What role did the Southwest region play in The American Revolution?

AZPM

Published November 12, 2025 at 1:35 PM MST

American Revolution: The Revolution that Changed the World hero 1 — THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a new six-part, 12-hour documentary from Ken Burns, premieres November 16 on PBS 6.

Film Essays with Chris Dashiell spot — Chris Dashiell is a regular contributor to Arizona Spotlight.

The best of the greatest hits of the Wobo Show: physical theater meets child's play.

Featured on the November 13th, 2025 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

Find out what was happening in the local region during the events of The Revolutionary War.

Public historian and seventh-generation Tucsonan Mauro Trejo IV is involved with the historic and cultural organizations Anza Trail Foundation, Los Descendientes de Tucson, and Tucson Presidio Trust. He also leads informative nonfictional walking tours focusing on this region's people, their past, and traditions.

Tucson Historian Mauro Trejo IV — Mauro Trejo IV is fascinated by the early places, people and daily lives of early Tucsonans, and he enjoys passing along that knowledge. He is involved with Tucson Pima County Historical Commission, The Anza Trail Foundation, Los Descendientes de Tucson, Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation, and also leads walking tours.

Mauro Trejo IV- Downtown — Mauro Trejo IV is a passionate historian who loves to learn and share his knowledge about Tucson's past, people, cultures and other aspects of society.

Mauro Trejo IV- El Tiradito — Mauro Trejo IV is a passionate historian who loves to learn and share his knowledge about Tucson's past, people, cultures and other aspects of society.

Mauro Trejo IV- Santa Cruz River sign — Mauro Trejo IV is a passionate historian who loves to learn and share his knowledge about Tucson's past, people, cultures and other aspects of society.

Ken Burns’ 6-part PBS mini-series "The American Revolution" begins on Sunday, November 16th at 8 pm.

A conversation with Dr. Gary Auerbach about photographing and interviewing Indigenous People from across the Southwest for his 2005 book "We Walk in Beauty: Native American Photographs & Words".

walk in beauty tiger unsized — An image from "We Walk in Beauty", photograph by Gary Auerbach.

we walk inn beauty unsized 1 — An image from "We Walk in Beauty", photograph by Gary Auerbach.

we walk in beauty women unsized 3 — An image from "We Walk in Beauty", photograph by Gary Auerbach.

gary auerbach unsized — Dr. Gary Auerbach and his book.

Film essayist Chris Dashiell offers his thoughts on Mexico's submission to the 2026 Academy Awards. It's the debut feature from director Pierre Saint Martìn, “No Nos Moverán” ("We Shall Not be Moved”). Cinema Tucsón will present a screening of the film on Wednesday, November 19th at 7 pm at the Fox Tucson Theatre.

And Tucson-based musician Clay Dudash of The Manor Born shares about the journey to becoming one of the bands featured at the DUSK music festival, happening November 15th & 16th at Jácome Plaza in downtown Tucson.

manor born rialto stage hero — The Manor Born onstage during the Local Love Festival at The Rialto Theater.

manor born record store hero — The Manor Born, from L-R: James Trivitt (guitar), Nick Kopff (drums), Clay Dudash (Guitar & vocals) and Jeff Eagan (bass).

Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Friday at 8:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.

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What role did the Southwest region play in The American Revolution?