American Revolution People

George Washington

​Commander in-chief of the Continental Army

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• Provided military leadership

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• During this time he was a solider and a farmer....not a president

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• From Virginia

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• ​Provided political leadership by expressing the reasons for independence.

• ​He was American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, and philosopher during this time ...not the president

• From Virginia ​

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Thomas Jefferson

​Major author of the Declaration of Independence

​Patrick Henry

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​"Give me liberty or give me death!"

• Outspoken member of the House of Burgesses

• Inspired colonial patriotism

• Famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech

• Believed taxation without representation was NOT FAIR

• He was a lawyer and a politician

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• Worked with the king of France to send French troops, ships, and funds ​

• Helped with the victory at Yorktown

• Supported James Armistead's request his freedom from slavery after the war

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The Marquise de Lafayette

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​French Nobleman who served in the Continental Army

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• Enslaved African American

  Served in the Continental Army as a solider undercover

• Successfully requested his freedom after the war with the help of Marquis de Lafayette

• From Virginia

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James Armistead

Lafayette​

​Secret spy for Continental Army

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• helped frame the Declaration of Independence

• helped gain French support for American independence

• helped ​negotiate the treaty of Paris (ended the war)

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Benjamin Franklin

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​Prominent member of the Continental Congress​

• Wrote the pamphlet Common Sense

• promoted American independence

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Thomas Paine​

"Common Sense"

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• Promoted the cause of independence

• ​statesman, attorney, diplomat, and writer

• suggested that Washington lead the Continental Army.

• helped negotiate the treaty that ended the war.

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John Adams

• British general and statesman

• surrendered to Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, October 19, 1781

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Lord Charles Cornwallis

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King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820

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the American colonies were lost during his reign;

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King George III

​King of the colonies and...