Important Revolutionary People
Thomas Jefferson was a great author and president and of the United States. He was not president during this period but he was a popular senator and politician of that time. He wrote many documents for the original states freedom. The most important document that he ever wrote out was the original rough draft of the Declaration of Independence. He wrote many other rough drafts of political documents for other states including the Constitution for Virginia. He was a key asset during that time for the writing of political documents.
Phillis Wheatly was a very important person for American literature. She was the first African-American poet and the first African-American Women to write poetry and to have it published. She made a great leap into the literary world for blacks and women. She was originally a slave bought in Boston to the Wheatly family. She served as a personal slave to the family but made good friends with the daughter who taught her to read and write English. Phillis then took a great interest in poetry and began to write it. It was thanks to the Wheatly family that her work was published in her name. One of her most famous pieces written was "A Farewell to America to Mrs. S. W.
Thomas Paine was a very important male author for this time period. He made most of the famous works from that time that were not political documents. He wrote shorter books on mostly political matters or other conflicts of the time. His most famous piece would be Common Sense. On top of writing short books he also published his short essays. One of his more famous essays was An Essay of a Dream. He was one of the only authors of that time that wrote books about the time period.
Patrick Henry was a famous politician and protester against the tyranny of Great Britain. He served five terms as the governor of Virginia. But what really made him popular was his only piece of literary art. The speech "Give me liberty or give me death". This was the speech of protesting which really got his political career rolling. He was one of the main protesters of that time in the British oppression.
Abigail Adams was a very significant figure for the American people. She was married to John Adams the second president thus making her the second lady of the United States and during that time pushed very hard for the rights of women in the United States. She wrote many letters to her friends and to the people of America concerning this matter. Her letters were the only pieces of literature written by her besides her diary. She was one of the first women to really start the fight for women.
John Adams who was the husband to Abigail Adams was the second president of the United States. He went to France in 1783 to help write the Treaty of Paris. He was also one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The Treaty of Paris was to settle the conflict that had been set between them in the Revolutionary War.
Samuel Adams was the cousin of John Adams and also one of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence. He and Patrick Henry were two of the first men to argue for their independence. He wrote many letters and essays with the help of Patrick Henry. They sent them to newspapers around the country. They also rallied many of the young men in America at that time to help protest for their independence.
George Washington was the "Father of our Country". Him being the first president in the United States and a famous general from the Revolutionary War. He really took the ideas of the all the men and pushed towards a free America. Him being a signer of the declaration as well, lead many of the charges into battle. He is by far the most known figure from he Revolutionary War time period. But he gave up his power after serving two terms in office. He wrote a speech to the American people called his Farewell Address. In this famous but extremely long speech Washington gives warnings and wished for America. It is one of the most famous farewell speeches of all time.