STAAR Biographies
Colonial America
Important People
Thomas Hooker
Founder of Connecticut
Connecticut
1586-1647
Founded the colony of
Connecticut and helped write
the Fundamental Orders of
Connecticut which called for
the election of officials.
John Locke
British Philosopher
England
1632-1704
Promoted the idea of natural
law which emphasized
individual rights. His idea
helped inspire the American
Revolution.
Charles de Montesquieu
Social and Political Philosopher
France
1689-1755
Montesquieu’s book The Spirit of
the Laws influenced America’s
founders. His main idea was that
separation of powers was
necessary to maintain individual
liberty.
William Penn
Founder of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
1644-1718
Helped establish the
Pennsylvania Colony.
Promoted religious tolerance
because his faith, Quakerism,
was often persecuted.
William Blackstone
Expert jurist, professor, and
writer.
England
1723-1780
Blackstone’s book
Commentaries on the Laws of
England was the most read
legal book in Colonial America.
American Revolution
Important People
Abigail Adams
Second First Lady of the U.S.
Massachusetts
1744-1818
Promoted equal education for
women before most people.
John Adams
Founding Father, Federalist, Second
President of the U.S.
Massachusetts
1735-1826
1797-1801 (U.S. President)
Adams served as America in the
Continental Congress during the
American Revolution and became
the second President of the U.S.
Samuel Adams
Founding Father, Sons of Liberty
Leader.
Boston, Massachusetts
1722-1803
Adams was the leader of the
Sons of Liberty, which organized
many protests against the
British, including the Boston Tea
Party.
James Armistead
First African-American double
spy.
Virginia
1760-1830
Armistead was a double spy
who worked for the
Americans.
Crispus Attucks
Boston Massacre Victim
Boston, Massachusetts
1722-1770
First person to die in the
Boston Massacre. Viewed by
many as the first casualty of
the American Revolution.
Wentworth Cheswell
American Revolution Veteran,
First African-American to hold
public office. New Hampshire
1746-1817
Part of the midnight ride that
warned of the British.
No
Picture
Available
Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father, Journalist, Diplomat
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1706-1790
Franklin promoted American unity
and independence. He wrote or
signed the Albany Plan of Union,
Declaration of Independence, Treaty
of Paris (1783), and the Constitution.
Bernardo de Gálvez
Spanish Administrator, General
Spain/Louisiana/Florida
1746-1786
Helped the U.S. during the
American Revolution by
winning battles in Florida and
Mississippi River.
Patrick Henry
Founding Father, Anti-Federalist
Virginia
1736-1799
Advocate for liberty. Henry was one
of the leaders of the American
Revolution.
King George III
King of England
England
1738-1820
Unpopular King of England
during the American
Revolution.
Thomas Jefferson
Founding Father, Anti-Federalist,
Third President of the U.S.
Virginia
1743-1826
1801-1809 (U.S. President)
Jefferson wrote the Declaration of
Independence which said that all
men were created equally and were
entitled to Life, Liberty, and the
Pursuit of Happiness.
John Paul Jones
American Naval Officer during
the American Revolution.
Virginia
1747-1792
Fought well against the
British’s feared navy.
Marquis de Lafayette
French General
France/U.S.
1757-1834
1777-1781 (Assisted American
Revolution)
Convinced France to assist the
Americans during the
Revolutionary War. Led troops
during the war.
Thomas Paine
Journalist
England/New Jersey
1737-1809
1776 (Common Sense)
Thomas Paine helped inspire the
American Revolution with his
pamphlet Common Sense.
Haym Salomon
Businessman
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1740-1785
A member of the “Sons of
Liberty”. Salomon helped pay
for the American Revolution.
Mercy Otis Warren
Writer, Historian
Massachusetts
1728-1814
Promoted and honored the
American Revolution with her
writings. Her book, the History
of the Rise, Progress, and
Termination of the American
Revolution is her most famous
book.
George Washington
Founding Father, Commander in
Chief of the Continental Army, First
President of the U.S.
Virginia
1732-1799
1789-1797 (U.S. President)
Washington is known as the “Father”
of the U.S. because he helped the
U.S. win independence as
Commander in Chief of the
Continental Army.
Creation and Ratification of the
Constitution
Important People
Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father, Journalist, Diplomat
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1706-1790
Franklin promoted American unity
and independence. He wrote or
signed the Albany Plan of Union,
Declaration of Independence, Treaty
of Paris (1783), and the Constitution.
Alexander Hamilton
Federalist, First Secretary of the
Treasury
New York
1755-1804
Made many arguments for the
Constitution in the Federalist
Papers. Believed a stronger
National Government was needed
to ensure the safety and stability of
the country.
Patrick Henry
Founding Father, Anti-Federalist
Virginia
1736-1799
Henry opposed America’s
Constitution because he feared it
would give the government too
much power. Henry believed in
State’s Rights.
James Madison
Founding Father, Federalist,
Fourth U.S. President
Virginia
1751-1836
1809-1817 (U.S. President)
Helped write the U.S. Constitution.
Promoted and explained the
Constitution in the Federalist
Papers.
George Mason
Founding Father and
Anti-Federalist
Virginia
1725-1792
Wrote Virginia’s Constitution and
helped write America’s
Constitution. However, Mason
felt the new Federal government
was too powerful and would
damage individual rights.
George Washington
Founding Father, Commander in
Chief of the Continental Army,
First President of the U.S.
Virginia
1732-1799
1789-1797 (U.S. President)
Washington was elected
President during the
Constitutional Convention due to
his immense popularity.
Early Republic
Important People
John Adams
Founding Father, Federalist, Second
President of the U.S.
Massachusetts
1735-1826
1797-1801 (U.S. President)
The second President of the U.S. His
Presidency was marked by
controversy from the XYZ Affair and
the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Alexander Hamilton
Federalist, First Secretary of the
Treasury
New York
1755-1804
Helped create the first National
Bank. As Secretary of the
Treasury he strengthened the
National economy.
Thomas Jefferson
Founding Father, Anti-Federalist,
Third President of the U.S.
Virginia
1743-1826
1801-1809 (U.S. President)
Jefferson purchased the Louisiana
Territory which doubled the size of
the U.S. Also, Jefferson started the
Democratic-Republican Party.
James Madison
Founding Father, Federalist,
Fourth U.S. President
Virginia
1751-1836
1809-1817 (U.S. President)
President during the War of 1812.
Madison’s leadership during the
war, helped the nation fight the
British to a draw.
John Marshall
Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court
Virginia
1755-1835
1801-1803 (Chief Justice)
Helped establish Judicial Review
as Chief Justice. Ruled over some
of the most important cases in
U.S. History.
James Monroe
Fifth U.S. President
Virginia
1758-1831
1817-1825 (U.S. President)
American President who wrote
the Monroe Doctrine which
changed American foreign
policy by making it more
aggressive/strong.
George Washington
Founding Father, Commander in
Chief of the Continental Army, First
President of the U.S.
Virginia
1732-1799
1789-1797 (U.S. President)
As the first President of the United
States, Washington set many
examples for future Presidents, such
as the Presidential Cabinet and
serving two terms.
The Age of Jackson
Important People
John Quincy Adams
Secretary of State, Sixth
President of U.S., Congressmen
Massachusetts
1767-1848
Beat Andrew Jackson with the help
of Henry Clay. He received less
votes than Jackson and his
Presidency was not respected as a
result.
John C. Calhoun
Senator, Vice President, States
Rights Advocate
South Carolina
1782-1850
1828-1833 (Nullification Crisis)
As Vice-President of the U.S.
Calhoun fought with Jackson over
the Tariff of 1828 and the idea of
Nullification. Nullification said
states could cancel out Federal
Laws.
Henry Clay
Speaker of the House, Secretary of
State
Kentucky
1777-1852
As leader of the Whig Party. Clay
was one of Jackson’s biggest
political enemies. Clay supported
Industrialization and government
support of business.
Andrew Jackson
Army General, Seventh President
of the U.S.
Tennessee
1767-1845
1829-1837 (U.S. President)
Andrew Jackson’s election and
Presidency was the beginning of
the “common” man. He turned
the Presidency into a more
powerful office.
Reform and Culture
Important People
Susan B. Anthony
Woman Suffragist
New York and Massachusetts
1820-1906
One of the first and most
important fighters for woman’s
rights.
John James Audubon
Painter
New York
1785-1851
Audubon’s artwork focused on
nature and helped “define”
the American style of art.
Frederick Douglass
Former Slave, Abolitionist,
Author, Editor
Washington, D.C.
1818-1895
Wrote on of the most impactful
biographies of American History.
Argued for the rights of AfricanAmericans and women.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Woman Suffragist
Seneca Falls, New York
1815-1902
Seneca Falls (1848)
Organized the Seneca Falls
convention which was viewed
as the beginning of the
Women’s Rights Movement.
Henry David Thoreau
Author and pioneer of Civil
Disobedience.
Massachusetts
1817-1862
Thoreau’s ideas about civil
disobedience inspired leaders
like Mohandas Gandhi and
Martin Luther King.
Sectionalism and Civil War
Important People
John Quincy Adams
Secretary of State, Sixth
President of U.S., Congressmen
Massachusetts
1767-1848
Only President to become later
become a Congressmen. As a
Congressmen, Adams fought
passionately against slavery.
Philip Bazaar
Served in the Union Navy
Born in Chile, lived in
Massachusetts
(1864-1865) Served for the
Union
Won the Medal of Honor for
his service during the battle for
Fort Fisher.
No
Picture
Available
John C. Calhoun
Senator, Vice President, States
Rights Advocate
South Carolina
1782-1850
1828-1833 (Nullification Crisis)
Calhoun promoted the idea that
states had the right to ignore
federal laws. His views
influenced the Confederacy.
Henry Clay
Speaker of the House, Secretary of
State
Kentucky
1777-1852
Known as the “Great
Compromiser”, Clay tried to keep
the country together before the
Civil War with acts such as The
Compromise of 1850.
William Carney
Union Soldier
Born in Virginia, but escaped to
Massachusetts.
1840-1908
(1863) Battle of Fort Wagner
Won the Medal of Honor for
defending the flag while wounded
during the Battle of Fort Wagner.
Jefferson Davis
President of the Confederacy
Mississippi
1808-1889
(1861-1865) Confederate
President
Led the Confederacy during
the Civil War.
Frederick Douglass
Former Slave, Abolitionist,
Author, Editor
Washington, D.C.
1818-1895
Wrote on of the most impactful
biographies of American History.
Argued for the rights of AfricanAmericans and women.
Ulysses S. Grant
Union General, Eighteenth U.S.
President
Ohio
1822-1885
1861-1865 (Union General)
Led the Union Army during the
Civil War. Grant was the best
General of the Union. He later
became President and fought
against the KKK during
Reconstruction.
Stonewall Jackson
Confederate General
Virginia
1824-1863
Battle of Bull Run (1861)
Won many of the early battles
of the Civil War and was
known as one the Civil War’s
great general.
Robert E. Lee
Confederate General
Virginia
1807-1870
1861-1865 (Confederate General)
Considered one of the best
generals of American History. Lee
led the Confederate Army against
the Union Army.
Abraham Lincoln
Sixteenth U.S. President
Illinois and Washington D.C.
1809-1865
1861-1865 (U.S. President)
Led the U.S. during the Civil War.
Wrote some of the best speeches
in American History, which helped
redefine the country.
Hiram Rhodes
U.S. Senator
Mississippi
1827-1901
First African-American to serve
in the U.S. Senate.
Daniel Webster
U.S. Senator
Massachusetts
1782-1852
As Senator of Massachusetts,
Webster promoted the Union
against Sectionalism.