Documentary Overview - The American Revolution documentary series, eight years in the making and filmed across 100 locations, examines America's founding from a first-person perspective [2] - The documentary aims to shed new light on the American Revolution, a topic often encrusted with sentimentality and lacking in photographic or newsreel evidence [7][9] - The series features a cast of actors including Tom Hanks, Ethan Hawk, Samuel L Jackson, and Meryl Streep [2][25] - The documentary premieres November 16th on PBS and will be available to stream on PBS org and the PBS app [24] Historical Significance & Interpretation - The American Revolution is presented as the defining event of American history, influencing ideas of liberty and equality [1] - The documentary emphasizes the violence of the revolution, often overlooked compared to other wars like the Civil War or World War II [22] - The revolution's success was improbable, with initial chances of success being near zero on April 19th, 1775 [6] - The documentary highlights the role of ordinary people, teenagers, disaffected folks, felons, second and third sons, and recent immigrants in winning the war [12] - The documentary suggests the American Revolution is still ongoing, with the pursuit of virtue and perpetual education being essential for citizens [14][16] - George Washington's leadership was crucial, despite his flaws and tactical errors, as he understood the importance of not surrendering [18][19]