Focus Question: What were the key achievements of important Revolutionary Era men and women?

Benjamin Banneker, 1980 U.S. Postage Stamp

Topics on the Page

African Americans

• Benjamin Banneker, African American Author, Surveyor and Scientist

John Adams
 

Benjamin Franklin
 

King George III
 

Alexander Hamilton
 

James Madison
 

George Washington

• Washington and Slavery

Samuel Adams
 

Benedict Arnold
 

Women's Roles and Impacts

• Mercy Otis Warren
• Abigail Adams
• Esther de Berdt Reed

Additional Information at Women During the American Revolution 

African Americans

See Africans in America: The Revolutionary War for background on African Americans during the time.

Lesson Plans: Runaway slaves during the American Revolution and Thomas Jefferson's contradictory attitudes toward slavery.

A. John Adams 

• Born 1735, and died July 4, 1826
• Harvard educated lawyer
• During the Revolutionary War, he served in France and Holland as diplomat
• Served as George Washington's Vice President twice
• Became the second president of the United States in the election of 1796 defeating old friend and rival Thomas Jefferson
• Passed the Alien and Sedition Åcts in response to the French-British War and was intended to frighten foreign agents out of the country
• Retired to his home in Quincy, Massachusetts and later died on July 4, 1826

B. Benjamin Franklin

• Born 1706, and died 1790
• One of the Founding Fathers
• He was a leading writer, publisher, inventor, diplomat, scientist, and philosopher.
• He is well-known for his experiments with electricity and lightning, and for publishing "Poor Richard's Almanac" and the Pennsylvania Gazette.
• He served as Postmaster General under the Continental Congress, and later became a prominent abolitionist.
• He is credited with inventing the lightning rod, the Franklin Stove, and bifocals.

Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography in this Vook on iTunes.

C. King George III

• Born 1738, died 1820
• King of Great Britain.
• George William Frederick ascended to the throne in 1760 at the age of twenty-two.
• He played a major role in the creating the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1763 that brought an end to the Seven Years War.
• In 1770, finally gained control over the English Parliament with the installation of Lord North, as prime minister.
• Repressive policies towards the American colonies throughout the North ministry backfired with the American rebels' struggle for independence from English rule.
• Began peace negotiations to end the American Revolution in March 1782.

D. Alexander Hamilton

• Born 1755, died 1804
• Columbia University graduate, studied law
• Supporter of John Locke
• Was a lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army, under George Washington
• Supporter of a stronger national government than that provided by the Articles of Confederation
• A principle contributor to the Federalist Papers
• Became Secretary of the Treasury and created the Bank of the United States in 1791
• Died in a shooting duel versus Vice President Aaron Burr in 1804

E. Thomas Jefferson

• Born 1743, died July 4, 1826
• minister to France in 1785, resigned in 1793 due to disagreements with Hamilton over empathy for French Revolution
• Assumed leadership of Republican party, attacked Federalist policies, opposed a strong centralized government
• Vice President to Adams in 1796
• acquired Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon in 1803 during his own presidency.
• aimed to stay neutral during Napoleonic wars although trading policies with France and England made this difficult
• retired to Monticello after Presidency 

F. James Madison

• Born 1751-1836
• participated in the framing of the Virginia Constitution in 1776, served in the Continental Congress, and was a leader in the Virginia Assembly
• Wrote the Federalist essays, and helped to frame the Bill of Rights
• Was elected President in 1808 and later declared war on Britain in the War of 1812
• As a result of the victory in the War of 1812 the Federalist party disappeared as a national party in America

G. George Washington

• born 1732, died December 14, 1799
• elected Commander in Chief of Continental Army 1775
• Fought Revolutionary War, and in 1781 forced the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown with the help of the French
• Knew the country wasn't functioning well under Articles of Confederation and was a primary component of starting the Constitutional Convention
• Unanimously elected the first President of the United States in 1789

Insisted on a neutral course of action in the French-English war that stemmed out of the French Revolution and in his Farewell Address warned against the potential problems of longstanding alliances

• Died of a throat infection on December 4, 1799

How Did Washington Make His Millions?  Colonial Williamsburg

 Did George Washington Chop Down His Father's Cherry Tree?

• Historians now agree that he did not.

• Click here to see more George Washington myths debunked
• Washington, the Whiskey Baron, Michael Beschloss, The New York Times, February 14, 2016

Washington and Slavery

10 Facts about George Washington and Slavery, from Mt. Vernon

George Washington, Slave Catcher

H. Samuel Adams

• born 9/27/1722, died 10/2/1803
• cousin of fellow activist John Adams
• Was a Harvard educated lawyer, who worked in Thomas Cushings shop
• Signed the Declaration of Independence
• Member of the First Continental Congress
• Was part of the meeting held right after Boston Massacre, and played a key role in the aftermath
• Called by a newspaper in Boston the "Father of the American Revolution"

I. Benedict Arnold

• born 1/14/1741 and died 6/14/1801
• Born in Norwich, CT and went to school at Canterbury
• Was commissioned as the leader of an invasion of Canada by the Continental Congress
• Was constantly involved in strife with in the politics of the early states and fellow officers
• Was a valiant and courageous officer in battle and eagerly fought at any opportunity
• Sometime during 1779, was involved in treason with the British
• Gave information for 10,000 pounds and land in Canada.
• The original and most famous traitor in American History.

Women's Roles and Impacts

Mercy Otis Warren, a leading voice in the revolutionary movement and later author of one of the earliest American histories, History of Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution (1805). 

• She was also an ardent anti-federalist, anonymously writing Observations on the New Constitution (1788) in opposition to the proposed federal constitution.

• Like other anti-federalists, her opposition ranged from the "lack of a bill of rights guaranteeing freedom of the press and the rights of individuals, to the indirect, antidemocratic method for electing the president" (Massachusetts: A Concise History, R.D. Brown & J. Tager, 2000, p. 108).

Mercy Otis Warren

Abigail Adams, wife of the second President and early voice for women's rights and involvement in politics.The relationship between John and Abagail Adams is considered one of the most fruitful partnerships in American history. In addition to mother and wife, Abagail Adams was one of John Adams's closest advisors and confidants.

Abigail Adams

As well, letters to and from Mercy Otis Warren.

Esther de Berdt Reed led the Ladies of Philadelphia organization that raised $300,000 to support the colonial cause.

• For more, link to Ladies Association of Philadelphia from the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia

• Play "Who Wants to Marry a Founding Father?" to learn more about the lives of the men - and women - of the American Revolution.
• Use Flashcards, Matching, Word Searches, or Concentration to connect important places to their historical significance in the American Revolution.

Resources

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgewashington/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamesmadison/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnadams/
http://www.ushistory.org/Franklin/info/index.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/george_iii_king.shtml
http://www.alexanderhamiltonexhibition.org/index.html
http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/aea/letter/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/hamilton/

Image IDs from left to right

1. John Adams Wikimedia Commons, "1788 JohnAdams by MatherBrown".
2. Benjamin Franklin Wikimedia Commons, "Benjamin Franklin by Jean-Baptiste Greuze".
3. King George III Wikimedia Commons, "King George III by Sir William Beechey".
4. Alexander Hamilton Wikimedia Commons, "Hamilton small".
5. Thomas Jefferson Wikimedia Commons, "ThomasJeffersonStateRoomPortrait".
6. James Madison Wikimedia Commons, "James Madison".
7. George Washington Wikimedia Commons, "George Washington 1795".
8. Mercy Otis Warren Wikimedia Commons, "Mercy Otis Warren".
9. Abigail Adams Wikimedia Commons, "Abigail Adams".