- Abigail Adams
- She was born on November 11, 1744 in Weymouth.
- Growing up, she didn't receive a formal education, but took advantage of her father's library and studied the Bible, philosophy, history, poetry, and essays. She was taught social graces, homemaking and handiwork skills by her mother and grandmother.
- Abigail married John Adams in 1764, and they had three sons and two daughters. She lived in Braintree and later in Boston. John traveled a lot, since he was a circuit lawyer, and later, when he served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, so they spent a lot of time apart. She struggled alone with wartime shortages, lack of income, and difficult living conditions. She ran the household, farm, and educated her children, all by herself.
- Abigail followed her husband to his posts in Paris and Great Britain during the mud 1780s, observing and commenting on politics, customs, and society. They spent the rest of their lives in Braintree.
- She became First Lady from 1789 to 1801, and was a trusted and influential political advisor to her husband.
- Abigail died on October 28, 1818.
- Her son, John Quincy Adams, would later become the United State's 6th President.
- John Adams
- He was born on October 30, 1735, in what is now Quincy, Massachusetts.
- John went to Harvard College at age sixteen in 1751. His father wanted him to become a minister, but Adams had doubts. He eventually became a lawyer and studied the law in the office of a prominent lawyer in Worcester: James Putnam.
- John Adams had a habit of writing descriptions of events in his diary. He put the skill to good use as a lawyer, recording cases he observed.
- In 1764, he married Abigail Smith and later had three sons and two daughters.
- Adams later became the second president of the United States and while he was not a popular leader like his second cousin, Samuel Adams, his influence emerged through his work as a constitutional lawyer.
- Samuel Adams
- Adams grew up in Boston to Samuel ''Deacon'' Adams, a political leader and Puritan. He learned a lot about politics from his parents at a young age.
- When he was fourteen, Samuel entered Harvard University and studied politics and history. He graduated with a master's degree soon after, and then started his career in business. He got a loan from his father, but after lending half of it to a friend, he soon was out of money.
- After the British government passed the Stamp Act of 1765, he protested and formed a group of Patriots called the Sons of Liberty: an influential group who were against the British. They were involved in the Boston Tea Party.
- Adams had a political career and was elected to the Massachusetts Assembly. He helped organize the Stamp Act Congress in New York, and worked to get the British army removed from the city.
- He signed the Declaration of Independence and was a Founding Father of the United States.
- Ethan Allen
- He was a soldier, farmer, frontiersman and author.
- He was best known for being the militia leader of the Green Mountain Boys.
- While Allen was attempting to take the city of Montreal (in Canada) for the American Colonists in 1775, he was captured by the British Royal Navy. He was released three years later and returned to land owned by New York. He worked hard to establish the eventual state of Vermont. Some of his purchased land would eventually became Burlington: the state's largest city.
- Allen was an author in addition to being a soldier. He wrote papers about his experiences in the American Revolutionary War, the formation of Vermont, and other achievements in his career.
- Benedict Arnold
- Coming from a broken family, Arnold ran away at age 15 and joined the Connecticut militia, where he fought against the French in the Seven Years War.
- After his parents died, he moved to New Haven and became a successful pharmacist. He made enough money to partner with a friend to buy three trading ships. Arnold and his partner established a profitable West Indies trade, and he traveled throughout the Western Hemisphere often, conducting his business.
- In 1775, he was chosen as Captain of the Governor's 2nd Company of the Connecticut Guards. The guards joined the revolution after the Battles of Lexington and Concord. They marched to Massachusetts. Benedict came up with a plan to seize Fort Ticonderoga and its cannons for the Continental Army. Arnold was named colonel of the Massachusetts militia.
- Benedict and Ethan Allen then led a successful raid and occupation of Fort Ticonderoga. More than 100 cannons were transported to Boston to defend the city.
- He played a pivotal role in preventing the escape of British General John Burgoyne and his soldiers in the Battle of Saratoga.
- He became bitter toward the Continental Congress, and when he was appointed as the commander of the fort, he offered to hand it over to British forces for loads of money. Arnold's plan was discovered, and he then swore allegiance to the British. He commanded their forces in some small battles, but they soon backed out of the war. When America was free in 1783, Benedict could never go back.
- Benjamin Franklin
- Benjamin, a book lover, was born in Boston. He ran away when he was seventeen, and went to Philadelphia, where he worked as a printer.
- He first became known to the public as the publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette, a local newspaper. He was also a spokesman, and had a popular testimony to the House of Commons in England that helped get the Stamp Act repealed.
- During the Revolutionary War, Franklin became Pennsylvania's representative to the Second Continental Congress. He drafted the Declaration of Independence with five other members.
- Benjamin was an Ambassador to France, and helped secure the Treaty of Paris, which got the French army on the side of the Americans.
- Franklin took part in the Constitutional Convention and is the only Founding Father to sign all four major documents in the founding of the United States (Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Treaty of Paris, and the Treaty of Alliance with France).
- Franklin was also an inventor and scientist. He proved that lightning is electricity, and he invented bifocals, the Franklin stove, and the glass harmonica. He made discoveries on topics that include electricity, cooling, printing, and the wave theory of light.
- Patrick Henry
- Henry studied law and became a very successful lawyer. His first big law case was the Parson's Case, where he went up against the king of England. He won the case and became well-known.
- In 1765, Henry became a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. He argued against the Stamp Act.
- Henry was elected to the First Continental Congress in 1774. On the following year, he gave a speech where he uttered the infamous phrase ''Give me liberty or give me death!'' He also served as a colonel in the 1st Virginia Regiment where he led the militia against the Royal governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore. He was later elected the governor of Virginia in 1776.
- Thomas Jefferson
- Before becoming president, Jefferson had many jobs: he was a lawyer, a farmer, and a politician. When the American Revolution was in its early stages, Jefferson became a leader in the fight for independence and he represented Virginia at the Continental Congress.
- During the Second Continental Congress, he was asked to write the Declaration of Independence with John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. He was the primary author of the document and drafted it. This document is now one of the most important and treasured pieces of American history.
- During and after the Revolutionary War, Jefferson held many political positions, some of which include: U.S. Minister to France, Governor of Virginia, first Secretary of State, and Vice President.
- Thomas Jefferson became the third president of the United States in 1801. He reduced the federal budget and lowered taxes.
- Marquis de Lafayette
- Lafayette was born in Chavaniac, France. He attended some of the best schools in France growing up. When he was fourteen, he began his military career as a member of the Black Musketeers.
- Since there were no wars going on in France, Lafayette was on the lookout for a country where he could gain fighting experience. He learned about the American Revolution and moved to the United States. At the age of nineteen, he presented himself before the Continental Congress. All he wanted was to help fight. The Congress saw him as a good contact with France, who they hoped would become their ally, so they agreed to let him join the army.
- Lafayette first served as an assistant to General George Washington, and they became close friends. He was later promoted to field commander, and he performed well as one. He helped push for France to ally with the United States. After the French signed a treaty with the United States, Lafayette returned to his home country and convinced the King to provide more troops. He was received as a hero. After returning to America, he led troops in several battles including the final victory in Yorktown. Lafayette returned to France once again and was promoted to major general in the army.
- Lafayette was also part of the French Revolution, on the side of the people who wanted change. As the revolution progressed, however, he was perceived only as an aristocrat.
- Thomas Paine
- He was born in Thetford, England, where he attended the Thetford Grammar School and learned to read and write. He became an apprentice to his father when he turned thirteen. For some time, he ran away and became a privateer, which is kind of like a legal pirate. He also opened a corset shop that failed and got a job as a customs officer, but he was soon fired.
- Paine was in debt and needed a change of course in his life. He met Benjamin Franklin in London, who told him he should move to America. He took a ship to Philadelphia and got his first job in America as the editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine. He also write articles for it.
- Thomas Paine became interested in the American Revolution. On January 10, 1776, he published the pamphlet Common Sense. The pamphlet put forth the argument that the colonies should break away from the British rule. Paine wrote in such a way that the reader could understand and would be forced to make a decision on his argument. Many people at the time were still undecided. After reading Common Sense, they became convinced that independence from Britain was the best direction for the colonies. The pamphlet became a best-seller and sold over 100,000 copies in just a few months. He is sometimes referred to as the Father of the American Revolution.
- During the Revolutionary War, Paine became an assistant to General Nathaniel Green. He also wrote several ''crisis'' papers that were distributed to the American troops to inspire them. He worked as a clerk for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, where he learned that the troops needed supplies and food. He asked France for aid to raise supplies.
- Paine went back to Europe and was involved in the French Revolution.
- Paul Revere
- Paul was born in Boston and soon became active in the Sons of Liberty, a political group of American Patriots who wanted liberty for the colonies. Other members include John Adams, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams.
- He was also involved in the Boston Tea Party.
- In April of 1775, the British Army was stationed in Boston and rumor had it that they were about to make a move on the leaders of the Sons of Liberty and some other American Patriots. The Sons of Liberty were watching the British closely so that they could warn colonists if they started to attack. Paul took part in this, passing the warning on to other locations. There was another warning system that he put in place in case none of the riders made it. Robert Newman would set lanterns in the steeple of the Old North Church and alert the colonists in Charleston. One lantern would be put up if the British were coming by land and two if they were coming by sea. The British began to move, and they were coming by "sea" (the Charles River). Riders set out, and Revere was the first to make it to Lexington, where he warned Hancock and Adams, who decided to ride toward Concord to warn the militia there. They were, however, detained by British soldiers. They escaped and Revere walked back walked back to where Hancock was staying so he could help him and his family escape Lexington.
- George Washington
- When he turned sixteen, he went to work as a surveyor. He took measurements of lands and mapped them out in detail. Some years later, he became a leader with the Virginia militia and became involved in the start of the French and Indian War.
- Washington then settled down and married Martha Dandridge Custis. He became a large landowner.
- George Washington was one of Virginia's delegates at the First and Second Continental Congress - a group of representatives from each colony who decided to fight the British together. They then appointed Washington as general if the Continental Army. He had to train a ragtag army of colonial farmers to fight trained British soldiers. Washington succeeded and held the army together during tough time. Over six years, George led the army to victory over the British.
- George Washington was the first president of the United States of America, and he served two terms. Those eight years provided peaceful times. He established roles and traditions that are still followed today. He helped build and guide the formation of the US Government from the words of the Constitution. He formed the first presidential cabinet which included friends Thomas Jefferson (Secretary of State) and Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of the Treasury).
Abigail Adams John Adams Samuel Adams Ethan Allen
Benedict Arnold Benjamin Franklin Patrick Henry Thomas Jefferson
Marquis de Lafayette Thomas Paine Paul Revere George Washington