Founding Fathers Of the United States ConstitutionAnd Our Countrys Early History

Paul ReverePortrait painted by John Singleton CopleyRevere was a master silversmith, which is why he is holding a silver teapot in the portrait. It was also a symbol of the Boston Tea Party and the fact that he was a member of the Sons of Liberty.http://www.americanrevolution.org/revere.html

Nathan HaleHale was the first CIA agent in the United States.He was quoted as saying, I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.This picture is a sketch of his execution.

Thomas JeffersonJefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. He was a gifted writer.He sent Lewis and Clark out to explore the Louisiana Purchase. He was the 3rd president of the United States.

Abigail AdamsAbigail had little formal schooling but a quick wit and was a colorful writer.Her son became the 6th U.S. presidentHer letters give us an insight into her thoughts and contemporary attitude of the time.

John AdamsAdams was often misunderstoodpeople thought he was cold and rudeHe and his cousin, Sam were leaders of the Sons of LibertyHe was the first to have his son serve as president alsoHis political ideas and policies lasted the test of time

Ethan AllenAllen was a patriot and soldier in the Revolutionary War.He led the Green Mountain Boys in the capture of Fort Ticonderogaone of the most important battles of the war.This statue is in the United States Capitol.http://www.virtualvermont.com/history/eallen.html

Benedict ArnoldArnold was one of the most trusted American generals of the Revolutionary War.He turned traitor because he was passed over for military honors and accused of abusing his power and standing.

Phillis WheatleyWheatley was a slave to a prominent Boston family. She was treated like family, educated, and wrote poetry that was published.She never had true freedom and died impoverished.http://www.uoregon.edu/~rbear/wheatley.html

Samuel AdamsSamuel was cousin to John Adams and preferred to work behind the scenes of the Revolution.He signed the Declaration of Independence and was part of the Boston Tea Party.

John Paul JonesJones was known as the Father of the American NavyHe was quoted as having said, I have not yet begun to fight.

John HancockHancock was known for his legible signature (shown below)He signed the Declaration of Independence first and said something to the effect of, Lets see if [King ] George can read that!

Molly PitcherMary Hays McCaulyMolly Pitcher went to war with her husband and brought water to the soldiers. When her husband was wounded, she took his spot at the cannon and kept on fighting.President Washington gave her an award for her courage.http://209.157.64.200/~mollypitcher/

Alexander HamiltonHamilton was the nations first secretary of the treasuryHe was a bold and creative thinker His ideas greatly influence our government today

George WashingtonKnown as the Father of Our Country, he was really the 12th presidentHe was deeply concerned with helping the fledgling republic flourish

Dolley MadisonDolley is most noted for saving the painting of George Washington that hung in the White House when the British burned it during the War of 1812

James MadisonJames is the Father of the ConstitutionHe received many ideas from those he associated with, but the final written copy was in his wordsHe designed our system of checks and balances

Benjamin FranklinFranklin was a jack-of-all-trades and a master of manyHe was the only person who signed four of the most important documents in U.S. history

Thomas PainePaine met Benjamin Franklin who advised him to move to the coloniesHe wrote political tracts, his most famous being Common Sense, advocating independence.

Deborah SampsonSampson fought in the Revolutionary War for over a year disguised as Robert Shurtliff, until she received a serious wound. She was discharged with honors.http://www.awm.lee.army.mil/Army_Women_Notable/gannett_deborah.htm

Benjamin BannekerBenjamin was an astronomer, mathematician, farmer, and surveyorand probably the best known black person during his timeA clock he invented kept almost perfect time for 50 yearshttp://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blbanneker.htm

Betsy RossLegend has it that she designed the first U.S. flagThe story first came about 94 years after it was to have first happenedBetsy Ross did sew flags and had an upholstery business.http://www.usflag.org/about.betsy.ross.html

Joseph BrantJoseph was a Mohawk Indian leader who fought in the British Army. He was also a Christian missionary among his people.He was a leading member of the League of the Iroquoishttp://earlyamerica.com/review/1998/brant.html

Most of the information shown is from the World Book Encyclopedia CD-ROM 2001Revere worked closely with Samuel Adams and John Hancock in the Sons of Liberty. Contrary to Longfellows The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, he was one of at least THREE that rode to warn the patriots. The other two were William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott. Prescott was the only one who made it to Concord.Revere designed and printed the first issue of Continental paper currency and made the state seal that is still in use by Massachusetts. Find his seal/signature?Johnny TremainEsther ForbesNathan Hale was a Rangersomething akin, army-wise, to todays Navy SEALs. He volunteered to sneak through British lines to get information on their position. He almost made it back before he was captured. It is believed that his British loyalist cousin betrayed him. Thomas Jefferson was a red-head, most paintings show him after his hair faded out. He was a strong supporter of the Bill of Rights. He was president during the Louisiana PurchaseMeriwether Lewis was his personal secretary. The Louisiana Purchase was bought for about $15 million (for land 1/3 the size of the United States today, doubling it back then!) $3,750,000 of the price was the U.S. giving up claims on France, $11,250,000 was actual payment.He wrote that all men are created equal, but he owned slaves, even had slave children with Sally Hemings, one of his slaves (this has been proven by DNA tests). In his political stance, he didnt move to end slavery because he felt that people were not ready for it. He felt that slavery was morally wrong. He hoped that succeeding generations would abolish it.He did not help write the Constitutionhe was an ambassador to France at the time. His compromise after the Revolutionary War led to the nations capitol being in Washington D.C.He began the practice of presidents shaking hands with people, instead of bowing (it was seen as less formal to shake hands!)Jefferson and John Adams were great friends and died on the exact same dayJuly 4th, 1826.His gravestone marker reads, Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, $ Father of the University of Virginia. (nowhere is mentioned being President!Abigail had to dry her laundry in the East Room of the White House because there wasnt anywhere else to do it.She didnt have much school learning, but was very intelligent and quick-witted.People who knew John Adams well knew his fun loving side. Most others thought he was blunt, impatient, and vain. His historical and political decisions have stood the test of time and his diaries and letters have shown his softer side. He was the more outspoken of the two Adams in the Sons of Liberty. Samuel preferred to write his stance down instead of say it. Adams and Hamilton were the two leaders of the split Federalist party. They led factions of these parties until they either faded away or were absorbed by other political parties.Adams last words were, Thomas Jefferson still survives. He and Jefferson died on the same day, July 4th, 1826.

Every state gets two statues in the United States Capitolone in bronze, one in marble. Usually each state picks people important to that states history. Utahs are Philo T. Farnsworth (in bronze, inventor of the television tube) and Brigham Young (marble). Ethan Allen was instrumental in petitioning for Vermonts statehoodpreviously Vermont had been claimed by New Hampshire and New York. The capture of Fort Ticonderoga was one of the first important American victories of the Revolutionary War. Fort Ticonderoga, on the western shore of Lake Champlain in New York state, was a stronghold during the Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783). It controlled an invasion route from Canada to the American Colonies. The fort was originally a British post. After the war began, a group of Americans organized an expedition to seize the fort. The group included Ethan Allen, leader of a group of Vermont soldiers called the Green Mountain Boys. On May 10, 1775, Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold led a force of 83 men in an attack on Fort Ticonderoga. They surprised the unprepared British troops and seized the fort without firing a shot. Allen and Arnold fought together in quite a few battles.Arnold worked with Ethan Allen in many of the skirmishes on the Canadian border. His path to being a traitor is as follows:He was passed over for a promotion in February 1777. He had more seniority than any of the 5 men promoted. He had been seriously wounded in a previous battle and promoted to brigadier general, but not to major general. Only George Washingtons influence kept him from leaving the army. In May 1777 he was finally promoted.He was seriously wounded in October 1777 and his seniority was restored as a thanks. He was not a good administrator and was criticized for living extravagantly. He was also accused of using military personnel to do personal favors.Nursing a grudge and feeling his country was ungrateful and unjust, he began corresponding with the enemy. He worked out a plan to surrender West Point to the British. His plan was uncovered and he escaped to the British army. He demanded 20,000 pounds for his losses but only receive 6,315 pounds.He spent his remaining years as a merchant in the West Indies trade. He died burdened with debt, discouraged, and generally trusted. He was an amazing military man.Phillis was brought to Boston on a slave ship when she was about 8 years old. She was bought by a wealthy merchant tailor as a servant for his wife. They taught Phillis to read and write, she wrote poetry and visited England when she published a book of poetry in 1773. She was deeply religious and also contemplated worldly issues such as being a slave in a country fighting for its independence. She married a free black man but between raising children and trying to keep the family financially afloat, her poet reputation declined and she died virtually unknown.Hang a Thousand Trees with RibbonsAnn RinaldiCousin of John Adams. Along with John and Hancock, was a leader of the Sons of Liberty.A statue of him represents Massachusetts at the United States Capitol.He was from Scotland and had command of 7 ships during the Revolutionary War. He had many adventures, starting with his first command voyage when he flogged a sailor and the sailor died within a few weeks of being flogged. He was charged with murder. He later became the ships captain and the crew mutinied, during which another crew member was killed. Paul was again accused of murder and fled to America. Presumably that is when he added Jones to his name to hid his identity. He was a great commander for a struggling navy.He was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence and served as president of the Continental Congress from 1775-1777. His ship, the Liberty, was part of events that led to the Boston Tea Party. The ship was seized by British customs officials and never returned. They said Hancock hadnt followed regulations. Her first name as Mary, her last name is in dispute. She worked as a servant and married a barber from the same village. He enlisted as a gunner and she traveled along receiving half-rations for cooking, washing, sewing and other work. She carried water to the thirsty artillery men and her husband fell during battle from heatstroke. She took his place swabing out the cannon after each shot and helped his crew fire the cannon. After the war, she returned home. Her husband died in 1787. She remarried and in 1822 was awarded a pension for her service.Hamilton was one of the leaders of the Federalist Party. He was one of the boldest and most creative thinkers of his time. Most of his policies were opposed by other leaders of the time, but the ideas had lasting importance. Few of his ideas were included in the Constitution but he worked hard to make sure it would be ratified. He also worked as secretary of the treasury and helped develop the doctrine of implied powersthat those not distinctly stated by the Constitution still existed.He wrote The Federalist with John Jay and James Madison.He was shot and killed in a duel with Aaron Burr. Burr had run for governor of New York in 1804. Hamilton had criticized Burrs character and worked to defeat him (it workedwhich is why Burr was so angry). He was a great commander in the Continental Army and felt very strongly about being The Father of our Country.He did not chop down his fathers cherry treemany myths abound about those that we see as our countrys heroes.He was tall, strong, broad-shouldered, had defective teeth (later wore wooden ones) and pock-marked cheeks from contracting smallpox while in Barbados with his brother, Lawrence.He was from an old colonial familyroots stretch back to 1260 in England. They came to the colonies by accident in 1656 when their ship went aground. By the time it was fixed, they decided to stay. He was a good student, good dancer, kept diaries and careful expense accounts for the rest of his life. His family owned slaves, and he was trained to be a surveyor. As an officer in the British army, he experienced discrimination in the form of non-promotions because he wasnt British. He also didnt receive supplies and manpower like he should have. He married a widow, they didnt have any children but raised hers from a previous husband.He did his own bookkeeping and was a silent but strong member of Continental Congress.During the Revolutionary War he was faced with lack of supplies and desertion of men, but still faced it all with patience. When he entered office there were no political parties, when he left, to his chagrin there were two. He advocated not playing the international politics game. As the first president, he and his wife had to create the roles of President and First Lady. Many wanted to call him King or other grandiose titles. He also solidified many of the aspects of our government. Washington D.C. is named after him. He did his duty as president and well, but he did not always enjoy it, especially when under pressure or in the face of a scandal.He died as a result of wearing wet clothes for 5 hours without changing out of them. He got a cold and it was what did him in. Dolley Madison was shunned from the Society of Friends because her husband wasnt a Quaker. Look at her clothesdo they look Quakerish to you?Dolley saved the painting of George Washington when the White House was burned during the War of 1812.She helped establish the White House social life but also relaxed the formality of it that had been practiced before her. She was charming, graceful, and witty. She had been married before, she and James Madison had no children, but raised her children from her first marriage.

Madison helped design our system of checks and balances, served as secretary of state under Thomas Jefferson.He was a frail and sickly child that grew up on a slave-owning plantation. His weak voice prevented him from becoming a minister so he went into politics. Madison tried to stabilize and dignify the government, helping it to raise taxes and pay national debts, organize the departments of state, treasury and war, and while he was secretary of state the Louisiana Purchase took place. He was probably the ablest member of Continental Congress, he read deeply, knew the weaknesses of the current government, and kept a more complete record of the debates. He also helped Alexander Hamilton and John Jay write The Federalist. The war of 1812 was seen as Mr. Madisons War by the opposing Federalists, but this didnt stop him from being reelected. During this war the White House was burned by the British in retaliation.

He was the only person who signed all four of these key documents in American history: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris making peace with Britain, and the Constitution of the United States. Franklin's services as a diplomat in France helped greatly in winning the Revolutionary War. Many historians consider him the ablest and most successful diplomat that America has ever sent abroad.He was the 15th of 17 children and was apprenticed to his brother, James, who was a printer. This is where Benjamin learned his printing skills. He ran away from his apprenticeship after quarreling with his brother. He went to Philadelphia where he met his future wife while working for various printers there and in England where hed been sent to buy printing presses. He was engaged to Deborah Read while he was in Francehe sort of jilted her while he was away.Franklin wrote and published Poor Richards Almanac from 1733-1758. Many sayings from today came from his almanacs, such as Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, weathy, and wise. God helps those that help themselves.He started the first colonial postal service, first subscription library (people paid money to join/buy books and then could check them out as wanted), fire department, reformed the city police and city streets, raised money for a city hospital, founded the academy that grew into the University of Pennsylvania. He invented the lightning rod (kept houses from burning down), Franklin stove, bifocals, and favored daylight savings time. He refused to patent any of his inventions, feeling that others should be able to use them freely.Benjamin favored a plan of union with all of the colonies and tried to push it in 1763, it didnt work until the Constitution was written and ratified between 1787-1791. He was ambassador to France and Britain, but when relations between France and Britain faltered before the revolution, Franklin returned home.He was not an outspoken member of Congress but he was active and influential.His will said, I, Benjamin Franklin, printer and he left $5,000 each to Philadelphia and Boston to be used for public works after 100 years and the rest after 200 years. . Thomas Paine was from England and became a famous figure during the French Revolution. He was a social outcast, no education. His first wife died and his second wife and he were separated. During this time he met Benjamin Franklin who advised him to go to America. He became a writer and his thoughts and ideas spurred the colonists along in their cause for independence. Common Sense is a great work of literature, especially to this country. He was a clear, concise and bold writer. He also served as a soldier. After the American Revolution, he went to France and published Rights of Man.He was tried for treason in England for this work but he returned to France. He became a French citizen.but when his party lost power, he was expelled from the Convention, lost his citizenship and imprisoned. He was released by request of an American, as an American citizen.He worked on Age of Reason while in prison, but his religious views made him one of the most hated men of his time. Even though he was influential during the Revolutionary War, people remembered him more for his religious viewshe was a social outcast, poor and ill. He was buried on his farm, his remains were later taken to England and the location of his grave is now unknown.She fought in several battles and was wounded at least twice. She hid a leg wound so she wouldnt be discovered and when she was hospitalized for a high fever her identity was uncovered. She was later awarded a pension for her military service and wounds.Banneker helped lay out the boundaries for Washington D.C.Thomas Jefferson had recommended him for the work. He built a clock entirely out of wood, each gear hand carved and it kept almost perfect time for over 50 years. He attended a school for blacks and whites where he learned to read and write, he taught himself science, math, and astronomy. He was also a writer, writing almanacs from 1791-1796.Betsy Ross was born Elizabeth Griscom and a Quaker. Her first husband, John Ross, was not a Quaker and she was shunned for marrying him. They built an upholstery business together that she continued on after Johns death during the Revolutionary War as a result of exploding gunpowder. Her second husband, Joseph Ashburn, was a sailor, captured by the British and died in jail.Her third husband, John Claypoole, died after a long disability.Brant lived a cross-cultural life. He was friends with and married those of European race. He worked with a Sir William Johnson, who later married Molly Brant, Josephs sister. Joseph learned to read and write in English and studied literature. He was married three times, his first two wives (who were sisters) both died of tuberculosis). He was a respected and feared leader.