Significant Individuals of the Revolution
King George III
 King
of England (Great Britain)
during the American Revolution
 Tightened control over the
American Colonies and they
resisted (Salutary Neglect)
 Seen by colonists as a tyrant: a ruler who
exercises absolute power oppressively or
brutally
Patrick Henry

Fiery patriot and member of the
Virginia House of Burgesses

Best known for his moving
speech in front of the House of
Burgesses, in which he ended
with the phrase: “Give me
liberty or give me death!”
Patrick Henry

“Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The
war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north
will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren
are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that
gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace
so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may
take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
~Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
Virginia House of Burgesses
Samuel Adams
 American
Patriot and leader of the
Boston Sons of Liberty
 Used propaganda against the
British – Boston Massacre
 Organized many colonial
boycotts against taxed
British goods
 Organized Boston Tea Party
Thomas Jefferson
 Politician
and writer of
the Declaration of Independence
(1776)
 Believed that people have the
unalienable rights “Life, Liberty, and the
Pursuit of Happiness”
John Adams
 Remembered
as the lawyer who
defended the British soldiers
after the Boston Massacre
 He believed in reason and the law
 Eventually became convinced that only
outright resistance would gain liberty for
America
Benjamin Franklin
World renowned scientist/inventor
 Assisted in writing the Declaration
of Independence
 Served as the American Diplomat to
France during the French and Indian
War
 Helped negotiate Treaty of Paris,
1763
 Proposed the Albany Plan of Union


Slogan – Join or Die
Thomas Paine
Propagandist and journalist
 In January 1776, he published his 47
page pamphlet Common Sense.



In it, he urged the colonists that only a
complete break from England was the
answer to all their problems
He continued to publish several
pamphlets during the war, including
The Crisis, encouraging the Americans
to fight.
Common Sense
In this booklet Paine asserted that
kings, in general, are bad and that
America must be free to make its
own way in the world (free
enterprise).
 Paine, through his book, helped to
convince many Americans that
independence from Great Britain
was necessary.

George Washington






One of the most significant figures during
the American Revolution
Resident of Virginia, he was surveyor,
a planter,
Soldier in the French and Indian War
Chosen as the General (commander-inchief), or to lead, the Continental Army
during the war (Name given to the army in
the colonies)
Delegate to the First and Second
Continental Congresses
Chairman of the Constitutional Convention
in 1787
Marquis de Lafayette




French aristocrat and military officer
When he heard of the Americans
struggle for independence, he chose
to travel to America and volunteer his
services as a military officer
He became a Major General in the
Army as he and George Washington
became very close friends
He helped strengthen ties between
America and France
James Armistead




Born a slave in Virginia in 1748.
He served as a spy during the American
Revolution.
He pretended to be a runaway slave and
was taken into camp by the British.
It was due in part to his information that
allowed Washington and Lafayette to
prevent British reinforcements at
Yorktown and win the war.
Abigail Adams


Wife of John Adams, served as his
confidant and support while he served
in the Continental Congress.
When John and others were
considering a declaration of
independence, Abigail reminded him
to take care of the women, who
would not hold themselves bound by
laws in which they had no
voice (“Remember the ladies”)
Wentworth Cheswell
African American Patriot; like Paul
Revere he made an all night ride back
from Boston to warn his community
of the impending British invasion

• Served in the army and fought at
the Battle of Saratoga
Mercy Otis Warren

Wife of a Massachusetts Patriot
Anonymously wrote several
propaganda pieces supporting
the Patriot cause; used notes from
meetings and conversations to write
the first history of the American
Revolutionary War

Bernardo de Gálvez
Spanish nobleman who became gov
ernor of the province of Louisiana
(January,1777)
 Protected American ships in the
port of New Orleans, helped
transport war supplies, and took up
arms to fight to protect Louisiana

Crispus Attucks

An African American Man
The first casualty of the American
Revolution when he was shot and
killed in what became known as the
Boston Massacre

Haym Salomon





A Polish born Jewish immigrant to
America who played an important role in
financing the Revolution
Arrested by the British as a spy
Used by the British as an interpreter with
their German troops
Helped British prisoners escape and
encouraged German soldiers to desert the
British army
Became a broker to the French consul and
paymaster to French troops in America
John Paul Jones

Founder of U.S. Navy and
led raids on British vessels
during the American
Revolution
Esther De Berdt Reed

Responsible for organizing a fundraising
effort for the Revolutionary Army that
netted more than $300,000 dollars.

Reed used the money to buy linen, and
proceeded along with her group to sew
over 2,200 shirts for the soldiers.

Reed also published “The Sentiments of
An American Women” calling for women
to support the revolution.
Deborah Sampson

Fought alongside men in the
Revolutionary army.
Disguised as a man, Sampson
fought for eighteen months during
the war

Molly Ludwig

Contributed to the war by bringing
provisions to soldiers on the field as
well as taking over a cannon during
the Battle of Monmouth after her
husband fell.

Her acts earned her, and other
women who similarly helped, the
nickname “Molly Pitcher”
Other Officers’ Wives

Martha
Washington
Spent time in military
camps ministering to the
soldiers, by sewing,
cooking, and nursing the
wounded
Catharine
Littlefield
Greene