Remembering the Revolution with Liberty's Kids

“I see a land with liberty for all, yet still I know that the truth will rise and fall.”

These are the opening words to the theme song of Liberty’s Kids. For me, this show was a childhood favorite — and it’s probably the reason I’m so partial to American Revolutionary history today. It also helped inspire this month’s theme on In the Archives — Traitors and Spies of the American Revolution. If you’ve listened to the latest episode about James Armistead, you’ll know that Liberty’s Kids is where I first learned about his incredible contributions to the American cause.

Liberty’s Kids pulled viewers into the world of America’s fight for independence, introducing pivotal people and key moments along the way, while also weaving in important life lessons that still resonate today.

The show first aired on PBS Kids in 2002 and ran for forty episodes. It begins in December 1773 with the Boston Tea Party and concludes in September 1787 with the signing of the Constitution. The series was created by Kevin O’Donnell, and its original title was Poor Richard’s Almanac. It was produced by DIC Entertainment — the same studio behind many of my other childhood favorites, including Horseland, Madeline, and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

Sadly, not much is known about the production process. I couldn’t find any interviews with the creators or production staff, which leaves much of Liberty’s Kids’ behind-the-scenes story a mystery. However, the show does boast an impressive voice cast, with many famous celebrities making guest appearances on the show. Click through the slideshow below to see if your favorite celebrity voiced a historical figure on the show.

Liberty’s Kids: Through the Eyes of Youth

Liberty’s Kids is told through the perspectives of three young characters: James, Sarah, and Henri. Guiding them along the way are Moses — a former slave who now works at Benjamin Franklin’s Philadelphia newspaper — and Franklin himself, who acts as both mentor and voice of wisdom.

James Hiller: Patriot Journalist

James is a journalist writing for Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette. He’s always eager to be on the front lines of the action, fueled by his deep patriotism. To James, the American cause is unquestionably right, a belief that often leads to his naïveté.

In Episode 3, “United We Stand,” James meets John Adams for the first time — and he’s not impressed. James sees Adams as a Loyalist sympathizer for defending British soldiers in the Boston Massacre trials (an episode I still need to cover!). Adams patiently explains that those "patriots" were criminals and that the soldiers fired in self-defense. James remains unconvinced, holding firm to his black-and-white view that patriots are always good and the British are always bad.

Later in the same episode, James witnesses a mob (who call themselves patriots) tar and feather an innocent man. At first, James laughs, believing the man deserved it. But after Moses takes him to visit the victim, James is shaken. He realizes — painfully — that not everyone who claims to fight for liberty is noble. Some are simply criminals using patriotism as a shield.

This lesson about moral complexity recurs throughout James’s journey.

In the episode “Bostonians,” James travels to New York to cover the American conflict with the Iroquois, who have sided with the British. He witnesses American forces destroy Iroquois homes and crops — a brutal campaign he hadn’t expected. Separated from his group, James meets Joseph Brant, a Mohawk chief allied with the British. Their conversation forces James to confront the uncomfortable truth that the Revolution isn’t as clear-cut as he once believed.

James’s naivety also shows in his early eagerness for war. In “The Shot Heard Round the World,” he hears the first gunfire at Lexington and Concord and realizes there’s no turning back. But it’s not until the “Bunker Hill” episode that he fully grasps the cost of war. Observing from a distance, James watches as Dr. Joseph Warren — whom he admired — is killed during the battle. In that moment, the price of freedom becomes heartbreakingly real.

Throughout the series, James grows. He learns that war is not fought in black and white, but in many shades of gray. By the end of Liberty’s Kids, he emerges wiser and more mature, forever shaped by the events he witnessed.

Sarah Phillips: From Loyalist to American

Sarah is an English girl who arrives in America on the night of the Boston Tea Party. She comes to reunite with her father, who is exploring the Ohio wilderness, but in the meantime, she stays in Philadelphia under Benjamin Franklin’s care.

Picked up by James, Henri, and Moses amid the chaos in Boston Harbor, Sarah immediately establishes herself as James’s opposite. She is a loyalist through and through, insisting that the colonists are British and should obey the Crown. Her perspective sets up a recurring clash of ideas between her and James.

In “Liberty or Death,” Sarah decides to become a journalist herself, determined to tell the English side of the story. However, as the war unfolds, Sarah’s rigid loyalty softens. She admires the bravery of certain American figures — none more so than Benedict Arnold. Meeting him at Fort Ticonderoga, Sarah sees him as the embodiment of honor and courage (before his later betrayal, of course).

As Sarah witnesses the violence and hardships on both sides, she becomes increasingly conflicted. Her journey to the Ohio wilderness to reunite with her father brings even more disillusionment. Settlers there mistreat Native Americans, and the cruelty she witnesses forces her to question where she belongs.

Disheartened, Sarah decides to return to England — but fate intervenes. Her ship wrecks, and she’s rescued by none other than American naval hero John Paul Jones. Caught in a sea battle against the British, Sarah comes to a realization: she is no longer just English — she is American at heart.

After the battle, she briefly returns to her mother in England, only to tell her that she is an American now. Resolute, Sarah sets off once more for America, fully embracing the cause she once doubted.

Sarah returns to America as a patriot, ready to write about the final stages of the war from her new perspective. She reports on the last battles and the slow, hard-won path to American independence. In the end, Sarah is reunited with her mother, who arrives in America for the first time. Together, they settle happily with Sarah’s father in Ohio, ready to begin a new chapter in a new nation.

Henri LeFevbre: Comic Relief with a Heart

Henri is a young French orphan taken in by Benjamin Franklin. While he often serves as the show's comic relief, Henri still experiences important growth throughout the series.

At the start, Henri is uneducated and resists any attempts at formal schooling. Moses, James, and Franklin all encourage him to learn to read and write, but Henri is stubborn. However, real-world situations start to change his mind.

In one episode, Moses comes home late, and a hungry Henri tries to make food on his own — only to realize he can’t read the recipe. Moments like these nudge Henri toward understanding the importance of education. In the episode “Bostonians,” Henri enlists the help of a young John Quincy Adams to teach him to read. In exchange, Henri promises to teach John Quincy how to have a little fun.

The Guides and "Heroes" of the Show

Benjamin Franklin: The Steady Compass

Benjamin Franklin acts as the kids' wise mentor and moral compass. Although Franklin spends much of the series abroad — first in England, then later in France securing a crucial alliance — his influence is felt throughout. Whether offering direct advice or modeling the principles of diplomacy, Franklin is the calm, rational voice in a turbulent world.

Moses: The Unofficial Guardian

Moses is an original character created for Liberty’s Kids, but he feels right at home among the historical figures. He serves as a teacher and protector for James, Sarah, and Henri, offering wisdom and guiding them through the often confusing realities of the Revolution.

A freed slave working at Franklin’s print shop, Moses bought his own freedom. Yet freedom for all is far from a reality. Moses’s brother, Cato, remains enslaved in Virginia. In Episode 4, “Liberty or Death,” Moses and the kids encounter Cato at a Williamsburg slave auction. Heartbreakingly, Moses cannot participate in the auction, and Cato is sold to a plantation near Richmond.

Determined to help, Moses and the kids travel to the plantation to try and free Cato. However, Cato refuses their help, explaining that he plans to join the British army, who have promised freedom to slaves who fight for their side. (For more about enslaved people gaining freedom through service to the British, check out our In the Archives episode on James Armistead!)

After the final victory at Yorktown, Moses helps his brother Cato escape to Canada, where he can finally live as a free man.

George Washington: The Man Who Wouldn’t Be King

George Washington is portrayed as a larger-than-life figure throughout Liberty’s Kids. He is stoic, a man of few words, but a man whose presence commands respect. However, the show doesn’t shy away from showing his flaws. Early on, there is significant opposition to Washington’s appointment as Major General — many believe he is too young and too inexperienced to lead an army to victory.

The first few years of the war are tough for Washington, as he struggles to claim even a single major victory against the British. Instead, he and his army are often forced into retreat after retreat. Yet, even in the face of defeat, Washington is shown as a great leader — one who puts his men and the ideals of America above his own reputation.

As highlighted perfectly in Episode 38, titled "The Man Who Wouldn’t Be King," Washington’s greatest strength is his humility. He does not seek praise, respect, or power — and it is precisely because of this that he earns it. His leadership is marked by sacrifice, perseverance, and a deep commitment to the fledgling nation’s ideals.

Benedict Arnold: The Fallen Hero

On the other side of the coin, Liberty’s Kids gives significant attention to Benedict Arnold — a man whose name has become synonymous with treason.

Arnold first appears in Episode 7, “The Green Mountain Boys,” making a striking entrance: riding a white horse while wearing a red coat — a brilliant bit of visual foreshadowing. In the early stages, Arnold is depicted as a brave and skilled leader. Sarah, in particular, looks up to him after witnessing his heroics at the Battle of Saratoga in “The Hessians Are Coming.” However, even in these moments, the show hints at Arnold’s growing resentment. He feels slighted over promotions and recognition, believing his contributions are overlooked.

(For a deeper dive into Benedict Arnold’s full story, be sure to check out our special episode on him.)

By Episode 33, simply titled “Benedict Arnold,” the inevitable betrayal comes to light. Once a celebrated hero, Arnold’s treason shatters the trust he once had among the Americans. In the episodes that follow, Arnold doesn’t disappear — he returns as a British general, actively fighting against the very cause he once championed, becoming a constant menace to his former comrades.

Conclusion

Liberty’s Kids is a wonderful show that doesn't shy away from difficult topics, even though it is geared toward a younger audience. Upon my recent rewatch, I was surprised at how nuanced it truly is. The show remains apolitical, aiming to tell the full story of the American Revolution — the good, the bad, and the ugly. Its lessons resonate with viewers of any age.

The series meticulously covers the American Revolution, from major events to small skirmishes, and from famous heroes to the often-overlooked figures who shaped history. Liberty’s Kids is a show that can be enjoyed by audiences young and old alike.

If you haven’t watched it — or it’s been a while — check it out. All the episodes are available for free on YouTube!