GEORGE WASHINGTON

This is the familiar face of George Washington, the President, but he was an accomplished young man long before this portrait

was painted . . .

Young George Washington

Virginia aristocratGained experience in French & Indian WarCommander-in-chief of the Continental Army Victory at YorktownFirst U.S. President

Samuel Adams

Massachusetts politicianMember of the Sons of LibertyInfluential speaker and writerHelped draft the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of ConfederationOne of the British targets at Lexington and Concord

Paul Revere

Boston silversmithMember of the Sons of LibertyCreated the engraving of “The Bloody Massacre”Alerted the Colonial Militia during his “midnight ride” (along with William Dawes and Samuel Prescott)

Thomas Paine

Radical English author and intellectualAuthor of Common SenseWidely read and highly influential in the colonies"Without the pen of the author of Common Sense, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain.” – John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

Virginia gentlemanInquisitive and intelligentPrincipal author of the Declaration of IndependenceFounded the University of VirginiaThird U.S. President

Benjamin Franklin

Philosopher , scientist, inventor, writer, & diplomat

Experimented with electricity

Invented bifocals, the lightning rod, and the Franklin stove

Delegate at the Continental Congress & signed the Declaration of Independence

Ambassador to France after the war

Ethan Allen

Farmer and land speculator from Connecticut

Leader of the Green Mountain Boys

Helped capture Ft. Ticonderoga

One of the founders of the state of Vermont

Nathaniel Greene

Rhode Island farmer and blacksmithQuaker upbringingSelf-taught military strategistBegan the war as a privateBecame one of Washington’s most trusted and effective generals

Henry Knox

Boston bookstore owner with an interest in military historyTransported artillery 300 miles, from Ticonderoga to BostonChief artillery officer of the Continental ArmyFriend and advisor of George Washington

Patrick Henry

Radical Virginia politicianLed the opposition to the Stamp ActLeading proponent of the Bill of RightsA fiery orator most famous for saying . . .

“Give me Liberty, or give

me Death!”

Nathan Hale

21-year-old soldier for the Continental ArmyCaptured by the British in New York and hanged as a spyBefore dying, he reportedly said . . .

"I only regret that I have

but one life to give for my country."

John Paul Jones

Scottish sailor and officer in the Continental NavyBon Homme Richard defeated HMS SerapisIn response to a taunt from a British captain, he was heard to shout . . .

“I have not yet begun to fight!”

And no, he is not the John Paul Jones who played for Led Zeppelin!

Francis Marion

Military officer from South CarolinaNicknamed the “Swamp Fox”Employed guerilla techniques and is sometimes known as the father of modern guerilla warfare

Marquis de Lafayette

French aristocrat and military officerInfluenced by French radicals and the “rights of man”Major-general on Washington’s staffPlayed a key role in the British defeat at Yorktown

Lafayette’s full name was . .

Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette

Benedict Arnold

Connecticut merchant, who became an accomplished generalPlayed a key role at Ticonderoga and SaratogaDefected to the British side and fought against the AmericansHis name is now synonymous with “traitor”

Betsy Ross

Often credited with making the fist American flagHowever, this is probably a myth

One Version of the Original Flag

Thomas Gage

British generalAppointed military governor of MassachusettsCharged with implementing the Intolerable ActsIn command at Lexington and Concord and at Bunker Hill

William Howe

British generalAppointed Commander- in-Chief after Bunker HillSuccessfully captured New York & PhiladelphiaPoor planning contributed to the defeat at Saratoga

Henry Clinton

British general Clashed with Howe and

resented him Appointed Commander-

in- Chief after Howe’s resignation

Was in charge when Cornwallis surrendered

Charles Cornwallis

British generalDistinguished career in the British militarySurrendered his army at Yorktown, effectively ending the war