People of the American Revolution

1. People of the American Revolution

2. John Adams • Lawyer • Defended the British troops accused in the Boston Massacre • Envoy to Britain during the Revolution to negotiate • First Vice-President of U.S. • Second President of U.S.

3. James Otis • Descendant of Mayflower pilgrim • Member of the Sons of Liberty • Famous for saying, “Taxation without representation is tyranny” • Brother of Mercy Otis Warren

4. George Washington • Has no direct descendants • Slave owner that freed his slaves upon his death • Chair of the Constitutional Convention • Lived at Mt. Vernon • “Father of His Country”

5. Samuel Adams • Strong promoter of independence • Helped develop the Committees of Correspondence • Graduated from Harvard, joined the family’s brewing house • John Adams’ 2nd cousin

6. Benjamin Franklin • Printer • The embodiment of the Enlightenment in America • Minister to France during the Revolution • Editor of Poor Richard’s Almanack • Promoted the Albany Plan of Union • Attended Constitutional Convention

7. King George III • Wrote to Lord North in 1774: "The die is now cast; the colonies must either submit or triumph.... we must not retreat." • Known as the King who lost America

8. Thomas Jefferson • Secretary of State under George Washington • Donated personal book collection to create the Library of Congress • Scientist, promoter of farming, Francophile • Father of the University of Virginia • Author of Declaration of Independence

9. Thomas Paine • Emigrated to America from England in 1774 • Became one of America’s Founding Fathers • Known as the “penman of the Revolution” • Wrote pamphlet Common Sense

10. General Cornwallis • British General during the American Revolution • Surrendered to Washington to end the Revolutionary War

11. Patrick Henry • Virginian • Along with Samuel Adams and Thomas Paine, one of the most outspoken proponents of independence • Strongly Anti-Federalist in the ratification debate • In 1766 said “Give me liberty or give me death!”

12. James Madison • Virginian • With Hamilton and Jay, author of the Federalist Papers • Father of the U.S. Constitution • 4th President

13. Abigail Adams“In the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies.” • Prolific letter-writer • Promoter of women’s rights • During the Constitutional Convention, she asked her husband, a participant, to “remember the ladies.” • Married to John Adams

14. Phyllis Wheatley • Could read and write Greek by age twelve • Wrote poetry, among them “To His Excellency, George Washington” • Came to America on the slave ship, the Phillis • Owned by the Wheatley family of Boston

15. Mercy Otis Warren • From a family of colonial activists • Opposed the Constitution as an Anti-Federalist • Wrote a history of the Revolutionary period • One of the most influential writers of the time • Sister of James Otis

16. Paul Revere • Boston silversmith • Completed his task with William Dawes and Samuel Prescott • Immortalized in a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow • Alerted the colonial troops that “the British are coming!”

17. John Hancock • President of the Continental Congress • Wealthy Bostonian • Presiding officer on the Declaration committee • Birthday January 23, now National Handwriting Day • First to sign the Declaration of Independence

18. George Grenville • British Prime Minister during 1760s • Responsible for recouping costs for defending the colonies, most notably the Stamp Act

19. Crispus Attucks • Of African and Wampanoag descent • Killed in the Boston Massacre (along with two others)

20. Benedict Arnold • Colonial General credited with victories at Ticonderoga and elsewhere • Passed over for promotion; became bitter • Planned to turn West Point over to British; plot discovered • Name now synonymous with “traitor”

21. Nathan Hale • State hero of Connecticut • American soldier captured • Volunteered for intelligence gathering mission • Captured by British and executed • Famously said, “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”

22. Alexander Hamilton • Founding Father • Leader of Federalist Party • Washington’s aide-de-camp in Revolutionary War • Born, illegitimate, in the West Indies • First Secretary of the Treasury • Killed in duel by Aaron Burr