Legends and Lies

The Sons of Liberty led the fight for American independence, setting about the infamous Boston Massacre. The American Revolution has begun.

Lawyer John Adams represents the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre in 1770; colonists protest the Tea Act of 1773; the American Revolution begins in April 1775 at the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

Eager to prove himself a patriot while under a cloud of suspicion, Benjamin Franklin heads a secret committee to prepare the fledgling army to take on the most powerful military force when George Washington takes command of the ragtag.

George Washington struggles to build a military force from untested colonial militia and limited supplies. While outmatched, the British retreat, and the Continental Army gain their first victory.

Congress is convinced to declare independence after a bitter struggle between rebels and loyalists; the declaration is signed and read throughout the colonies.

Benedict Arnold faces a court-martial and betrays his mentor, George Washington; Tallmadge pursues Arnold's trail with proof of his treasonous plan, but Arnold slips away into a red coat and a place in history as America's most infamous traitor.

Francis Marion leads a guerrilla assault on the British; Washington executes a remarkable siege and forces eight-thousand troops to surrender at Yorktown. The victorious battle led to the Treaty of Paris and America's Independence.

Following the success of the Revolution, America is a sovereign nation facing the burden of financial debt. The Founding Fathers are challenged to create a political structure guaranteeing the freedoms the Patriots fought so hard for.

Aaron Burr, Jefferson's sitting Vice President, kills his long-time political rival, Alexander Hamilton, in a duel over accusations of corruption. Burr faces charges of murder and attempts to annex Florida and Texas before leaving office.

From the first shots of the Boston Massacre to the surrender at Yorktown, African-American men and women played a crucial role in winning America's fight for independence.

A group of people, from all walks of life and all corners of the globe, forge a common national identity in the fight for freedom.