Key People of the American Revolution

French military officer who fought beside George Washington particularly at the battle of Yorktown

First person to sign the Declaration of Independence with a very large signature

King of Great Britain during the F and I War and the Rev War; the tyrant described in the Declaration of Independence

Called the Father of the U.S. Navy; famous words “Surrender? I have not yet begun to fight!”

Most famous for writing the Declaration of Independence

Father of the Country, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, 1st President of the United States

Continental Army officer who oversaw the Culper Spy Ring during the war

Founded Sons of Liberty, Delegate that pushed for complete independence from Britain

His defeat at the Battle of Saratoga; turning point in the war; led to the entry of the French

Hanged by the British for being a spy; famous last words; "I only regret that I have but one life to give for

Cavalry officer; conducted lightning raids against enemy supply trains; nicknamed Light Horse

Credited with making the first American flag in 1776 at the request of George Washington

Washington’s assistant and trusted adviser; major author of the Federalist Papers

Prime Minister that led Great Britain through most of the American Revolutionary War

His defeat and surrender at Yorktown marked the end of the American Revolution

Commanded the Green Mountain Boys in the victory at Fort Ticonderoga the colonist’s first success during the Rev War

Called King George a tyrant; amplified his ideas to the point of treason in defending his resolutions

traitor who defected from the Continental Army to the British for money to pay his debts

first casualty of the Revolutionary War

Molly Pitcher said to have carried water to American soldiers during the Battle of Monmouth; took over for her husband

the "Penman of the Revolution" 

alerted the Massachusetts militia of the approach of British forces before the Battles of Lexington and Concord

British officer that plotted the surrender of West Point with a colonial traitor; captured and hung by Washington

Hailed for her now-famous admonition that the Founding Fathers “remember the ladies"

Wrote the first drafts of the U.S. Constitution, co-wrote the Federalist Papers and sponsored the Bill of Rights

Took control of British forces after the Battle of Bunker Hill, 1775; captured both New York City and Philadelphia

His policy of taxing the American colonies, initiated by his Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765,

wrote a pamphlet titled "Common Sense" which strongly laid out the need for independence from Great Britain

Alias "Samuel Culper"; leading member of the Culper Spy Ring, which provided intelligence to George Washington to assist

Acting governor at the time of the Boston Massacre in 1770; called "the most important figure on the loyalist side"

played a central role in convincing the Continental Congress to vote for independence; 1st VP; 2nd POTUS

Continental officer devoted to the ''Glorious Cause'; served with distinction; shot Alexander Hamilton while VP

instigated the correspondence between Arnold and André and sent military secrets to the British

played a crucial role in creating the Declaration; convinced the French to form an alliance with the new country