Key Players
Extensive correspondence with her husband during the Revolutionary War, in which she advocated for the rights of women and famously urged him to "remember the ladies" when drafting new laws for the newly independent nation. She also expressed strong opinions on political and social issues, including slavery and education.
Who is Abigail Adams?
A Founding Father, the first Secretary of the Treasury, and a key advocate for a strong federal government. He was a leading author of The Federalist Papers, a series of essays written to support the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. He created the foundation of the U.S. financial system, including the establishment of a national bank, federal assumption of state debts, and policies to promote industry and commerce.
Who is Alexander Hamilton?
A skilled American military officer during the early years of the American Revolution, he played a key role in several important Patriot victories, including the capture of Fort Ticonderoga (1775) and the pivotal Battle of Saratoga (1777). However, feeling under-appreciated and resentful over perceived slights and lack of recognition, he defected to the British in 1780.
Who is Benedict Arnold?
A Founding Father, diplomat, and the second president of the United States (1797–1801). He was a leading advocate for American independence from Britain, playing a crucial role in the Continental Congress and helping to draft the Declaration of Independence. As a diplomat in Europe, he secured vital support from France and negotiated the Treaty of Paris (1783), which ended the Revolutionary War
Who is John Adams?
A political philosopher and writer whose pamphlet Common Sense (1776) played a crucial role in galvanizing public support for American independence. Written in plain language, Common Sense argued against monarchy and British rule, making the case for a democratic republic and urging the colonies to break away from Britain.
Who is Thomas Paine?
A Founding Father, the fourth president of the United States (1809–1817), and a primary architect of the U.S. Constitution. He played a leading role at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, helping to shape the framework of the federal government and advocating for a system of checks and balances.
Who is James Madison?
An English philosopher and Enlightenment thinker whose theories of natural rights and government by consent greatly influenced American revolutionary leaders. His ideas, particularly those expressed in his Two Treatises of Government (1689), emphasized that all individuals are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that governments are formed to protect these rights through the consent of the governed.
Who is John Locke?
A major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, he is best known for his strategic brilliance in the Southern Campaign. After suffering several early defeats, he employed a strategy of hit-and-run tactics and guerrilla warfare to wear down British forces, culminating in the pivotal Battle of Guilford Courthouse in 1781.
Who is Nathaniel Greene?
A former Revolutionary War captain who became the leader of ----- Rebellion (1786–1787), an armed uprising of farmers in western Massachusetts protesting economic injustices, high taxes, and debt-related property seizures.
Who is Daniel Shays?
A French philosopher and writer of the Enlightenment known for his works on political theory, education, and social contract theory. In his seminal work The Social Contract (1762), he argued that legitimate political authority comes from the collective will of the people (the "general will") and that individuals achieve true freedom by participating in the governance of their society.
Who is Jean Jacques Rousseau?