Important People
Colonization Era
Thomas Hooker
Thomas Hooker
• Fundamental Orders
of Connecticut
• Democratic Ideas
– Elections by the
people
– Limited power of the
government
John Locke
John Locke
• Discussed legislative and
executive branches of a
government
• Wrote about unalienable
rights which included
life, liberty and
protection of property.
Charles
de Montesquieu
Charles
de Montesquieu
• Added the judiciary to
Locke’s executive and
legislature
• Wrote of the separation
of powers
• Believed that in a
republic, education is an
absolute necessity
William Blackstone
William Blackstone
• Wrote Commentaries on the
Laws of England- common law
• Believed strongly in religious
tolerance
• Supported the idea of selfdefense
• Wrote about “natural rights”
which included life and liberty
William Penn
William Penn
• Founded a colony in
Pennsylvania where Quakers
could live according to their
religious beliefs and make
political decision according
to those beliefs.
• Created an elected
legislature as a feature of
Pennsylvania’s selfgovernment.
Roger Williams
Roger Williams
• Founded the
Massachusetts Bay to
escape religious
persecution in England.
• Founded Rhode Island in
1636 on the premise
that there would be no
state church.
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson
• Led Bible studies
questioned the Puritan
religion and divided the
community in Boston.
• She was brought to trial,
convicted, and banished
from Boston.
• She resettled in Rhode
Island, and she later
moved to New York City.
Eliza Lucas Pinckney
Eliza Lucas Pinckney
• Developed indigo as a
cash crop first on her
family’s plantation in
South Carolina and then
throughout the South.
Revolutionary Era
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams
• Wife of John Adams,
• Abigail reminded him to
take care of the women,
who had no voice.
• “Remember the ladies”.
John Adams
John Adams
• Lawyer and politician
• Defended British
soldiers after the
Boston Massacre
• A member of the
Continental Congress
• Strong supporter of
independence
• Federalist
Wentworth Cheswell
Wentworth Cheswell
• African-American
Patriot
• He made an all-night
ride back from Boston
to warn his community
of the British invasion
• Served in the army
and fought at the
Battle of Saratoga
Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams
• Played a role in many
of the events which
contributed to the
Revolution.
• Organized opposition
to the Stamp Act
• Member of the Sons of
Liberty
• Boston Massacre
• Anti-Federalist
Mercy Otis Warren
Mercy Otis Warren
• Wife of a
Massachusetts
Patriot
• Anonymously wrote
several propaganda
pieces supporting
the Patriot cause
Esther
De Berdt Reed
Esther De Berdt Reed
• Responsible for raising
$300,00 for the
Revolutionary Army to buy
linen to sew over 2,200
shirts for the soldiers.
• Published “The
Sentiments of an
American Women” calling
for women to support the
revolution.
Molly Ludwig
Molly Ludwig
• Contributed to the war
by bringing provisions
to soldiers on the battle
field.
• Took over a cannon
during the Battle of
Monmouth after her
husband fell
• Her acts earned her
the nickname “Molly
Pitcher”.
James Armistead
James Armistead
• Enslaved African-American
• Marquis de Lafayette
recruited him as a spy and
double agent for the
Continental Army.
• As a servant at British
headquarters, he moved
freely between the lines
with vital information on
British troop movements
for Lafayette.
• Contributed to the
American victory at
Yorktown.
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
• A member of the committee
which wrote the Declaration
of Independence.
• Spent most of the period of
the American Revolution in
France. He represented the
colonies from 1776- 1785.
• Negotiated the Treaty of
Paris which ended the war.
• Federalist
Bernardo de Gálvez
Bernardo de Gálvez
• Spanish nobleman who
became governor of
Louisiana
• Protected American ships
in the port of New
Orleans.
• Helped transport war
supplies.
• Took up arms and fought
to protect Louisiana.
Paul Revere
Paul Revere
• Boston silversmith and
printmaker
• Used his engraving of
the Boston Massacre to
shape public opinion.
• Made a famous
midnight ride to warn
Concord of the British
invasion.
Crispus Attucks
Crispus Attucks
• African-American
• Became the first
casualty of the
American Revolution
when he was shot
and killed in the
Boston Massacre
King George III
King George III
• King of England
• Maintained an aggressive
policy against colonial
resistance.
• Struggled to enforce royal
authority throughout his
reign.
Haym Salomon
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.
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry
• A member of the
Virginia House of
Burgesses.
• Gave the famous
quote, “Give me
liberty or give me
death!”
• Served in the
Continental Army
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
• Leader in the American
Revolution.
• He was a delegate to the
Continental Congress in
Philadelphia.
• In 1776, he was main
author of the Declaration
of Independence.
• Anti-Federalist
The Marquis de Lafayette
Lafayette
• A French aristocrat
• Fought in the American
Revolution as a majorgeneral in the colonial
army.
• He is important because
France joined the
Colonists against the
British.
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones
• Founder of U.S.
Navy
• Led raids on British
vessels during the
American Revolution
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine
• Propagandist and
journalist
• Wrote pamphlet
“Common Sense”
persuading
Americans to join
the Patriot cause.
• Anti-Federalist
George Washington
George Washington
• He was a surveyor and a
planter in Virginia
• Soldier in the French and
Indian War
• Delegate to the First and
Second Continental
Congresses
• Commander-in-chief of the
Continental Army during the
American Revolution
• Chairman of the
Constitutional Convention
in 1787
• Federalist