Liberty's Kids facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Liberty's Kids

Genre	Historical fiction
Created by	Kevin O'Donnell Michael Maliani
Developed by	Andy Heyward Michael Maliani Kevin O'Donnell Robby London
Written by	Doug McIntyre
Directed by	Judy Reilly Marsha Goodman Einstein Pam Carter
Voices of	Reo Jones Chris Lundquist Kathleen Barr D. Kevin Williams Walter Cronkite Sylvester Stallone Ben Stiller Billy Crystal Annette Bening Dustin Hoffman Michael Douglas Arnold Schwarzenegger Liam Neeson Whoopi Goldberg
Theme music composer	Matthew Gerrard
Opening theme	"Through My Own Eyes" performed by Aaron Carter and Kayla Hinkle
Ending theme	"Through My Own Eyes" performed by Aaron Carter and Kayla Hinkle
Composer(s)	Eric Allaman Stephen C. Marston Craig Marks
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	40
Production
Executive producer(s)	Andy Heyward Michael Maliani Robby London
Producer(s)	Kevin O'Donnell Kaaren Brown
Running time	22 minutes
Production company(s)	DIC Entertainment Corporation
Release
Original network	PBS Kids
Original release	September 2, 2002 (2002-09-02) – April 4, 2003 (2003-04-04)

Liberty's Kids is an exciting American animated TV show. It teaches viewers about the beginning of the United States. The show aired on PBS Kids from 2002 to 2003. It tells the story of young people during the American Revolution and the American Revolutionary War.

The series was created by Kevin O'Donnell and developed by a team including Andy Heyward. It was even nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award! Famous people like Walter Cronkite (who played Benjamin Franklin) lent their voices to the characters. Other stars included Sylvester Stallone, Ben Stiller, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Each episode is about 22 minutes long. It often includes fun segments like "The Liberty News Network" (a news report by Walter Cronkite). There's also "Mystery Guest" where kids guess a historical figure. "Now and Then" compares life back then to today.

What is Liberty's Kids About?
Meet the Characters
- Fictional Characters
- Historical Figures in the Show
Episodes of Liberty's Kids
- Season 1 (2002–2003)
Show History
- Where Liberty's Kids Aired
- How to Watch at Home
More to Explore

What is Liberty's Kids About?

The show follows Benjamin Franklin and four young friends. They experience the major events of the American Revolution. The story begins with the Boston Tea Party in 1773. It ends in 1789 when George Washington becomes the first U.S. president. The main characters don't age much, except for Dr. Franklin.

Meet the Characters

Fictional Characters

Sarah Phillips (voiced by Reo Jones) is a smart teenage girl from England. She comes to America in 1773 to find her father. Sarah lives with Benjamin Franklin and becomes a reporter for his newspaper. She wants to share a fair view of the events. Sarah starts as a loyalist, supporting England. But she soon understands and supports the American Revolution. She appears in every episode.

James Hiller (voiced by Chris Lundquist) is a 14-year-old American colonist. He works as an apprentice journalist for Franklin's newspaper. James strongly believes in the American cause. He wants people to know the truth. He is street-smart and sometimes acts without thinking. James is very protective of his friends, Sarah and Henri.

Henri Richard Maurice Dutoit LeFevbre (voiced by Kathleen Barr) is an energetic 8-year-old French boy. He came to America after his parents died on the voyage. James and Moses helped him escape a cruel merchant. Henri finds a home with Benjamin Franklin. He learns both English and French. Henri often gets into trouble but is very curious and brave. He later joins the Continental Army as a drummer boy.

Moses (voiced by D. Kevin Williams) was born in Africa and brought to America as a slave. He used his cleverness to learn to read and work with metal. Moses eventually bought his freedom. He works at Dr. Franklin's Print Shop in Philadelphia. Moses values his freedom more than anything. He hopes to educate children of all backgrounds. His brother, Cato, joined the British army to gain his freedom.

Historical Figures in the Show

Many important historical figures appear in Liberty's Kids. They are voiced by famous actors.

Episodes of Liberty's Kids

The show has 40 episodes. Each one covers key moments in American history.

Season 1 (2002–2003)

No.	Title	Dates	Written by	Subjects covered	Mystery guest	Original air date
1	"The Boston Tea Party"	1773 December 16	Doug McIntyre	Boston Tea Party	Samuel Adams	September 2, 2002 (2002-09-02)
Sarah arrives in Boston and meets James, Moses, and Henri. They witness the Boston Tea Party, where colonists dump tea into the harbor. British soldiers arrive, and the kids find shelter with Phillis Wheatley.
2	"The Intolerable Acts"	1774 March	Doug McIntyre	Intolerable Acts	Phillis Wheatley	September 3, 2002 (2002-09-03)
Dr. Franklin faces trial in London for the Tea Party. In Boston, James, Sarah, Henri, and Moses are stuck as British troops take over the city. James and Henri put up posters against the new laws.
3	"United We Stand"	1774 September	Larry B. Williams	First Continental Congress	Abigail Adams	September 4, 2002 (2002-09-04)
In Philadelphia, James argues with John Adams about the Boston Massacre. James learns about mob rule versus true patriotism. Sarah travels to Boston and meets Abigail Adams.
4	"Liberty or Death"	1775 March	Doug McIntyre	Give me Liberty or give me Death!	Patrick Henry	September 5, 2002 (2002-09-05)
Moses tries to free his brother, Cato, who is about to be sold into slavery. Sarah and James hear Patrick Henry's famous "Give me Liberty or give me Death!" speech. The kids then rescue Moses.
5	"Midnight Ride"	1775 April	Cliff MacGillivray and Kelly Ward	Midnight Ride of Paul Revere	Paul Revere	September 6, 2002 (2002-09-06)
James and Sarah go to Boston with a secret message. They join Paul Revere and William Dawes on their famous midnight ride. They help Sam Adams and John Hancock escape the British.
6	"The Shot Heard Round the World"	1775 April 19	Cliff MacGillivray and Kelly Ward	Battles of Lexington and Concord	John Parker	September 9, 2002 (2002-09-09)
James and Sarah witness the first battles of the war at Lexington and Concord. Sarah's cousin dies in the fighting. Dr. Franklin arrives in Philadelphia and sees the news stories the kids have written.
7	"Green Mountain Boys"	1775 May	Jay Abramowitz	Capture of Fort Ticonderoga	Ethan Allen	September 10, 2002 (2002-09-10)
The kids travel to Vermont and are captured by Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. They then sneak along with Allen and Benedict Arnold to capture Fort Ticonderoga.
8	"The Second Continental Congress"	1775 May	Larry B. Williams	Second Continental Congress	John Hancock	September 11, 2002 (2002-09-11)
A British spy tries to get information from James and Henri about the Congress. Dr. Franklin sends Sarah and Moses to help George Washington. They see him chosen as the General of the Continental Army.
9	"Bunker Hill"	1775 June 17	Jim Fischer, Jim Staahl, and Robby London	Battle of Bunker Hill	Joseph Warren	September 12, 2002 (2002-09-12)
James sees the Battle of Bunker Hill from the American side. Sarah searches the British camp for a soldier friend who dies. Dr. Joseph Warren is also killed, which saddens James.
10	"Postmaster General Franklin"	1775 July	Bill Dial	Benjamin Franklin	John Adams	September 13, 2002 (2002-09-13)
Sarah learns her letters aren't reaching her mother. The kids discover the British are stopping mail from the colonies. Dr. Franklin is then made the Postmaster General.
11	"Washington Takes Command"	1775 July	Jim McGrath	George Washington Siege of Boston	George Washington	September 16, 2002 (2002-09-16)
James, Sarah, and Henri spend six months with Washington's army near Boston. James helps bring cannons from Fort Ticonderoga. Washington uses these supplies to force the British out of Boston.
12	"Common Sense"	1776 January	Elaine Zicree and Marc Zicree	Common Sense	Thomas Paine	September 17, 2002 (2002-09-17)
Thomas Paine asks Dr. Franklin's print shop to print his pamphlet, Common Sense. It argues for breaking away from Britain. James and Henri are inspired, but Sarah dislikes the idea of rebellion.
13	"The First Fourth of July"	1776 July	Brooks Wachtel	Declaration of Independence	Thomas Jefferson	September 18, 2002 (2002-09-18)
James tries to learn about the debate over the Declaration of Independence. Sarah looks through Thomas Jefferson's trash for clues. They see the Declaration being debated and signed.
14	"New York, New York"	1776 July	Jim McGrath	New York and New Jersey campaign Battle of Long Island	Lord Stirling	September 19, 2002 (2002-09-19)
Sarah visits a Loyalist friend in New York. James sees the British take over New York City. Henri pretends to be an American spy.
15	"The Turtle"	1776 September	Bill Dial	Turtle Attack on Eagle	David Bushnell	September 20, 2002 (2002-09-20)
The kids hear rumors of a sea monster in New York Harbor. They find David Bushnell and his submarine, "The Turtle." James and Henri help Bushnell try to blow up a British ship.
16	"One Life to Lose"	1776 September	Jay Abramowitz	Nathan Hale	Nathan Hale	September 23, 2002 (2002-09-23)
The kids learn that Nathan Hale is an American spy. They witness his execution by the British. James almost gets forced into the British Navy.
17	"Captain Molly"	1776 November	Cliff MacGillivray and Kelly Ward	Molly Corbin Battle of Fort Washington	Margaret Corbin	September 24, 2002 (2002-09-24)
Sarah stays with Margaret Corbin at Fort Tryon. James sees the British capture Forts Tryon and Washington.
18	"American Crisis"	1776 December	Elaine Zicree and Marc Zicree	The American Crisis	Robert Bell	September 25, 2002 (2002-09-25)
James and Sarah see the terrible conditions of the American army. They return to Philadelphia to help Thomas Paine publish his new pamphlet, The American Crisis.
19	"Across the Delaware"	1776 December	Jim McGrath	George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River Battle of Trenton Battle of Princeton	John Honeyman	September 26, 2002 (2002-09-26)
James learns about Washington's plan to attack the British. He crosses the Delaware River with Washington before the Battle of Trenton.
20	"An American in Paris"	1776 December	Bruce Franklin Singer	Benjamin Franklin in France Forage War	Silas Deane; Alexander Hamilton	September 27, 2002 (2002-09-27)
Dr. Franklin works in France to get military help. James meets Alexander Hamilton on the way to Washington's camp. Sarah gets smallpox in Boston but recovers with help from Abigail Adams.
21	"Sybil Ludington"	1777 April	Jay Abramowitz	Sybil Ludington Battle of Ridgefield	Sybil Ludington	September 30, 2002 (2002-09-30)
James learns about Sybil Ludington, a young girl who rode to warn colonists of a British attack. Sarah is with Benedict Arnold and sees the British destroy Danbury, Connecticut.
22	"Lafayette Arrives"	1777 September	Michael A. Medlock	Marquis de Lafayette Battle of Brandywine	Baron de Kalb	October 1, 2002 (2002-10-01)
The Marquis de Lafayette arrives in Philadelphia and meets the kids. He offers to help the American cause. He is later wounded at the Battle of Brandywine.
23	"The Hessians are Coming"	1777 June	Jim Fisher and Jim Staahl	Battles of Saratoga	Philip Schuyler	October 2, 2002 (2002-10-02)
Both James and Sarah witness the Battles of Saratoga. Sarah covers it with Benedict Arnold. James is tied to a Hessian soldier who deserted.
24	"Valley Forge"	1778 February	Marc and Elaine Zicree	Valley Forge Conway Cabal	Baron von Steuben	October 3, 2002 (2002-10-03)
James and Sarah see the terrible hardships soldiers face at Valley Forge. Washington deals with possible rebellion. Baron von Steuben trains the American troops.
25	"Allies at Last"	1778 February	Bruce Franklin Singer	Treaty of Alliance Declaration of Loyalty	Jonathan L. Austin; Moses Michael Hays	October 4, 2002 (2002-10-04)
Dr. Franklin successfully gets a treaty of alliance with France. James and Moses meet a Jewish merchant in Rhode Island. Sarah and Henri are stuck in British-occupied Philadelphia.
26	"Honor and Compromise"	1778 June	Cliff MacGillivray Kelly Ward	Articles of Confederation Battle of Monmouth	Henry Laurens; Abraham Nimham	November 4, 2002 (2002-11-04)
The Continental Congress debates the Articles of Confederation. Washington faces opposition from General Charles Lee during the Battle of Monmouth.
27	"The New Frontier"	1779 October	Jay Abramowitz	Cornstalk Fort Wilson riot	Cornstalk	November 5, 2002 (2002-11-05)
James sees mob violence in Philadelphia. Sarah is on the Ohio frontier. She meets her father and the Shawnee chief Cornstalk.
28	"Not Yet Begun to Fight"	1779 September	Brooks Wachtel	Battle of Flamborough Head	John Paul Jones	November 6, 2002 (2002-11-06)
Sarah's ship wrecks, and she is rescued by John Paul Jones. During a sea battle, Jones helps her realize her loyalty is with America.
29	"The Great Galvez"	1780 March	Paul Diamond	Bernardo de Gálvez Battle of Fort Charlotte	Bernardo de Galvez; Charles Fox	November 7, 2002 (2002-11-07)
James meets George Rogers Clark and Bernardo de Gálvez on the frontier. Sarah is in England but feels like America is her true home now.
30	"In Praise of Ben"	1780 April	Phil Harnage	Benjamin Franklin	Benjamin Franklin	November 8, 2002 (2002-11-08)
Sarah returns from England. Henri is fighting a boy who spoke badly about Ben Franklin. Sarah, Moses, and James explain Franklin's life and inventions to the boy and his father.
31	"Bostonians"	1780 June	Bruce Franklin Singer	Adams Family Sullivan's Expedition	Joseph Brant	January 19, 2003 (2003-01-19)
Sarah visits the Adams family again. John Adams is writing the Massachusetts Constitution. James learns about the war's impact on Native Americans from Iroquois chief Joseph Brant.
32	"Benedict Arnold"	1780 July	Jim Fisher Jim Staahl	Benedict Arnold	Benedict Arnold	January 20, 2003 (2003-01-20)
James helps capture a British spy carrying plans of West Point. They discover that General Benedict Arnold, Sarah's friend, is a traitor. Sarah is very upset by this news.
33	"Conflict in the South"	1781 January	Jim Fisher Jim Staahl	Raid on Richmond Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War	Nathanael Greene	January 21, 2003 (2003-01-21)
James joins General Nathanael Greene in his campaign in the South. Sarah is shocked to learn that Thomas Jefferson owns slaves, and he admits he dislikes it.
34	"Deborah Samson: Soldier of the Revolution"	1781 July	Cliff MacGillivray Kelly Ward	Deborah Samson Battle of Rhode Island	Deborah Sampson; John Laurens	January 22, 2003 (2003-01-22)
Sarah meets Deborah Samson, a woman who disguised herself as a man to fight in the army. General Washington plans an attack with General Rochambeau.
35	"James Armistead"	1781 September	Jay Abramowitz	James Armistead	James Armistead	January 23, 2003 (2003-01-23)
Henri becomes a drummer boy in Lafayette's army. Sarah meets James Armistead, a slave who works as a double agent. Washington prepares for a major attack against the British.
36	"Yorktown"	1781 October	Jay Abramowitz	Siege of Yorktown	Charles Cornwallis	March 31, 2003 (2003-03-31)
James and Sarah witness the important Battle of Yorktown. Moses worries his brother, Cato, might not get his freedom since the British lost the war.
37	"Born Free and Equal"	1781 August	Bruce Franklin Singer	Mum Bett	Elizabeth Freeman	April 1, 2003 (2003-04-01)
Sarah learns about Elizabeth Freeman (Mum Bett), a slave who sued for her freedom and won. Meanwhile, King George III of Britain does not want to admit England lost the war.
38	"The Man Who Wouldn't Be King"	1783 March, December	Jay Abramowitz	Treaty of Paris Newburgh Conspiracy George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief	Benjamin West	April 2, 2003 (2003-04-02)
James learns that some army officers want Washington to become king. Washington refuses, as he believes in a republic. The episode ends with Washington resigning his military command.
39	"Going Home"	1786 August	Jay Abramowitz	Shays' Rebellion	Daniel Shays	April 3, 2003 (2003-04-03)
James visits Daniel Shays, who leads a rebellion because war veterans are struggling. Sarah's Loyalist friend moves to Canada with Moses' brother, Cato. Henri decides to go to France with Lafayette.
40	"We the People"	1787 May	Bruce Franklin Singer	Constitutional Convention	James Madison	April 4, 2003 (2003-04-04)
James and Sarah try to learn about the Constitutional Convention. Moses is sad the Constitution doesn't end slavery. Dr. Franklin predicts another war will be needed. Moses opens a school for African American children.

Show History

The show was first called Poor Richard's Almanac. It was announced in 2000.

Where Liberty's Kids Aired

Liberty's Kids first aired on PBS Kids and PBS from 2002 to 2003. Reruns continued on PBS stations until 2004. It also aired on other channels later, including The History Channel and Starz. These reruns helped meet rules for educational TV shows.

How to Watch at Home

The series has been released on VHS and DVD. In 2003, PBS Home Video released a box set for schools. Later, other companies released DVDs for everyone to buy. These sets often included bonus features like character guides.

More to Explore

Founding Fathers of the United States
List of television series and miniseries about the American Revolution
List of films about the American Revolution

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