People of the American Revolution •
Dec 28, 2015
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
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
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.
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.
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.