People of the American Revolution

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Benjamin Franklin

• Printer and writer from Philadelphia

• Member of the committee which wrote the Declaration of Independence

• Minister to France during the Revolution

• Oldest member and Founding Father

of the Constitutional Convention

in 1787

King George III

• King of Great Britain during the American Revolution

Thomas Jefferson

• Author of the Declaration of Independence

• Founder of the Anti-Federalists, a political party favoring states rights

• Third President of the United States.

• Purchased the Louisiana Territory from France.

Thomas Paine

• Influential writer during the American Revolution

• Common Sense attacked the monarchy, supported independence, and outlined a new form of government

• Crisis supported the Revolution through propaganda

John Paul Jones

• American naval hero

• Led raids against British vessels during the American Revolution

• “I have not yet begun to fight”

George Washington

• Virginia resident, surveyor, planter, and soldier during the French and Indian War

• Delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses

• Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution

• First President of the United States, serving two terms

James Armistead

• A slave from Virginia who became a spy for Lafayette, relaying information about Cornwallis’ plans.

• Provided Lafayette with the critical information he needed to defeat Cornwallis at Yorktown, which ended the American Revolution.

Marquis de Lafayette

• A 19 year old French nobleman who volunteered to help secure independence for the Americans by fighting in Washington’s army.

• Believed in what Americans were fighting for and was later regarded as a hero in France and the United States.

• Fought in several battles and

gained respect and friendship

from his men.

Samuel Adams

• Involved in local politics in Boston• Believed colonial government was capable of

self-rule• Founder of the Sons of Liberty• Involved in many events that led to the

Revolution, including opposition to the Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, and the Boston Tea Party.

• Supported the Constitution, with the addition of the Bill of Rights

Crispus Attucks

• An escaped slave, became an American hero during his struggle for freedom.

• The first American to lose his life in the colonists’ fight for freedom from Britain.

• Killed by Redcoat gunfire during the Boston Massacre, 1770.

Abigail Adams

• Wife of the 2nd president of the U.S., John Adams.

• Recognized as being politically influential, mostly in letters written to her husband during the American

Revolution.

• Advocate for women’s rights.

John Adams

• Political philosopher and 2nd

President of the United States.• Federalist, and a reasonable man who believed

in moderate resistance. • Leader during the Revolution & Second

Continental Congress.• Held conflicts with France during his term and

passed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798.

Wentworth Cheswell

• A free African-American who carried news & intelligence as the town messenger in Newmarket, New Hampshire.

• First black man elected to public office-school board member

• Fun fact-established a library in his town

Mercy Ottis Warren

• Expressed her feelings and ideas about the Patriotic cause through her writings, plays and poems.

• Believed Britain’s laws and taxes were unfair & that Britain was too far away from them to understand the colonists’ needs and rights.

• Thought colonists would be

better off independent and free

from Britain.

Bernardo de Galvez

• Contributed to the independence of the U.S. from Britain.

• Aided the colonists by leading the Spanish against Britain.

• Re-conquered Florida for Spain.

• Fun Fact: Galveston, Texas is named after him!!!

Haym Salomon

• Polish-born, Jewish immigrant to America who helped finance the American Revolution.

• Helped raise $20,000 for the Continental Army on request from General Washington.

• Personally supported members of the Continental Congress, such as James Madison.

Patrick Henry

• Governor for 5 yrs. of his home state of Virginia, he supported the American struggle for liberty.

• Served in the Virginia House of Burgesses & Continental Congress

• “Give me liberty, or give me death!”