pop-up exhibit from Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum with artifacts from the Revolutionary era and beyond, including a lock of George Washington’s hair, signatures from our founding fathers, Native American artifacts, and more.  Museum staff will be on hand to visit about the objects.
• Explore the Amarillo Public Library’s hidden treasure, the Bush-FitzSimon Room including historical books, papers, and maps on early history of Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and the Southwest.

This "come and go" event aims to explore history from the American Revolutionary period, as well as share local parallels to the film’s themes of liberty, independence, and freedom.  

This event is free of charge and refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact the Amarillo Public Library at 806-378-3051.  For more on Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, visit panhandleplains.org.

The American Revolution classroom collection is now live on PBS LearningMedia at pbslearningmedia.org/americanrevolution! Bring one of history’s most transformative eras to life with media-rich classroom resources inspired by the new PBS film series from filmmakers Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, "The American Revolution." 

Explore commonly taught topics — including life in the British colonies, causes of the Revolution, key events, key figures and ideas, and the lasting legacies that shaped the nation. These resources will address themes raised in the film, including freedom, opportunity, democracy, and the global nature of the conflict, and are designed to build students’ critical thinking skills, their ability to think in terms of cause and effect, and their ability to analyze primary sources.

Support provided by

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.

Local support provided by