SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE OF THE AMERICAN

REVOLUTION

ABIGAIL ADAMS

• Married to John Adams

• Considered one of the first American feminists

• Letters between herself and her husband describes life during the American Revolution

JOHN ADAMS

• Married to Abigail Adams

• Delegate to the 1st & 2nd Continental Congress’

• On the committee to write the Declaration of Independence

SAMUEL ADAMS

• Cousin to John Adams

• Member of the Sons of Liberty

• Delegate to the 1st Continental Congress

• Outspoken critic of British rule & sought independence for the colonies

JAMES ARMISTEAD• African-

American slave who spied for the Americans

• Worked as a double-agent which helped turn the tide against the British

• Was granted his freedom in 1787

CRISPUS ATTUCKS

• Former African-American slave

• One of the first to die at the Boston Massacre on March 5th, 1770

• Credited as a leader of the protest against British rule that day

WENTWORTH

CHESWELL• African-

American soldier in the American Revolution

• Fought at the Battle of Saratoga

• Along with Paul Revere is known to have helped warn others of the British army’s advance

MARQUIS DE

LAFAYETTE• French officer

who was given the rank of Major General in the Continental Army

• Helped secure support from France against the British along with weapons/troops

• First foreigner to be granted honorary citizenship

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

• Advocated unity among the colonies

• Delegate to both Continental Congress’

• Helped write the Declaration of Independence

• Ambassador to France and helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris (1783)

BERNARDO DE GALVEZ• Spanish governor

of the Louisiana Territory

• Sided with the Americans and helped buy weapons/supplies for the Continental Army

• Galveston, TX is named in his honor

KING GEORGE III• Becomes King of

England in 1760• Sides with British

Parliament to tax the colonies to pay for the French & Indian War

• Colonists list their grievances towards him in the Declaration of Independence

PATRICK HENRY

• Once a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and governor of Virginia

• Famously said “Give me liberty or give me death!”

• Delegate to the 1st Continental Congress

THOMAS JEFFERSON• Once a member of

the Virginia House of Burgesses

• Was a delegate to the 1st & 2nd Continental Congress’

• Wrote the Declaration of Independence

JOHN PAUL JONES

• American naval hero

• Known as the “Father of the US Navy

• Fought and won an important naval battle against the British warship Serapis

THOMAS PAINE

• Authored the pamphlet “Common Sense” that encouraged the colonies to become independent

• Also authored “The American Crisis” that encouraged soldiers to continue fighting the American Revolution

HAYM SALOMAN

• Jewish financier of Polish decent

• Helped finance the American Revolution

• Member of the Sons of Liberty (New York)

• A spy who also convinced Hessian (mercenary) soldiers to desert the British military

GEORGE WASHINGTO

N• Delegate to the

House of Burgesses of Virginia

• Delegate to the 1st Continental Congress

• Chosen as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution