The American Revolution, a landmark documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, examines how our nation’s founding was at once a war for independence, a civil war, and a world war that impacted millions. We are pleased to present screenings of all six episodes in their entirety for America 250.

Episode Four: Conquer by a Drawn Game (January 1777 – February 1778)

Benjamin Franklin lobbied in Paris for French support, while George Washington executed a brilliant, surprise tactical victory at Princeton, NJ, against British forces in early 1777. Despite being stalled at the Assunpink Creek, Washington outmaneuvered British General Cornwallis by attacking the reserves before vanishing, providing a major morale boost to the Patriot cause.

Simultaneously, the British command structure faltered as generals Howe and Burgoyne pursued contradictory 1777 strategies, failing to align their campaigns in Albany, and instead dividing their forces. The fighting also intensified in the interior, where the Battle of Oriskany showcased the devastating impact of the war on the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee, effectively turning the conflict into a civil war among indigenous communities.