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Liberty's Kids

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Liberty's Kids was a 2002 40-part animated television series produced by DiC Entertainment and broadcast on PBS Kids from September 2, 2002 to August 13, 2004 and Kids' WB (now Kids' WB on the CW) since August 2004.

Its premise was to teach its audience of 7- to 12-year-olds about the origins of the United States of America. Much like the CBS cartoon mini-series This is America, Charlie Brown years before, Liberty's Kids told of young people in dramas surrounding the major events in the Revolutionary War days. Celebrities such as Walter Cronkite (as Benjamin Franklin), Sylvester Stallone (as Paul Revere), Ben Stiller (as Thomas Jefferson), and Arnold Schwarzenegger (as Baron von Steuben) lent credence to characters critical to the forming of a free country, from the Boston Tea Party to the Constitutional Convention.

Cast

A young woman from England, Sarah comes to the Thirteen Colonies in search of her father, an English major, who was last heard exploring the region of Ohio. However, with the possibility of a war between the American colonists and English mother country, she decides that she will become a reporter for Benjamin Franklin's newspaper in order to offer a more balanced perspective to the press. Sarah believes firmly in power of words, equal rights for all, and is never afraid to speak her mind. Later in the series, Sarah had a change of heart, and supported the Revolution.
Fifteen-year-old Sarah Phillips is the bright-eyed and high-spirited girl who has just arrived from London in search of the American Dream as a guest of Benjamin Franklin's. She ends up working at his Print Shop, competing with James for front page coverage of their stories. Sarah offers a British perspective of the events taking place in America.
A young man orphaned in childhood because of a lightning storm, James greatly admires Benjamin Franklin, whose invention of the lightning rod saved many from the same tragedy James suffered. Zealous and impulsive, James pursues the revolution from a slightly one-sided perspective - something that prompts Sarah to become a reporter to counter his views. He believes firmly in the American cause and will do almost anything to ensure that the people receive an honest view of what is happening. In the process, he also faces the less positive aspects of the political conflict that eventually forces his patriotic ferver into a new maturity.
James Hiller is a fourteen-year-old, street-smart boy who is busy living the American Dream. As an apprentice at Franklin's Print Shop, he is always anxious to cover a battle for the paper and finds himself in many a dangerous situation. James idolizes Ben Franklin and wants to grow up to have his own newspaper so that he too can print all the news people need to know.
A small boy from France, Henri's parents died on the voyage to America and the ship's captain exploited Henri afterwards. James and Moses smuggle Henri off the ship and the boy finds a home in Benjamin Franklin's workshop. While he speaks French fluently, Dr. Franklin has insisted that Henri learn to speak, read and write in both English and French, something that Henri has resisted doing (with the exception of speaking). Henri's small size has proved more than useful to Sarah and James, though he has a perchant for landing himself in all sorts of trouble while not fully understanding the dangers of the war. Curious and fearless, the only thing Henri values more than his freedom is finding a family of his own.
Henri is an eight-year-old street urchin, who has been adopted by Franklin. The very energetic and comedic boy sleeps in the barn behind the Print Shop, paying his way by running errands. Henri is curious, cocky and always has a knack for getting into trouble with the wrong people. Although he may be a troublemaker, his small size is an asset to the newspaper, because it allows him to spy on British troops by slipping through fences and windows.
Because of his ingenuity, Moses learned to read and blacksmithing and managed to buy his freedom from his master, thus freeing himself from the slavery of the American south. His brother, Cato, had not been so fortunate and escaped, later joining the British troops as a soldier. Moses is a jack of all trades and works in Benjamin Franklin's workshop. He looks out for Dr. Franklin's young wards, especially Henri. Like Henri, he values his freedom more than anything.
Born in Africa, Moses was brought in chains to America as a slave. Over the years, he learned how to read, blacksmith and work with metals, which allowed him to earn money for his work. After secretly saving his money, Moses purchased his own freedom, and moved to Philadelphia where he found employment with Benjamin Franklin. Moses has an iron will and will never allow anyone to strip him of his dignity, despite his or her feelings on race. By working at the Print Shop, Moses hopes to educate children of all colors in the ideals of America so that everyone may one day be free.

Characters

Associates of Benjamin Franklin

  • Sarah Phillips
  • James Hiller
  • Henri Richard Maurice Dutoit LeFebrve
  • Moses

American Army

British Army

French Army

Spanish Army

Polish Army

Turncoats

Family Members

American Politicians

British Politicians

Others

Revival on WB stations

Although no new shows have been produced since 2004, Liberty's Kids moved into syndication in 2005 and is now aired on many affiliates of the WB. In 2006, the WB will fold and there is no word as to how many stations will continue to air the show.

Episodes

  • 1) The Boston Tea Party
  • 2) The Intolerable Acts
  • 3) United We Stand
  • 4) Liberty or Death
  • 5) Midnight Ride
  • 6) The Shot Heard Round the World
  • 7) Green Mountain Boys
  • 8) The Second Continental Congress
  • 9) Bunker Hill
  • 10) Postmaster General Franklin
  • 11) Washington Takes Command
  • 12) Common Sense
  • 13) The First Fourth of July
  • 14) "New York, New York"
  • 15) The Turtle
  • 16) One Life to Lose
  • 17) Captain Molly
  • 18) American Crisis
  • 19) Across the Delaware
  • 20) American in Paris
  • 21) Sybil Ludington
  • 22) Lafayette Arrives
  • 23) The Hessians Are Coming
  • 24) Valley Forge
  • 25) Allies at Last
  • 26) Honor and Compromise
  • 27) The New Frontier
  • 28) Not Yet Begun to Fight
  • 29) The Great Galvez
  • 30) In Praise of Ben
  • 31) Bostonians
  • 32) Benedict Arnold
  • 33) Conflict in the South
  • 34) Deborah Samson
  • 35) James Armistead
  • 36) Yorktown
  • 37) Born Free and Equal
  • 38) The Man Who Wouldn’t Be King
  • 39) Going Home
  • 40) We the People


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