Photos | Videos | Audio | Interactives
Photo Galleries (7)
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American Revolution: Continental Congress
American Revolution: Continental Congress(11 Photos)
11 Photos
Discover the accomplishments of the First and Second Constitutional Congresses, and learn about the major players behind such documents as the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris.
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American Revolution: Flags and Fliers
American Revolution: Flags and Fliers(10 Photos)
10 Photos
Discover some of the flags and fliers that circulated amongst the colonies before and during the American Revolution.
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American Revolution: Events and Battles
American Revolution: Events and Battles(12 Photos)
12 Photos
Explore Revolutionary battle sites such as Lexington, Concord and Yorktown, and learn how the events that took place there shaped the course of the war.
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American Revolution: Key Military Figures
American Revolution: Key Military Figures(10 Photos)
10 Photos
View images of key military figures from the American Revolution, and learn what role they played in this war of independence.
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Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson(11 Photos)
11 Photos
See pictures from the life and presidency of Thomas Jefferson.
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George Washington
George Washington(17 Photos)
17 Photos
See pictures from the life and presidency of George Washington.
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John Adams
John Adams(7 Photos)
7 Photos
See pictures from the life and presidency of John Adams.
Videos (26)
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American Revolution
American RevolutionVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Get the story of how a fledgling, largely disconnected nation won its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.
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Declaration of Independence
Declaration of IndependenceVideo Clip (3:04)
Video Clip (3:04)
To many in the Continental Congress, war was unthinkable. So why did they finally create this revolutionary document?
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George Washington
George WashingtonVideo Clip (2:19)
Video Clip (2:19)
How did George Washington turn a rag-tag group of men into a disciplined fighting machine?
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Boston Massacre
Boston MassacreVideo Clip (3:00)
Video Clip (3:00)
Shots fired by British soldiers in the streets of Boston in 1770 would spark the American Revolution.
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Matt Damon: The Declaration of Independence
Matt Damon: The Declaration of IndependenceVideo Clip (2:02)
Video Clip (2:02)
Actor Matt Damon performs and discusses the Declaration of Independence.
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Yorktown
YorktownVideo Clip (3:00)
Video Clip (3:00)
The British were forced to surrender 2 days after patriot soldiers captured the fort at Yorktown in 1781.
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British Victory at Bunker Hill
British Victory at Bunker HillVideo Clip (1:42)
Video Clip (1:42)
A fatal lack of ammunition dooms the colonists chances in an early American Revolutionary battle near Boston.
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Washington Escapes Brooklyn
Washington Escapes BrooklynVideo Clip (2:05)
Video Clip (2:05)
As British General William Howe anticipates surrender, General Washington fleas across the East River under cover of darkness.
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Washington's Surprise Attack on Trenton
Washington's Surprise Attack on TrentonVideo Clip (1:40)
Video Clip (1:40)
By Christmas, 1777, in desperate need of a victory, Washington defies military convention with a nighttime assault in the dead of winter.
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Jefferson and the Continental Congress
Jefferson and the Continental CongressVideo Clip (3:33)
Video Clip (3:33)
Over 17 days, Thomas Jefferson writes what will become the mission statement for a revolution and a new nation: the Declaration of Independence.
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Colonists Protest British Policies
Colonists Protest British PoliciesVideo Clip (3:05)
Video Clip (3:05)
From the 1760's onward, colonial anger grows as the British pass a series of taxes and laws. With each one, the two groups move closer to war.
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The Sons of Liberty and the Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty and the Boston Tea PartyVideo Clip (1:52)
Video Clip (1:52)
In 1771, a group of colonists protest thirteen years of increasing British oppression, by attacking merchant ships in Boston Harbor. In retaliation, the British close the port, and inflict even harsher penalties.
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First Revolutionary Battle at Lexington & Concord
First Revolutionary Battle at Lexington & ConcordVideo Clip (1:58)
Video Clip (1:58)
In April 1775, when British troops are sent to confiscate colonial weapons, they run into an untrained and angry militia. This ragtag army defeats 700 British soldiers and the surprise victory bolsters their confidence for the war ahead.
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Jefferson Writes the Declaration of Independence
Jefferson Writes the Declaration of IndependenceVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
At 33, Thomas Jefferson wrote the original draft of America's historic Declaration of Independence, which was approved by the Continental Congress after several days of debate and revisions on July 4, 1776.
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Jefferson Challenges the King
Jefferson Challenges the KingVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
Thomas Jefferson is known for penning The Declaration of Independence, but some of his earlier writings establish the pattern of challenging the British monarchy.
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Battle of Saratoga Turns the Tide
Battle of Saratoga Turns the TideVideo Clip (2:22)
Video Clip (2:22)
In 1777, the colonists force the surrender of 6,000 British troops in New York State. This first major victory convinces France to enter the conflict on the Americans' side.
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American Victory at Yorktown
American Victory at YorktownVideo Clip (1:50)
Video Clip (1:50)
A two pronged attack by French & American forces defeats General Cornwallis in Virginia. Two years later, the Treaty of Paris will officially end the war
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Mutiny in Geroge Washington's Army
Mutiny in Geroge Washington's ArmyVideo Clip (2:02)
Video Clip (2:02)
Spoken word poet Staceyann Chin and actor Michael O'Malley read the words of Samuel DeWees, a soldier in Washington's army, as he tells the story of mutiny on the Pennsylvania line in 1781.
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John Adams: The Early Years
John Adams: The Early YearsVideo Clip (4:00)
Video Clip (4:00)
One of the most influential founding fathers of the United States, John Adams persuaded Congress to adopt the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
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Thomas Jefferson Meets John Adams
Thomas Jefferson Meets John AdamsVideo Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
An unlikely pair whose tumultuous friendship lasted half a century, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826, 50 years after signing the Declaration of Independence.
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Americans and British Face Off in War of 1812
Americans and British Face Off in War of 1812Video Clip (3:10)
Video Clip (3:10)
Shortly after gaining its independence, the United States goes to war with England over its seizure of U.S. ships and sailors.
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Political Career of President John Adams
Political Career of President John AdamsVideo Clip (4:23)
Video Clip (4:23)
Find out about John Adams' political career in the newly formed United States, from his vice presidency under George Washington to hi two terms as president.
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George Washington's Greatest Challenges
George Washington's Greatest ChallengesVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
After George Washington took office on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City, a variety of challenges, he was faced with a variety of tough challenges, both foreign and domestic.
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George Washington's Early Years
George Washington's Early YearsVideo Clip (1:47)
Video Clip (1:47)
George Washington was an ambitious young man who strove to refine his character.
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George Washington at Valley Forge
George Washington at Valley ForgeVideo Clip (2:14)
Video Clip (2:14)
General George Washington led a starving army in frigid conditions to victory at Valley Forge.
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History of the Fourth of July
History of the Fourth of JulyVideo Clip (2:44)
Video Clip (2:44)
Discover how and when Americans celebrated Independence Day in the past. Although Benjamin Franklin thought we'd celebrate the 2nd of July; the 4th of July is closest to our hearts.
Speeches & Audio (1)
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Statue of Liberty Centennial
Statue of Liberty CentennialAudio Clip (0:56)
Audio Clip (0:56)
CBS News reports from New York City on the 1986 Fourth of July celebration, marking 100 years since the Statue of the Liberty was dedicated to the United States. Festivities centered around the national monument as some 30,000 vessels, ranging from canoes to the Queen Elizabeth II, crowded New York Harbor.
Interactives (1)
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During the American Revolution, Great Britain's 13 American colonies rose up in insurrection and won their independence.
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