Liberty's Kids Season 1, Episode 11: Washington Takes Command

1

The Boston Tea Party

At the direction of Benjamin Franklin, Moses, James and Henri travel to Boston in search of Sarah, who has arrived from England on a tea-laden ship. When they get to the Harbor, they happen upon the disguised colonists and discover they are raiding the very ship Sarah is on.

30 min

2

The Intolerable Acts

Moses, James, Sarah and Henri hide at poet Phillis Wheatley's house in Boston, where some of His Majesty's soldiers are being quartered. Hearing Phillis Wheatley's story, Sarah is confronted with the horror of slavery for the first time. Later, though Sarah does not agree with her new friends' thoughts about Mother England, she helps them in a time of trouble.

30 min

3

United We Stand

Moses lets James report on Congress and after a British sailor is ""tarred and feathered,"" James learns about the ugliness of mob rule, when emotions get in the way of compassion. Sarah and Henri meet Abigail Adams and travel with her to bring supplies and pamphlets to the occupied city of Boston. Sarah immediately finds in Abigail a strong female role model to look up to.

30 min

4

Liberty or Death!

James, Sarah, Henri and Moses travel to Virginia, where they witness Patrick Henry's speech. Moses is shocked to find his brother Cato on the slave auction block and risks his own freedom to rescue him. Cato sees hope for himself in Dunmore's Proclamation and in the end leaves his brother to seek his own path to freedom.

30 min

5

The Midnight Ride

Sarah and James travel to Boston to deliver a message to Patriot leader Dr. Joseph Warren and end up riding with the famous messengers so that they can write about it for the paper.

30 min

6

The Shot Heard Round the World

James, reporting on the Minutemen, and Sarah, falling in with the British forces, report from both sides on the ""shot heard ‘round the world"" at Lexington. They each leave the scene fearful of what the future will bring though James is caught up with the romanticism of fighting for liberty.

30 min

7

The Green Mountain Boys

James heads to the Grants to cover the story of the settlers' struggle; Sarah goes hoping to find a place in the Green Mountains for her family to settle, and Henri wants to find maple syrup. Sarah and James witness the capture of the fort and Sarah befriends Benedict Arnold, whom she instantly respects.

30 min

8

The Second Continental Congress

Desperate for information on what Congress is doing behind the closed doors of the statehouse, James unknowingly befriends a British spy. Sarah and Moses meet George Washington and together use ""Yankee ingenuity"" to fix Washington's carriage after it breaks.

30 min

9

Bunker Hill

James witnesses the Battle of Bunker Hill from the American side, while Sarah interviews one of the British officers, and Henri acts as a messenger.

30 min

10

Postmaster General Franklin

When the Philadelphia patriots find out that some of their mail isn't being delivered to the right people by the British-controlled postal service, James and Sarah volunteer to carry important letters to New York. Ben Franklin becomes the colonies' Postmaster General on July 26, 1775.

30 min

11

Washington Takes Command

Washington puts together the Continental Army. Meanwhile James goes with Henry Knox to get cannons from Fort Ticonderoga.

30 min

12

Common Sense

Sarah, James and Henri meets Thomas Paine and they hear his beliefs on the common man and independence.

30 min

13

The 1st Fourth of July

Sarah and James meet Thomas Jefferson and witnesses the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

30 min

14

New York, New York

Sarah does a report on the loyalists opinion on the revolution in New York. Meanwhile James escapes to Manhattan with the Continental Army.

30 min

15

The Turtle

Sarah, Henri and James reports on a sea monster in the New York harbor, then they meet the submarine inventor David Bushnell.

30 min

16

One Life to Lose

Sarah and James witnesses Nathan Hale's commitment to independence.

30 min

17

Captain Molly

With General Washington losing battle after battle, James' confidence wavers. He and Sarah go to Washington's camp to report from the front lines. However, because she is a girl, Sarah is sent to Fort Tryon with the other women and children. There, she befriends Molly, a spunky patriot whose husband was killed fighting the British. But then James finds out that the British are going to attack Fort Tryon! Meanwhile, back in Philadelphia, Moses starts teaching Henri how to read.

30 min

18

American Crisis

The gang meets back up with Thomas Paine. Meanwhile, George Washington is under pressure to win his battle.

30 min

19

Across the Delaware

James learns more about the captured British spy.

30 min

20

An American in Paris

While visiting Abigail Adams, Sarah gets exposed to smallpox. Meanwhile Alexander Hamilton joins George Washington in the battle.

30 min

21

Sybil Ludington

James learns from the courageuos Sybil Ludington that the thought of independence not only lies in the hearts of soldiers and determined young men, but also in the hearts of determined young women. Sarah travels to Philadelphia with General Benedict Arnold and witness his passion of being ranked to a higher office in the army.

30 min

22

Lafayette Arrives

Henri meets the Marquis de Lafayette.

30 min

23

The Hessians Are Coming

James is found by the British and is tied to a Hessian.

30 min

24

Valley Forge

James and Sarah see the hardship that foot soldiers endure during the war; Washington faces betrayal.

30 min

25

Allies at Last

James learns about religious freedom from Moses Michael Hayes; Sarah and Henri are in occupied Philadelphia.

30 min

26

Honor and Compromise

Henri befriends Abraham Nimham; Sarah and Moses watch Congress debate over the Articles of Confederation.

30 min

27

The New Frontier

Sarah decides to go off into the wild Ohio Fronteir to find her father, while there she's found by some friendly Indians who wish to help her. An English friend of the Indians comes to help and Sarah gets a very wonderful surprise and makes a sad decision. Meanwhile James and every other poor person is having trouble with the rich overcharging them. A man trys to tar and feather a rich Tori, but James disagrees.

30 min

28

Not Yet Begun to Fight

Sara's trip back home to England is delayed because of a ship wreck.

30 min

29

The Great Galvez

Sarah is in London with her mother and is having doubts about belonging there. In the end, she finally decides she is an American. Meanwhile James and Henri are traveling a long ways to give a letter to Galvez, but on the way are Brittish soldiers, will they stop them and find the letter?

30 min

30

In Praise of Ben

The title kinda gives it away, the episode begins with Sarah coming 'home' to Philidelphia, she's greeted by Moses, and eventually, a slightly bitter James. The rest is 'in praise of Ben' Benjamin Franklin. It's about is education, his inventions, and many other things.

30 min

31

Bostonians

James views the acts of the Iroquois and colonists; Sarah reunites with Abigail Adams.

30 min

32

Benedict Arnold

According to James' theory, there are British spies that are close to General Washington, how else could you explain all the conterattacks by the british? James is on a mission to find out! In the mean time, in his west point house, Benedict Arnold is bitter about the Congress. Becasue of his bitterenss, he meets up with one of the british officers and tells them of Washington's plans, plans that if the british could get a hold of, would mean the end of liberty. What will Sarah think when she finds out her hero is a traitor?

30 min

33

Conflict in the South

James and Henri follow General Nathanael Green; Sarah is upset to discover Thomas Jefferson has slaves.

30 min

34

Deborah Samson

Sarah meets Deborah Samson; James and Henri witness arguments between Generals Washington and Rochambeau.

30 min

35

James Armistead

The Americans send out James Armistead, a slave, to spy on the British by pretending to be Benedict Arnold's slave. He finds out that Cato, Moses' brother is a British slave. The British ask James to spy on the Americans the same way he is spying on them.

30 min

36

Yorktown

Moses' brother fights for the British; Moses joins the American mining corps to search for his brother; battle of Yorktown.

30 min

37

Born Free and Equal

Sarah, staying with Abigail Adams in Boston, is thrilled to see Mum Bett freed and resolves to fight for civil rights. In France, Ben Franklin hopes that news of Yorktown will convince King George to surrender to his former colonies. James finds himself in a tight spot as he digs deeper for the whole story. Historical Content: The Massachusetts slave 'Mum Bett' sues for her freedom (May 28, 1781). When she wins, she renames herself Elizabeth Freeman (August 1781). With this decision and the case of another slave, Quok Walker, Massachusetts abolishes slavery (1783). In Great Britain, a bitter, recalcitrant King George III is finally convinced to recognize American independence and to go to the peace table.

30 min

38

The Man Who Wouldn't Be King

The Americans want George Washington to be king of the United States, but he refuses.

30 min

39

Going Home

James interviews former U.S. soldiers to find out what it's like for them, and learns that farmers are having trouble paying off taxes since all their food went towards feeding soldiers. Meanwhile, Lafayette says he is going home to France and eventually invites Henri to go with him, and Henri accepts the invitation.

30 min

40

We the People

Moses resolves to open a school for free black children; Sarah reunites with her parents. The Constitution is written.

30 min