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The Student will …
History 5.2
Understand how conflict between the American colonies and Great Britain led to American
independence.
The student will identify the Founding Fathers and Patriot heroes, including John Adams, Samuel
Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Nathan Hale, Thomas Jefferson, the Sons of Liberty, and George
Washington, and their motivations and contributions during the revolutionary period.
John Adams – founding father; wrote, acted, and spoke against British measures that he
believed infringed on colonial liberties and the right of the colonies to self-govern; delegate to the
Continental Congress in Philadelphia; made speeches championing colonial rights in Congress;
Thomas Jefferson called him the “Colossus of Independence;” helped to draft the Declaration of
Independence and secured its unanimous adoption; first American minister to Britain; first Vice
President; second President.
Samuel Adams – the “ringleader” of the Revolution; founder and major participant in the Sons of
Liberty; Boston’s representative to the Massachusetts legislature; organizer of the Boston Tea
Party; delegate to First Continental Congress; signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Benjamin Franklin – was a member of the committee which wrote the Declaration of
Independence, but spent most of the period of the Revolution in France; negotiated the alliance
with France and then the Treaty of Paris which ended the war.
Nathan Hale – American patriot who was hanged for treason by the British; said “I only regret
that I have but one life to give for my country.”
Thomas Jefferson – founding father and principal author of Declaration of Independence; early
leader in the American Revolution; delegate to Continental Congress; vice president of the United
States and two-term president of the United States; Louisiana Purchase.
Sons of Liberty – organized protests against specific government policies; members included
Paul Revere, Sam Adams, John Hancock, and John Adams.
George Washington – first president of the United States; “Father of Our Country”; commanderin-chief of Continental Army during the American Revolution; chairman of the Constitutional
Convention; surveyor, planter, soldier, federalist.
Thomas Paine – wrote “Common Sense”
Patrick Henry – “Give me liberty or give me death!”