3. Using cartoons to teach the Revolution to children
Liberty’s Kids is a series of cartoons which depicts the American Revolution to children. In the series, a pair of reporters, teenagers themselves, tell of the events as the Revolution transpired in articles for the Philadelphia Gazette, published by none other than Benjamin Franklin. The series also presents the truth that not all Americans supported the Revolution, with about one-third actively opposing the separation from Great Britain. That point of view is presented through the letters of a young Englishwoman trapped in North America during the conflict. The series, which runs 40 episodes, presents both sides of the conflict, and the major events are presented both accurately and in an entertaining manner, with comic relief provided by other characters.
The 40 episodes, available on YouTube, both entertain and educate. Each is just over 20 minutes in duration, non-threatening to the attention span of younger children, and allows them to use their favorite devices to view them. Produced by the Canada-based Wild Brain, Liberty’s Kids offer a window into the American Revolution and the many personages within. The causes of the Revolution, and the campaigns of the war, as well as the diplomatic intrigues, in a manner which appeal to young children. Numerous other historical cartoons designed to appeal to children as they teach history are available online, from a variety of sources, with varying degrees of historical accuracy.