The American Revolution

(dramatic music) - [Narrator] From a small spark kindled in America, a flame has arisen, not to be extinguished.

(dramatic music continues) - We think about independence movements of the 20th century.

You don't always recognize the fact that the United States actually started that.

- The American Revolutionary movement served as a model for freedom from oppression.

- America is predicated on an idea that tells us who we are, where we came from, and what our forebearers were willing to die for.

- Colonists said, no taxation without representation.

The fear was, if we give into this precedent, what will they do in the future?

- Crisis changes people.

It gave different people different ideas about what they should be doing.

(flames roaring) (dramatic music continues) - It gave them a space to make this democracy real.

(dramatic music continues) - [Narrator] The founders thought we can start over again.

We could begin the world anew.

(dramatic music continues) - The British objective is to suppress the rebellion, force them to acknowledge the authority of the King.

(dramatic music continues) - Washington understands the war he's fighting.

He doesn't have to win.

He only has not to lose.

- He becomes quite eloquent in trying to persuade people.

We're all Americans.

- We see regiments with individuals who are not carrying arms, doing essential labor, including women.

They are at the forefront of this movement.

- One of the most remarkable aspects is that you had such different places come together as one nation.

- It mushrooms into a global campaign that touches Europe and all parts of the world.

- [Narrator] It so excites us that we're the product of a revolutionary moment where the world turned upside down.

(dramatic music continues) - [Narrator] To believe in America is to believe in possibility.

(melodramatic music)