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Note: All audio excerpts and music in this episode are courtesy PBS. See below for details.

'The American Revolution' on PBS is a riveting documentary about the events that created a country. Released in advance of next year's America250 celebrations, the latest Ken Burns documentary shows the unity and divisions within and without the revolutionary cause. Americans today seem to be divided on everything; can they unite around their national origin stories? David Schmidt and Geoffrey Ward are the guests in this episode.

David Schmidt co-directed and co-produced 'The American Revolution' with Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein. Historian Geoffrey Ward was the writer.

Excerpts of the score, in order (courtesy: PBS)

Battle Percussion by Johnny Gandelsman

Pompey Ran Away by Rhiannon Giddens

O'Neill's Cavalry March Piccolo by Mathias Kunzli and Alex Sopp

Ahead We Move by Johnny Gandelsman

Further reading:

The American Revolution (companion volume) by Geoffrey Ward and Ken Burns