WHO’S WHO IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONRevolutionary Leaders and Others!

Abigail Adams

• Wife of John Adams• Her letters during the Revolution are a record of the politics and events of the time

• Advocate for expanded rights for women

John Adams

• Boston Lawyer• Massachusetts representative in the Continental Congress

• Helped draft the Declaration of Independence

Samuel (Sam) Adams

• Organized the Sons of Liberty for the Boston Tea Party

• Signed the Declaration of Independence

• Cousin of John Adams

James Armistead• First African-American double agent of the Revolution

• Gained the trust of British General Cornwallis, then delivered those plans to George Washington

• His information helped the Americans win at Yorktown

Crispus Attucks

• Was a Boston dock worker of Wampanoag and African descent

• Was the first person killed in the Boston Massacre

Wentworth Cheswell

• From New Hampshire• African-American Revolutionary War veteran

• One of the first African-Americans to be elected to public office in America

Benjamin Franklin

• Delegate from Pennsylvania

• Leader in the American Revolution

• Signed the Declaration of Independence

• Helped convince France to join the war

Bernardo de Galvez

• Spanish governor of Louisiana

• Helped the Americans during the Revolution

• Captured Florida for Spain during the Revolution

King George III

• King of England during the time of the American Revolution

• He implemented taxes on the colonists

Patrick Henry• Strong supporter of the war between the American colonies and the British

• He criticized Britain in his speeches at the House of Burgess in Virginia

• Was famous for his quote – “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

Thomas Jefferson

• Wrote the Declaration of Independence, which was signed in 1776

• Signed the Declaration of Independence

• Founded University of Virginia

John Paul Jones

The Marquis de Lafayette• French noble who

brought trained soldiers to help the American cause.

• Aided Washington at Yorktown

• Helped finance the war• Became one of

Washington’s trusted friends

Thomas Paine

• Wrote the pamphlet “Common Sense”

• This was an effort to convince colonists that a complete break with England was necessary

Haym Salomon

• Jewish immigrant from Poland during the Revolution

• Converted French loans to cash to finance the American war effort

Mercy Otis Warren• Massachusetts playwright and poet

• In the years leading up to the Revolution, she wrote much anti-British propaganda urging citizens to challenge British authority

• A leading voice for women when few were even educated

George Washington

• Leader of the Continental Army for the American Colonists

• Was not present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence

POLITICAL EVENTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONMeetings to the Declaration of Independence

First Continental Congress

• September 1774• Colonial Leaders called a meeting in Philadelphia.

• Agreed to boycott all British goods and stop exporting goods to Britain until the Intolerable Acts were repealed

Second Continental Congress

• May 10, 1775• Met again in Philadelphia

• Approved a petition to King George III asking for a peaceful reconciliation to the war. This was known as the Olive Branch Petition

Continental Army

• July 3, 1775• George Washington takes command of the Continental Army

• Other leaders were Benedict Arnold, Daniel Morgan, & The Marquis de Lafayette

Olive Branch Petition• July 5, 1775• Sent to King George III of England

• It outlined their issues and asked the British government to respond and deal with them. King George III of England refused to accept the petition.

Declaration of Independence

• July 4, 1776• Written by Thomas Jefferson

• Document written to protect the rights and liberties of the American colonists

Treaty of Paris

• April 15, 1783• Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation

• Britain gave up all land claims between the Appalachian Mtns & the Mississippi River