Click or tap on each person to read about him or her.
George the III was born June 4, in 1738. He came to the crown of Great Britain in 1760 and remained until 1820, longer than most British kings. There was something that made him kind of crazy for periods of times. Some people felt he was not a very good king. The colonies turned against him and fought the things he tried to do with America. The fighting became a war, the Revolutionary War.
King George put governors and tax collectors in the colonies. Colonial America was costing him a lot of money. He was protecting the colonists. He fought the French and Indian War for them, and there were debts to be paid for the war. Who would pay for it? Why not the Americans? The king was trying to get some money back to pay for what he had spent. This made the colonists mad because they did not like the taxes. Setting taxes was a way to help pay for things. Should the colonists pay the taxes? The colonists said no. The colonists liked the king’s help, but they did not like his taxes. They said there were reasons they should not have to pay. They said they were not represented fairly.
The king sent the governors and tax collectors to collect taxes. The Stamp Act was one of those taxes. The tax on tea was another one. And there were other taxes. King George did not want to listen to the colonists complaints about taxes. The colonists did not want to agree with the king and decided to fight the taxes and the British laws. They decided they were not only willing to fight but to even die for their cause.
George Washington was born February 22, 1732. He became one of the main leaders in America. He was the head of the army for the colonists and later became president. He helped to create a new nation. Many people looked up to him.
Washington grew up in Mount Vernon, Virginia. He learned to do the work of a farmer because that is what his father did. His father grew tobacco. One of the things that George loved to do was to ride horses.
When he was 11 years old George’s father died. Washington needed someone at that time to look up to. He turned to his older, half-brother, Lawrence, who helped him. Washington grew up wanting to be like Lawrence. Lawrence was an officer in the local militia. Lawrence wanted George to learn how to ride horses, meet people, dance, and to study hard.
Washington learned to survey the land. To survey you look closely at the land and record what is there. Drawing and making maps is a way to record what you found. George got jobs doing this work. He surveyed lands in the west. To do some of the work he had to travel long distances and camp out in the woods.
When he got a little older, he was asked to take a message to the French. It was from the state of Virginia. French trappers and traders were moving into the Ohio Region. The message was to warn the French not to build forts in that area. The French said they would not stop building them and went ahead and made more.
Before long, Washington was sent back to the Ohio. This time he had 500 soldiers, and he was an officer in the army. His orders were to attack and take the French forts. The Indians in that area were helping the French army. This was the start of the French and Indian War. Britain got in it to fight the French and Indians. As George Washington served in that war with the British, he gained military experience alongside the British officers.
It was only a few years later when the colonists went to war against the British. The colonies needed a general and asked George Washington to lead their armies. They wanted him to be in charge and to take command of all colonial armies.
Washington was a good leader. He did things to show his soldiers that he cared about them and was working with them. Sometimes he would go out toward the front in a dangerous way to show his troops he was a soldier like they were. His aids would try to get him to be more careful and to stay back where it was safer.
Molly Pitcher was the wife of one of the colonial soldiers and stayed with her husband while he served in the army. She even fought alongside her husband and took his spot when he was killed. She showed courage and bravery. It is said that Washington made her a sergeant in the army and gave her a pension for her service in the war.
Again and again Washington rallied his soldiers to fight on. Valley Forge was one of the places he did this. At Valley Forge men were leaving the army. They were not getting paid like they should. The food was poor. They did not have enough clothes. Many were sick. And many were tired. For many soldiers their time of enlistment was up. A soldier’s enlistment is the time that a person says he or she will serve. The Valley Forge soldiers had few reasons to stay in the army. Washington told them again why they were fighting. The country needed good men to stay. They were fighting for their freedom and their own cause. He even told them that he would pay them from his own pocket if they stayed. He was a good leader in the war.
After the war General Washington went back to his farms at Mount Vernon. He wanted to be back at his home.
After the Revolutionary War, Washington was chosen to go to the Constitutional Convention. This was in the summer of 1787. He chose to wear his uniform. The others who were there picked him to be the president of the convention. He did not say much in the debates but did help them make the new laws.
Then, with the new government, the country needed a president, and George Washington was elected. The problem was that he did not have enough money to go to this new job. In order to get there he borrowed money from a friend. On his way to serve as the president, the people came out to see him. Washington did not want for people to make a fuss over him.
Washington served for two terms (eight years in all). When he was chosen to be president he humbly said he was not sure if he could do what the people wanted him to do. After the second term was over he said that that was enough. It was time for him to go back home. He used the example of Cincinnatus, a Roman leader, who left his farm to serve his country and picked up the plow again when the job was done.
Washington was many things. He was a surveyor, a map maker, an officer, a general, and a president. He was soft spoken, tall and handsome, and a good dancer.
Washington did own slaves. He also did take a position against slavery and tried to bring a stop to it through the laws of our government. In the end, when he passed away, he had his slaves released.
Benjamin Franklin was another great leader. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17, 1706.
When he was young, Benjamin Franklin left home to work for his brother. He became a printer. This was his brother’s line of work also. Benjamin Franklin liked printing work, but he did not like working for his brother. His brother was mean to him, and this made Franklin run away. Benjamin ran to Philadelphia where he started his own printing business.
Franklin worked hard and saved his money. He would go to work early and stay late. People noticed his hard work and respected him for it. He was frugal. This means that he was careful with the things he had. He also ate simply, and for a long time he ate his food out of a two-penny porringer bowl with a pewter spoon. This means that he did not have a fancy bowl and spoon to eat with. For breakfast he had bread with milk with no tea. His table in the house was plain and simple. His furniture was of the cheapest sort.
Franklin did many things in his life. He was a writer, an organizer, a leader, and an inventor. He wrote for his paper and printing business. He also wrote ‘Poor Richard’s Almanac.’ He was able to organize and lead different groups to make things better. He helped set up local militias and fire safety groups. He also helped to begin a free library system. He was an inventor too. Some of his ideas were: A better stove, a lightning rod, some ways to use electricity, refrigeration, and bifocal glasses.
Ben Franklin accomplished many things. He was a postmaster, the first Postmaster General. He was in the Pennsylvania Assembly. When he was organizing with the militia, they built forts to protect Pennsylvania from Indian attacks. He was a diplomat for the United States. As an envoy, he served in England and also France. He also served as a delegate in the Continental Congress. There he helped set up our new government.
Franklin loved to learn. He would use the money he could save to buy books. On Sundays he would study. He also set aside an hour or two every day to study. He studied and read for his fun.
Benjamin Franklin was a wise man. He gave important ideas to the delegates of the Constitutional Convention. Franklin said that the colonists won the war because they had a just cause and they had help from heaven. At the end of the Constitutional Convention he spoke about a picture of a sun carved on the back of the chair where George Washington sat. He said he often wondered if it was a rising or a setting sun. As they got to the end of their work when they would sign the new Constitution, he said that he felt like that sun was a rising sun. He thought the country was being founded on good ideas.
Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13 in 1743. He was a good leader and helped to build our country in the beginning of our nation.
There are many things we can learn from Thomas Jefferson. He worked hard at writing and learned to write well. He learned to play the violin. He was a serious student. When he went to college he often studied 15 hours a day. After college, he studied law for five more years. He was someone who worked hard to learn everything he could learn.
Jefferson was a leader in government and served in many ways. He was the governor of Virginia. He also served Virginia at the Continental Congress. After that, he became a diplomat in France. He was the first secretary of state. Later he was the vice president to John Adams. Then he became the third president of the United States. He was President from 1801 to 1809.
Thomas Jefferson did most of the writing for the Declaration of Independence. Colonial representatives saw that he was smart and could write well. They wanted him to be a key writer for them. The Declaration of Independence is a good example of what he could do. He had skills, and knowledge that were valuable to the country. He had learned many things in his years of study. Jefferson’s influence also helped to decide what the laws would be in this country’s new constitution.
One of the things that he felt was very important to have was religious freedom. This was something he worked to get into the laws of Virginia. He wanted freedom of worship to be in the Constitution also. It did not get included in the original Constitution but was added later on as part of the Bill of Rights. He also thought that slavery was wrong and tried to pass laws to stop it. He did however keep and own slaves throughout his life.
Jefferson did not think that the president of the United States should be a life-long job. He thought you should serve and then go home.
In 1814 the British burned the Library of Congress. Mr. Jefferson had a library at his home that he sold to the country. This was the start of the new United States Library of Congress.
Jefferson also started the University of Virginia. He continued to build places where learning could take place.
Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826. It was exactly the same day that John Adams died. It was also the same day that the Declaration of Independence was signed.
It is interesting to note a few things about the Library of Congress, especially knowing about Thomas Jefferson’s role in giving it new life. Since the year 1800 a Library or Congress had been set up to have books that Congress might need. There were just 740 books and three maps in the early library that was housed or kept in the new Capitol building. Then the British burned it in the War of 1812. The then former President Jefferson came forward with a generous offer, the library at his home. He had retired and was living there in Monticello, Virginia. He told Congress that he would sell it for any price they felt was right. Congress decided on $23,950 and paid it to Jefferson. His collection had 6,487 books. This was the start of a new Library of Congress. This library is a good monument or symbol left to Jefferson’s memory. He had a thirst for learning throughout his life.
The Library of Congress expanded in 1897. At that time it moved out of the Capitol and into the Jefferson Building. It became the first building in Washington D.C. to have electricity installed (Notice the light bulbs if you visit.) As of 2015 the library was the largest collecting place for knowledge and creativity in the world. At that time it had more than 150 million items of many types.
After the Battle of Bunker Hill, General Washington needed more artillery. He needed it to drive the British out of Boston. Fort Ticonderoga had the cannons and supplies. The colonials thought that that would be a good place to get them.
Benedict Arnold was the head of a local militia in New Haven, Connecticut. He was a wealthy shop owner. Arnold had used his own money to buy supplies for his troops. He wanted to take his militia and go capture the fort. The Massachusetts Committee on Safety gave permission for Arnold to go get the artillery.
While on their way, Arnold’s men met up with more soldiers. The other soldiers were called the Green Mountain Men. They served under Ethan Allen. Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen both wanted to be in charge of the attack. They decided to share the command. Early one morning they made a surprise attack on the fort. They captured the Fort without even firing a shot. They got the cannons and sent them to Boston. It was an important win for the colonists.
Benedict Arnold was also one of the commanders at the battle of Saratoga. He was one of the key leaders of that battle. The colonists won the fight. It was an important win for the colonists because they were not doing so well in the war.
Later on, after the Battle of Saratoga, Arnold became more and more upset. He did not feel that Congress or the Continental Army noticed what he could do. He wanted them to recognize his work. He started thinking about going over to the other side. He decided that he would turn over West Point to the British. At that time, he was the officer in charge of the colonial fort at West Point.
Benedict Arnold sent a letter to the British telling them his plans. He would give the British the keys and turn it over to them. The exchange did not work though because the colonists found out about the secret plan. Arnold’s contact that was taking the letter was caught by the Americans. The soldier that the Americans caught was hanged. They tried to get General Arnold too. But before they could catch him, he escaped to the British side. Benedict Arnold was not loyal to the country. He betrayed America. What Arnold did is called treason. He turned against, or betrayed his country.
Note:
Picture on right- Mock burning of Benedict Arnold because of his treason.
Patrick Henry was born in Hanover County, Virginia on May 29, 1736. Hanover is just north of Richmond. He was born the son of a farmer. His family could see before too long that he would not be a good farmer. He was smart and did not like to work.
After he got married he studied to become a lawyer. He passed the tests after six weeks and began to practice law. He then worked his way into politics. Patrick ran for office and won a seat in the House of Burgesses. This started a career of serving in the government.
Henry was a good speaker. He spoke out strongly against the British. He spoke out against their laws. Few people would speak out in the same way. Patrick Henry was the one that said something like, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” This was the type of language he spoke to his fellow Virginians. They had called a meeting to talk about what was decided by the other colonies the previous fall. They also wanted to plan what they should do next. Henry wanted them to put in place militias in Virginia. He was suggesting this in case the British tried to take control in their area.
Patrick served in many ways. While in the Virginia House of Burgesses, he became one of its leading members. Few members would argue openly against Great Britain; Patrick Henry would. At first, many of them were loyal to the crown. They thought the way that Henry spoke about Britain was treason. He went to the First Continental Congress. And, he also served as governor of Virginia for three terms. His service as governor came before Thomas Jefferson was in that spot.
Patrick Henry had strong feelings about how the government should be set up. He wanted the states to have more control and not the central or federal government. He felt that the states should have more power. He was also against the Constitution, He did not like how they wrote it in secret. He fought against it when they tried to get the country to accept it. He also felt strongly about the right to bear arms. He felt like people should be able to own a gun.
Patrick Henry was respected by other leaders. A number of leaders invited him to help out with the new government. George Washington invited Henry to be his Secretary of State, but he turned that position down. John Adams wanted him to be an American diplomat to France. He could not do it because his health was not good. He was also asked to attend the First Continental Congress.
At age 63, on June 6 in 1799, Patrick Henry died. He had been a strong leader and had helped our country grow into what it was. He believed strongly in the liberty and freedom of this nation and fought for it in the best way that he could.
Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death
Given by Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775, to the Virginia House of Burgesses in Richmond, Virginia*
"No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings."
"Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free — if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending — if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained — we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!"
"They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable — and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come."
"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. 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!"
*Given to the House of Burgesses in Richmond (not in Williamsburg, the capitol, so as to avoid the Virginia Colonial Governor, Lord Dunmore)
On October 30, 1735 John Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. He was one of the main leaders in the early days of the United States. He took part in the efforts against Britain, and helped to make the laws of the new government.
A big part of Adams' life was his wife, Abigail. She was good for John because she loved to study and learn too. She enjoyed talking about government and the laws. They would discuss the current events and laws that were changing.
John was often away from home because of the role he took in the founding of this country. During these times he would write to Abigail about what was happening and how he was doing. If she was not too tired she would stay up late and write back to John. She had to work hard to take care of their home and farm, but sometimes she would write. We have learned many things about John and Abigail through their letters.
When John was away at the Constitutional Convention, for example, he wrote to Abigail. It was on June 16, 1777. In that letter he said that this time was the last time he would stay away from home. He would stay out of the great "affairs." He had a right, he wrote, to spend the remainder of his days in small things, back at home.
While away on that same trip, Abigail lost a baby. In one of her letters she wrote to him while she was having labor pains. She felt at the time of one of her pains (shaking fits) that she had lost the baby. Two weeks later, she did lose the child in attempting to give birth to it. This put her down in bed for four days.
Adams was grateful for Abigail because she did many things. She carried the load of taking care of the home and farm and went through many trials. One example was that she had dysentery. This is an infection of the intestines that can cause serious pain and bad diarrhea. Another time she got small pox. Small pox at the time took the lives of many. It was a serious virus that caused fevers and sores on the body. John likened her to Aspasia, the wife of Pericles. They were both women 'of the greatest beauty and genius.'
John Adams did many things for his new country. He was very active in fighting the Stamp Act and other British laws. He also helped make the laws for Massachusetts. When the First Continental Congress took place he went. Then there was the Second Continental Congress, John Adams was there too. During the Revolutionary War, he continued to serve in Congress, and after the war he helped write the Constitution.
There were other things too. He was an envoy to Britain and to France. He was the vice president to George Washington, and then he was even the president himself.
When the Boston Massacre happened, John Adams got involved. Five people were killed when it took place. The soldiers (British) that were in it were to be tried in court. No one wanted to be the lawyers for the soldiers. Most of Boston was against them. Adams took the case for the soldiers because he wanted his new country to give everyone a fair trial. This is something that Britain did not allow for the colonists.
Adams wanted the federal government to be strong. Many did not agree with him. Some of the other leaders wanted the states to be stronger. That was one of the important debates that took place. They wanted to have the best for the country, but they did not always agree on how to do it. They had to work the problems out.
John Adams died on July 4 in 1826. This was the same day Thomas Jefferson died. It was a noteworthy thing because of the key roles they both played in the founding of this country. John Adams served long and well. He gave the best that he knew to offer.
What really happened on the midnight ride of Paul Revere? Yes, Paul Revere did leave Boston to go warn the colonists that troops were coming. It was a moonlit night. Two of his friends rowed him in a boat across the Charles River, and he got a horse on the other side and rode to get the word out. Revere spread the word to houses along the way. He warned the captain of the militia in Medford, and he got to Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Lexington. He warned them that the British were coming to get them. He warned the colonists that the Regulars were moving. British troops were marching toward Lexington and Concord.
Two other messengers were spreading the news. William Dawes and Doctor Samuel Prescott were also warning the colonists that British troops were coming. British officers caught all three messengers. However, it was too late. Adams and Hancock were warned and the colonists had heard the news. Two of the messengers escaped right away after being caught. Revere was not so lucky. They held him for a time, but the colonial militia began to gather. They prepared for battle.
Paul Revere was a silversmith. He made and repaired things that were made of silver. This was a trade that he learned from his father. A trade is a job that one does for his or her career. Revere took over his father’s business when he got old enough. Later in his life he branched into other things. He started a hardware store, had a foundry, and set up a copper rolling mill.
Paul did other things too. He was an engraver for a while. This is a job that makes plates out of copper for printing things. These plates were used to print pictures. The pictures were used in papers, magazines, cards, and books. Revere was even a dentist for a few years. As a dentist he would clean teeth and wire in false teeth. False teeth were made from ivory or animal teeth. There are stories that he made George Washington’s false teeth. This is something he did not do.
Mr. Revere married in 1757 to Sarah Orne. They had eight children together. She died in 1773 and soon after he married Rachel Walker. They also had eight children between the two of them.
Revere was a member of the St. Andrew’s Masonic Lodge. It was there he met other patriots like James Otis and Dr. Joseph Warren. He also met many people through his business. He became one of the Sons of Liberty and was a trusted, loyal American patriot. The Select Men of Boston hired him to be a messenger. One of the messages he delivered went to New York. It was about the dumping of tea in Boston harbor. He took other messages to New York and Philadelphia about meetings of the Continental Congress.
The Sons of Liberty met secretly to decide how to carry out their plans for America. For a time they met in the Green Dragon Tavern. Part of his duty as a Son of Liberty was to gather information about British troop activity. He would watch for the things they would do. Then he would report back to the rest of the group.
Paul Revere served in other ways too. He fought in the French and Indian war. He also was an officer in the Revolutionary War, served on several assignments with troops from Massachusetts, but did not see much action in the war. Throughout his life he was true to the ideas of American liberty.
William Few was born in Maryland in 1748. Then, his family moved and lived in North Carolina for a while. Later he moved to Richmond County, Georgia. Toward the end of his life he moved to and lived in New York City.
Few did many things in his life. For the state of Georgia, he was a representative, a senator, a judge, and a Founding Father. Near the end of his life, he moved to New York and became a banker. He was also a legislator in New York and served there for four years.
While living in North Carolina Few's family ran into some problems. They were troubles with the royal government. His father and his brother felt the government was doing things that were unfair. They did not like how the people were taxed. His brother was hanged for his part in an uprising about this issue. Because of these problems his family moved to Georgia. What happened with the royal government affected William’s family greatly.
William Few married Catherine Nicholson. He and Catherine had three daughters.
William served Georgia and his country in a number of ways. He fought in the Revolutionary War. Then he took part in the constitutional convention for the state. He was then elected in 1780 to the Continental Congress and served there. While serving in the Continental Congress, Few missed much of the Constitutional Convention. This happened because he was in the Congress. He also wanted to help pass the Constitution. To do this Few left the Congress so he could join the Constitutional Convention for the signing. He then helped to get the Constitution passed by Congress and approved by the state. Then, for four years, he served in the new U.S. Congress. He was a senator. He also served one term as a state representative and three years as a judge. This was a time that the country and Georgia were setting up the laws of a new nation. Few helped in doing that important work.
When Button Gwinnett came to Georgia he moved to Savannah. It was there that he started a business as a merchant. The business did not work out. Next he tried being a land owner, but lost money at that too. His businesses did not work out.
Button Gwinnett then moved into politics and became a leader for Georgia and the country. He signed the Declaration of Independence. He wanted freedom and cast his votes for the cause. For a time, he served in the Georgia legislature. Later he served in the Second Continental Congress. He also became the president of the Revolutionary Council of Safety, a group that worked for the cause of liberty and freedom in Georgia. Gwinnett was against the British crown. He was a strong leader. An example of this was the time he united his political party with people from the coast and rural areas.
Gwinnett was married to Ann Bourne in 1757. They had three girls, Amelia, Ann, and Elizabeth Ann.
Gwinnett continued to act and serve in Georgia. He helped in setting up the state constitution. He also became the president of the Provincial Congress of Georgia. During this time he helped clean up some military positions. Some of the officers did not agree with his party and were removed them from their jobs. This action got him in trouble with Lachlan McIntosh. The two had not agreed before and they would disagree again.
Before long, Lachlan spoke out sharply against Button. Gwinnett had had enough and challenged McIntosh to a duel. In the duel both were wounded. McIntosh recovered from the shot. Gwinnett did not and died three days later (1777). At that time duels were used to 'solve problems.' If a person was offended by someone, that person could challenge the other person to a duel.
Button Gwinnett did a number of important things to serve his state and country. He had moved the cause of liberty and freedom along.
African Americans (Blacks), both freemen and slaves, served as soldiers in the Continental Army. Black soldiers served mostly in mixed units (Blacks and Whites together). About 10 to 15 percent of the colonial soldiers were Black. It is likely that 5,000 Blacks served on the patriot side in the Revolutionary War.
Many colonial leaders did not want Black soldiers to be in the Continental Army, and they spoke out against it. Washington was one of them. One of the big fears was that Blacks would cause a revolt.
The British used the slave issue in their fight. They offered Black colonists freedom. If they would run away from the American side, the British would give them their freedom. Thousands of Blacks escaped to the British side.
As the war went on, American leaders changed their minds. They began to let the Blacks join the army. Most enlistment of the Blacks or African Americans was in the same regiments or units as the whites. A few of the regiments were all Black. Many Blacks served with great honor. They were willing to serve in a cause for freedom. They did this while they struggled for their own liberty.
At a certain point, for example, it was hard for Rhode Island to enlist troops for the war. It was hard for them to find more men that they could send. Congress was asking for more. How they did it was to create a Black regiment. It was called the Rhode Island First Regiment. Some 197 African Americans enlisted. Their officers where white. They were very successful in battle, and people were impressed. Others took notice too. These troops were neatly dressed and exact in their maneuvers (battle movements).
There were other Black regiments too. One of the groups was the Black Bucks of America. They were from Massachusetts. Another unit was the Volunteer Chasseurs. The Chasseurs were Black troops that the French brought that were from Haiti.
When the war was over, it was a sad day for the Black troops. While some were set free, many were returned to slavery. Freedom had been promised, but promises were not honored. The struggle for freedom for Blacks would yet last many years.
Penelope Barker was an early leader in the fight for independence. She was born and lived in Edenton, North Carolina. She grew up the daughter of a doctor and planter. She learned much about politics and management skills. In her youth she also learned how to be responsible. Her marraiges strengthened the early lessons she learned. Penelope married John Hodgson in 1745. He died a couple of years later. She was left, at age 19, with a young child of their own, one on the way, and two children from his former marriage. She married again and the second husband died when she was 28. Barker then married a third time. Her third husband, an agent for the North Carolina colony, was away from home for a long time. One time he was away for 17 years. She learned to manage things in each of the things she faced.
After the Boston Tea Party colonists were talking about what they could do. Other colonies also had tea parties. They were boycotting British goods. Across the colonies people were taking action to be independent.
Ms. Barker decided to have a tea party also. The purpose was to declare a boycott against Britain. She wrote a statement about what they would do. It said that they would boycott British tea and other goods. Then they had the tea party. There were 51 women that then signed the paper. They pledged, or gave their word, that they would do the boycott.
This is what Penelope said about the tea party: "Maybe it has only been men who have protested the king up to now. That only means we women have taken too long to let our voices be heard. We are signing our names to a document, not hiding ourselves behind costumes like the men in Boston did at their tea party. The British will know who we are."
Women across the colonies were taking a stand. They were boycotting. They were standing up and letting their voices be heard just as Penelope Barker was doing.
Big George by Anne Rockwell; George Washington by Mary Stout; Brotherhood of the Revolution: How America’s Founders Forged a New Nation by Joseph Ellis
Thomas Jefferson: 3rd President of the United States; Heidi M.D. Elston; ABDO Publishing Company;
Library of Congress brochure and tour information at the Thomas Jefferson Building
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/henry.htm;
http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm;
https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/on-this-day-patrick-henrys-most-famous-quote (Patrick Henry’s famous words were part of the discussion at the second Virginia convention, in March 1775, about what the Virginians should do. They talked about what was agreed upon in the Articles of Association from the First Continental Congress (September 5, 1774)); Not Your Father’s Founders by Arthur G. Sharp
https://www.ushistory.org/documents/libertydeath.htm ("Give me liberty, or give me death" speech)
http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm;
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/adams_j.htm; My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams by Margaret A. Hogan and C. James Taylor - Great "affairs" comment, p. 182; Gratitude, p. 182; Her trials, p. 188-189
"Black Soldiers in the Revolutionary War" by Elizabeth M. Collins at https://www.army.mil/article/97705/Black Soldiers in the Revolutionary War/;
https://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/african_americans.html
Declaration of Independence - Reading it from Old State House on July 18 in 1776 -64468- From Tichnor Brother Inc and Boston Public Library- Wikimedia Commons
King George
King George III- Wikimedia Commons;
Stamp- 1765 one-penny stamp- Wikimedia Commons
George Washington
George Washington: Painting by Gilbert Stuart- Wikimedia Commons;
Washington Surveying: By Library of Congress;
Battle of Trenton: By Charles McBarron- Wikimedia Commons;
Molly Pitcher print by Currier and Ives from Library of Congress Prints- Wikimedia Commons;
Washington 1787-1790- General Washington oil painting by Charles Willson Peale and James Peale at the US Army Center for Military History- Wikimedia Commons;
Map of Mt Vernon sent in letter from George Washington to Arthur Young from Library of Congress through Wikimedia Commons 800px-map02
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin by Joseph Siffred Duplessis- Wikimedia Commons;
Poor Richard’s Alamanac- Wikimedia Commons;
Bifocals by Benjamin Franklin - Franklin Institute-DSC06605- Wikimedia Commons;
Franklin Kite Experiment- The Youth’s Book on Natural Theology-1840- Wikimedia Commons
Thomas Jefferson
Official Presidential portrait of Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale-1800- Wikimedia Commons;
Declaration of Independence Committee of five by John Trumbull- Wikimedia Commons;
Church by TheByteMan- Openclipart.org;
Capitol Building drawing by George Munger-1814c when British burned it in War of 1812- From Library of Congress- Wikimedia Commons;
Library of Congress-BookLogo from Library of Congress- Wikimedia Commons;
Thomas Jefferson Building - Great Hall view of ceiling and cove by Carol M Highsmith through Library of Congress- Wikimedia Commons
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold by Henry Bryan Hall Sr after John Trumbull painting- Wikimedia Commons;
Mock Burning of Benedict Arnold by Century Illustrated Volume 12- Wikimedia Commons
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry in Virginia House of Burgess by Peter Rothermel- Wikimedia Commons;
Patrick Henry- Credo-Liberty or Death Stamp
John Adams
President John Adams by John Trumbull- Wikimedia Commons;
Abigail Smith Adams by Gilbert Stuart- Wikimedia Commons;
Boston Massacre-The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street in Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regiment- Wikimedia Commons
Paul Revere
Paul Revere oil painting by Gilbert Stuart when Revere was about 78 years old through the Boston Museum of Fine Arts- Wikimedia Commons;
Paul Revere by J4p4n- Openclipart.org;
Paul Revere picture of midnight ride by A L Ripley-Lexington Branch Post Office-FDR Library from National Archives an Records Admin-NARA_-_196560.tif- Wikimedia Commons
William Few
William Few from the New York Public Library-NYPL_NYPG97-F85-423441.tiff- Wikimedia Commons;
William Few signature to U.S. Constitution- Wikimedia Commons
Button Gwinnett
Button Gwinnett painting by Nathaniel Hone the Elder through the gerogia info.galileo- Wikimedia Commons;
Flintlock by Firkin- Openclipart.org
Black Regiments
Black Soldier Salem Poor stamp by USPS- Wikimedia Commons;
Revolutionary Musket 2 from Colonial Massachusetts by S E Dawes-Silver-Burdett-1899;
Cannon-2 by Johnny Automatic Openclipart.org
Penelope Barker
Barker-Penelope - American Revolutionary that led the Edenton Tea Party in North Carolina 1728-1796- Wikimedia Commons;
Tea Pot-lineart by Frankes- Openclipart.org;
Goods by IggyOblomov- Openclipart.org
