Watching the American Revolution: Movies & Documentaries for Homeschoolers

The Boston Tea Party. Continental Congress. Benedict Arnold. We read about them in our books, but watching them unfold on TV, whether in a fictional movie or a documentary, makes them feel more real.

The list below begins before the American Revolution. Why? The story of an independent America can’t be understood without understanding the French & Indian War. The war left Britain with significant debt, leading to new taxes & regulations in the colonies—taxes & regulations that fanned the flames of unrest.

PBS documentaries are often posted on PBS’s YouTube channels, so check there if a PBS show isn’t available for you. For PBS shows produced by local stations, check their YouTube page.

* indicates shows that may be appropriate for the younger crowd or those who want a lighter watch

Fictional Movies & Shows

Fictional shows & movies can help us imagine what our life would’ve been like during another time & connect with the people and places. Some of these are based on real events; others are entirely fictional. Either way, it’s worth tying in your kiddos’ history knowledge to discuss what the movies get right & wrong.

April Morning

Rent on
Stream on YouTube

This book-to-(TV) movie adaptation of the book by Howard Fast, April Morning is the story of teenager Adam Cooper, whose life changes when his family receives news of the approaching British troops on the eve of the Battle of Lexington & Concord.

Liberty’s Kids*

Stream on Prime Video or YouTube (licensed channel)

Originally on PBS Kids, this 40-episode animated series tells the story of the American Revolution through the eyes of four young people and Benjamin Franklin.

A wide variety of events & historians are covered, offering a broad introduction to young homeschoolers or another way of solidifying the story for older ones.

Johnny Tremain*

Rent on APPLE TV or PRIME VIDEO
Rating: Not Rated

An accident while working as a silversmith apprentice leads Johnny Tremain to join the Sons of Liberty and witness events leading to the American Revolution, including the Boston Tea Party and the first shots at Lexington & Concord. Based on the classic novel by Esther Forbes.

Young Washington

Rent on Apple TV
Rating: PG-13 (violence)

Long before he was president, George Washington faced the death of his father at a young age & life during the French & Indian War.

The Patriot

Rent on APPLE TV or PRIME VIDEO
Rating: R (violence)

When the American Revolution leaves one son injured & captured and another one dead, a South Carolina farmer who opposes the war is pulled in. After first staging an ambush to rescue his son, Benjamin Martin later leads a militia against the British forces.

Turn: Washington’s Spies

Rent on Prime (4 seasons)
Stream on PBS (seasons 1-2)
Rating: TV-14

The story of one of America’s best-known spy networks, the Culper Ring, is dramatized in this four-season drama. Centering on a Long Island farmer, this ring of spies helps the Revolution in their own way.

For an intrigue-loving kiddo, this would be a fun add-on. Bring younger kiddos along for easy activities like breaking ciphers, writing code, and making invisible ink.

Documentaries

These aren’t the VCR-cart documentaries of your youth! The modern documentaries below are engaging looks at the people and places of the Revolutionary era. Most of the following documentaries are about an hour long; shows with multiple episodes are noted.

The War That Made America

Stream on PBS

This four-part series tells the story of the nearly decade-long French and Indian War, focusing on George Washington’s role and how those lessons learned influenced his later military career.

The last episode, which focuses on how this war helped lead to the American Revolution, is worth watching even if you don’t watch the others.

Fort Niagara: A Struggle for a Continent

Stream on PBS or YouTube (Local PBS)

Four nations struggle to control the strategic mouth of the Niagara River in the years before and after the American Revolution.

A good alternative to The War That Made America, if you’d rather focus on one place & time than the entire war.

Colonial House*

Rent on Apple TV or Prime Video

In this reality series/living experiment, modern Americans & Britons live like 1628 colonists on the coast of Maine. With period tools, clothing & housewares, plus an imposed 1628 Plymouth culture, the 17 ‘colonists’ receive a real-life education in the colonial period.

Ben Franklin’s Genius

Stream on PBS

In this episode of A Taste of History, the chef visits Franklin’s American Philosophical Society. Learn about Franklin, his inventions, and his political influence as the chef cooks foods from his day.

Does your teen enjoy cooking? Find a braised oxtail recipe, or another from the time period, for a tie-in.

Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War

Stream on PBS

This documentary follows the stories of four enslaved & free Black Americans as they pursue liberty, including one who works as a double agent and another who joins the British forces.

Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed

Stream on PRIME VIDEO

Was he a hero, a traitor, or both? Benedict Arnold’s complicated story begins on the battlefield, continues through his clashes with others, and ends with his change of allegiance.

A must-watch for your budding debater or as part of a lesson on argumentative writing.

George III: The Genius of the Mad King

Stream on PRIME VIDEO

Who was the other George, the one on the British side of the American Revolution? After the Royal Archives opens the king’s private papers, historians learn more about this micromanaging king’s life, including his role in the Revolutionary War.

The American Revolution

Stream on PBS

Take a deep dive into the American Revolution, beginning in 1754 with the French and Indian War. Over six episodes & 12 hours, this Ken Burns documentary examines the causes, battles, and people of the Revolution.

PBS’s site offers a variety of resources including interactive maps, games, and lesson ideas.

The Southern Campaign of the American Revolution

Stream on PBS (multiple short videos) or YouTube (PBS, 1 longer video)

In 1780, the British invaded South Carolina in a campaign that continued through 1781 until the surrender at Yorktown.

With battles you’ve likely never heard of, finding them on the map & seeing how they look today would be a good 10-minute follow-up activity.

The Shakers

Stream on PBS

A religious sect that immigrated from England in the late 1700s, this Ken Burns documentary follows the founder (Ann Lee) and her followers as they settle in America and build their own communities. Their beliefs & lifestyle are also examined.

Not a show about the American Revolution, but one that looks at what else was happening during this period.

More Revolutionary-Era Viewing

With the exception of Schoolhouse Rock: America and, perhaps, 1776, these additional titles stretch the boundaries of this post. Still, they might make for a fun movie night, an afternoon on the couch, etc.

• The Swamp Fox*
• The Scarlet Coat (1955)
• Drummer Boy (2026)
• This Is America, Charlie Brown*
• Schoolhouse Rock: America (season 3 on Disney+)*
• 1776 (a musical)
• National Treasure 1 & 2* (They just announced that #3 is in the works.)