STAAR Biographies

Colonial AmericaImportant People

Thomas Hooker

Founder of Connecticut

Connecticut

1586-1647

Founded the colony of Connecticut and helped write the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut which called for the election of officials.

John Locke

British Philosopher

England

1632-1704

Promoted the idea of natural law which emphasized individual rights. His idea helped inspire the American Revolution.

Charles de Montesquieu

Social and Political Philosopher

France

1689-1755

Montesquieu’s book The Spirit of the Laws influenced America’s founders. His main idea was that separation of powers was necessary to maintain individual liberty.

William Penn

Founder of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

1644-1718

Helped establish the Pennsylvania Colony. Promoted religious tolerance because his faith, Quakerism, was often persecuted.

William Blackstone

Expert jurist, professor, and writer.

England

1723-1780

Blackstone’s book Commentaries on the Laws of England was the most read legal book in Colonial America.

American RevolutionImportant People

Abigail Adams

Second First Lady of the U.S.

Massachusetts

1744-1818

Promoted equal education for women before most people.

John AdamsFounding Father, Federalist, Second President of the U.S.

Massachusetts

1735-18261797-1801 (U.S. President)

Adams served as America in the Continental Congress during the American Revolution and became the second President of the U.S.

Samuel Adams

Founding Father, Sons of Liberty Leader.

Boston, Massachusetts

1722-1803

Adams was the leader of the Sons of Liberty, which organized many protests against the British, including the Boston Tea Party.

James Armistead

First African-American double spy.

Virginia

1760-1830

Armistead was a double spy who worked for the Americans.

Crispus Attucks

Boston Massacre Victim

Boston, Massachusetts

1722-1770

First person to die in the Boston Massacre. Viewed by many as the first casualty of the American Revolution.

Wentworth Cheswell

American Revolution Veteran, First African-American to hold public office. New Hampshire

1746-1817

Part of the midnight ride that warned of the British.

No Picture Available

Benjamin Franklin

Founding Father, Journalist, Diplomat

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1706-1790

Franklin promoted American unity and independence. He wrote or signed the Albany Plan of Union, Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Paris (1783), and the Constitution.

Bernardo de Gálvez

Spanish Administrator, General

Spain/Louisiana/Florida

1746-1786

Helped the U.S. during the American Revolution by winning battles in Florida and Mississippi River.

Patrick Henry

Founding Father, Anti-Federalist

Virginia

1736-1799

Advocate for liberty. Henry was one of the leaders of the American Revolution.

King George III

King of England

England

1738-1820

Unpopular King of England during the American Revolution.

Thomas Jefferson

Founding Father, Anti-Federalist, Third President of the U.S.

Virginia

1743-18261801-1809 (U.S. President)

Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence which said that all men were created equally and were entitled to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

John Paul Jones

American Naval Officer during the American Revolution.

Virginia

1747-1792

Fought well against the British’s feared navy.

Marquis de Lafayette

French General

France/U.S.

1757-18341777-1781 (Assisted American

Revolution)

Convinced France to assist the Americans during the Revolutionary War. Led troops during the war.

Thomas Paine

Journalist

England/New Jersey

1737-1809

1776 (Common Sense)

Thomas Paine helped inspire the American Revolution with his pamphlet Common Sense.

Haym Salomon

Businessman

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1740-1785

A member of the “Sons of Liberty”. Salomon helped pay for the American Revolution.

Mercy Otis WarrenWriter, Historian

Massachusetts

1728-1814

Promoted and honored the American Revolution with her writings. Her book, the History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution is her most famous book.

George Washington

Founding Father, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, First President of the U.S.

Virginia

1732-17991789-1797 (U.S. President)

Washington is known as the “Father” of the U.S. because he helped the U.S. win independence as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

Creation and Ratification of the Constitution

Important People

Benjamin Franklin

Founding Father, Journalist, Diplomat

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1706-1790

Franklin promoted American unity and independence. He wrote or signed the Albany Plan of Union, Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Paris (1783), and the Constitution.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist, First Secretary of the Treasury

New York

1755-1804

Made many arguments for the Constitution in the Federalist Papers. Believed a stronger National Government was needed to ensure the safety and stability of the country.

Patrick Henry

Founding Father, Anti-Federalist

Virginia

1736-1799

Henry opposed America’s Constitution because he feared it would give the government too much power. Henry believed in State’s Rights.

James MadisonFounding Father, Federalist,Fourth U.S. President

Virginia

1751-18361809-1817 (U.S. President)

Helped write the U.S. Constitution. Promoted and explained the Constitution in the Federalist Papers.

George Mason Founding Father and Anti-Federalist

Virginia

1725-1792

Wrote Virginia’s Constitution and helped write America’s Constitution. However, Mason felt the new Federal government was too powerful and would damage individual rights.

George Washington

Founding Father, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, First President of the U.S.

Virginia

1732-17991789-1797 (U.S. President)

Washington was elected President during the Constitutional Convention due to his immense popularity.

Early RepublicImportant People

John AdamsFounding Father, Federalist, Second President of the U.S.

Massachusetts

1735-18261797-1801 (U.S. President)

The second President of the U.S. His Presidency was marked by controversy from the XYZ Affair and the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist, First Secretary of the Treasury

New York

1755-1804

Helped create the first National Bank. As Secretary of the Treasury he strengthened the National economy.

Thomas Jefferson

Founding Father, Anti-Federalist, Third President of the U.S.

Virginia

1743-18261801-1809 (U.S. President)

Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory which doubled the size of the U.S. Also, Jefferson started the Democratic-Republican Party.

James MadisonFounding Father, Federalist,Fourth U.S. President

Virginia

1751-18361809-1817 (U.S. President)

President during the War of 1812. Madison’s leadership during the war, helped the nation fight the British to a draw.

John Marshall

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Virginia

1755-18351801-1803 (Chief Justice)

Helped establish Judicial Review as Chief Justice. Ruled over some of the most important cases in U.S. History.

James Monroe

Fifth U.S. President

Virginia

1758-18311817-1825 (U.S. President)

American President who wrote the Monroe Doctrine which changed American foreign policy by making it more aggressive/strong.

George Washington

Founding Father, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, First President of the U.S.

Virginia

1732-17991789-1797 (U.S. President)

As the first President of the United States, Washington set many examples for future Presidents, such as the Presidential Cabinet and serving two terms.

The Age of JacksonImportant People

John Quincy Adams

Secretary of State, Sixth President of U.S., Congressmen

Massachusetts

1767-1848

Beat Andrew Jackson with the help of Henry Clay. He received less votes than Jackson and his Presidency was not respected as a result.

John C. Calhoun

Senator, Vice President, States Rights Advocate

South Carolina

1782-18501828-1833 (Nullification Crisis)

As Vice-President of the U.S. Calhoun fought with Jackson over the Tariff of 1828 and the idea of Nullification. Nullification said states could cancel out Federal Laws.

Henry Clay

Speaker of the House, Secretary of State

Kentucky

1777-1852

As leader of the Whig Party. Clay was one of Jackson’s biggest political enemies. Clay supported Industrialization and government support of business.

Andrew Jackson

Army General, Seventh President of the U.S.

Tennessee

1767-18451829-1837 (U.S. President)

Andrew Jackson’s election and Presidency was the beginning of the “common” man. He turned the Presidency into a more powerful office.

Reform and CultureImportant People

Susan B. Anthony

Woman Suffragist

New York and Massachusetts

1820-1906

One of the first and most important fighters for woman’s rights.

John James Audubon

Painter

New York

1785-1851

Audubon’s artwork focused on nature and helped “define” the American style of art.

Frederick Douglass

Former Slave, Abolitionist, Author, Editor

Washington, D.C.

1818-1895

Wrote on of the most impactful biographies of American History. Argued for the rights of African-Americans and women.

Elizabeth Cady StantonWoman Suffragist

Seneca Falls, New York

1815-1902Seneca Falls (1848)

Organized the Seneca Falls convention which was viewed as the beginning of the Women’s Rights Movement.

Henry David Thoreau

Author and pioneer of Civil Disobedience.

Massachusetts

1817-1862

Thoreau’s ideas about civil disobedience inspired leaders like Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

Sectionalism and Civil WarImportant People

John Quincy Adams

Secretary of State, Sixth President of U.S., Congressmen

Massachusetts

1767-1848

Only President to become later become a Congressmen. As a Congressmen, Adams fought passionately against slavery.

Philip Bazaar

Served in the Union Navy

Born in Chile, lived in Massachusetts

(1864-1865) Served for the Union

Won the Medal of Honor for his service during the battle for Fort Fisher.

No Picture Available

John C. Calhoun

Senator, Vice President, States Rights Advocate

South Carolina

1782-18501828-1833 (Nullification Crisis)

Calhoun promoted the idea that states had the right to ignore federal laws. His views influenced the Confederacy.

Henry Clay

Speaker of the House, Secretary of State

Kentucky

1777-1852

Known as the “Great Compromiser”, Clay tried to keep the country together before the Civil War with acts such as The Compromise of 1850.

William Carney

Union Soldier

Born in Virginia, but escaped to Massachusetts.

1840-1908(1863) Battle of Fort Wagner

Won the Medal of Honor for defending the flag while wounded during the Battle of Fort Wagner.

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederacy

Mississippi

1808-1889(1861-1865) Confederate President

Led the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Frederick Douglass

Former Slave, Abolitionist, Author, Editor

Washington, D.C.

1818-1895

Wrote on of the most impactful biographies of American History. Argued for the rights of African-Americans and women.

Ulysses S. Grant

Union General, Eighteenth U.S. President

Ohio

1822-18851861-1865 (Union General)

Led the Union Army during the Civil War. Grant was the best General of the Union. He later became President and fought against the KKK during Reconstruction.

Stonewall Jackson

Confederate General

Virginia

1824-1863Battle of Bull Run (1861)

Won many of the early battles of the Civil War and was known as one the Civil War’s great general.

Robert E. Lee

Confederate General

Virginia

1807-18701861-1865 (Confederate General)

Considered one of the best generals of American History. Lee led the Confederate Army against the Union Army.

Abraham Lincoln

Sixteenth U.S. President

Illinois and Washington D.C.

1809-18651861-1865 (U.S. President)

Led the U.S. during the Civil War. Wrote some of the best speeches in American History, which helped redefine the country.

Hiram Rhodes

U.S. Senator

Mississippi

1827-1901

First African-American to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Daniel Webster

U.S. Senator

Massachusetts

1782-1852

As Senator of Massachusetts, Webster promoted the Union against Sectionalism.