The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen

Last updated
The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen
Genre Biography, Docudrama
Written byAdam Jonas Segaller
Brian Burstein
Stephen David
Zachary Herrmann
Jereimah Murphy
Jordan Rosenblum
Peter Sherman
Directed byJohn Ealer
StarringJonathan C. Stewart
Gareth Reeves
Derek Charition
Joseph Charition
Robert I. Mesa
Narrated by Campbell Scott
Theme music composer"Born Ready" by Zayde Wølf
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producers Leonardo DiCaprio
Jennifer Davisson
Stephen David
Tim W. Kelly
Yoshi Stone
Russell McCarroll
Kristen Burns
ProducersJohn Ealer
Brian Burstein
Petra Hoebel
Production location Wellington, New Zealand
CinematographySimon Baumfield
Johnny Staint-Ours
EditorsJoe Headrick
Tim W. Kelly
John Kilgour
Matthew Nelson
Production companies Appian Way Productions
A&E Television Networks
Stephen David Entertainment
Original release
Network History
ReleaseMarch 7 (2018-03-07) 
March 28, 2018 (2018-03-28)
Related
The Innovators: The Men Who Built America

The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen is a six-hour, four-part miniseries docudrama which premiered on March 7, 2018 on the History Channel. It is a complement to the 2012 docudrama The Men Who Built America . The series follows the lives of Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark, Davy Crockett, Andrew Jackson, and others who blazed new trails across America's wilderness. The series is narrated by Campbell Scott, directed by John Ealer and executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. [1]

Contents

It is the third installment of the That Built franchise.

Cast

Main

Guest

Episodes

Note: The series consists of eight one-hour episodes; for TV they were combined into four two-hour episodes.

No.TitleOriginal air date
1"Into the Wilderness"March 7, 2018 (2018-03-07)
During the height of American Revolutionary War, the fighting spreads beyond the colonies into the wildness. Pioneer Daniel Boone establishes the settlement Boonesborough, Kentucky in Kentucky Territory. It is soon threatened by the Shawnee and their leader Blackfish who allied with the British to regain their land. When the war ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris and the British surrender, the Native Americans do not. In 1783, in the Northwest Territory, warrior Tecumseh ignites the fight for the frontier out west.
2"Never Surrender"March 14, 2018 (2018-03-14)
On the orders of President Thomas Jefferson, Army captains Lewis and Clark explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory, and with the help of their guide Sacagawea, they make their legendary expedition to the Pacific. After the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Tecumseh unites the Native American tribes by forming an alliance to resist U.S. expansion. When he learns about the Battle of Tippecanoe, the Shawnee leader aligns with the British in Canada and another war for America's independence begins; the War of 1812.
3"Live Free or Die"March 21, 2018 (2018-03-21)
With the British and Tecumseh's Pan-Indian alliance broken in the north, the south is threatened by the Red Sticks of the Creek tribe when they massacre 500 settlers at Fort Mims. General Andrew Jackson joins the fight to defend the frontier, and becomes a national hero at the Battle of New Orleans. However, his methods at Tallushatchee starts a fierce rivalry with woodsman Davy Crockett who is against Jackson's Indian Removal Act when he is president. Crockett starts a new life in Texas, unbeknownst that a war is brewing with Mexico.
4"Empire of Liberty"March 28, 2018 (2018-03-28)
In 1836, General Santa Anna and his Mexican army defeat the Texian uprising at the Alamo, along with Davy Crockett, who was one of the last survivors. This spurs on Sam Houston to form an army and avenge the celebrated frontierman's death. President James Polk wants to further expand the United States to the Pacific. In 1842, Polk assigns surveyor John Frémont and his guide Kit Carson to chart a path to the Northwest; creating the Oregon Trail. They are tasked to secretly incite a rebellion to take California, which later ignites a war with Mexico. Gaining this 31st state proves fruitful with the discovery of gold.

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References

  1. Brockington, Ariana (March 5, 2018). "TV News Roundup: History Releases Trailer for Leonardo DiCaprio's 'The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen'". Variety . Retrieved December 27, 2020.