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Private Notes
When the oppressive hand of British rule begins to trample on colonial liberty, a secret group of rebels put their lives on the line to stand up to the crown. The “Sons of Liberty” get their start as smugglers who refuse to pay repressive taxes, but they soon evolve into an underground political force - fighting for American independence. Masterminds Paul Revere and Sam Adams lead the insurgent movement as their treasonous plans - punishable by death – secretly spread throughout the colonies.
The simmering tensions erupt into chaos when a British customs agent murders an 11 year-old boy, triggering three days of riots and 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.
Benjamin Franklin returns to America after a decade of cavorting with elites in London; he must prove himself to be a patriot while under a cloud of suspicion.
George Washington's exploits as commander of the Continental Army, including his first victory in Boston and subsequent defeat in New York, are examined.
Thomas Jefferson becomes the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, which is used as a rallying cry by George Washington for his troops during a desperate 1776 campaign to keep New York from falling into British hands.
Benedict Arnold goes from a respected Continental Army general to America's most notorious traitor thanks to his plot to surrender West Point to the British and switch sides.
A profile of Francis Marion, a South Carolina militia officer known for his guerrilla tactics that frustrated and tormented the occupying British army.
America is a sovereign nation after the Revolution but is beset by squabbling factions and financial debt. George Washington comes out of retirement and is elected president, and works to guarantee the rights for which he and his comrades fought so hard.
The season finale chronicles the dawn of the 19th century under two-term President Thomas Jefferson and the duel between his vice president, Aaron Burr, and one of his chief rivals, Alexander Hamilton, in 1804.
Forgotten Heroes: This episode of "Legends & Lies: The Patriots" examines the Revolutionary War from the perspective of slaves who, despite their subjugation, took up arms to fight the British.
Throughout the war, black troops were an essential component in a war effort marked by razor thin margins of victory. By the time the Battle of Yorktown commenced, nearly one quarter of the rebel forces on hand were slaves.
These troops prove essential to victory, the surrender of the British, and the American independence that, ironically, they were not able to share in.
America's First Christmas: George Washington leads his men across the icy Delaware River into a bloody, barefoot march to Trenton and the brutal Hessian fighters who await them. Following a series of debilitating defeats, this decisive victory reinvigorates the Continental Army and solidifies Washington as a heroic unifier.
