American Leaders
American civil leaders, such as Patrick Henry and Paul Revere, played important roles in the fight to gain independence. This section contains information about some of the people involved in the birth of the new country.
- Thomas Jefferson: How Monticello Works
- Patrick Henry
- Abraham Clark
- Alexander Hamilton
- Artemas Ward
- Arthur Middleton
- Benedict Arnold
- Benjamin Franklin
- Benjamin Harrison
- Benjamin Tallmadge
- Betsy Ross
- George Mason
- George Rogers Clark
- Henry Knox
- Horatio Gates
- James Otis
- James Smith
- John Dickinson
- John Hancock
- John Paul Jones
- Nathanael Greene
- Paul Revere
- Roger Sherman
- Samuel & John Adams
- Thomas Paine
- Other American Leaders
- Minutemen
- Molly Pitcher
British Leaders
Notable British figures include Marquis Cornwallis and other people who fought to maintain control of the American colonies. Here you can get information on some of the important British figures in the Revolutionary War.
Prelude to War
Prior to the Revolutionary War, tensions between the British government and the American colonies grew steadily as talk of revolution spread. In this section, you can learn about the events that led up to the start of the Revolutionary War.
- What happened to the two other men on Paul Revere's ride?
Did you know that two other men accompanied Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride? Find out who these men were and which one actually made it to Concord. - The Boston Tea Party The Boston Tea Party is when the colonists dumped three cargoes of tea into the bay protesting a sharp increase in taxes.
- Committees of Correspondence Patriot groups that formed in the colonies before the Revolution.
- Continental Congress The Continental Congress was an intercolonial conference called to discuss the British Parliament violation of colonial rights.
- Path to American Independence Learn more about the events that took place to lead the colonists towards declaring independence from England.
Documents & Artifacts
Important artifacts from the Revolutionary War, such as the Liberty Bell and the Declaration of Independence, have become symbols of American freedom.
- Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence was drafted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, stating reasons why the colonies should be separated from Britain.
- Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation was a written agreement that served as the constitution from 1781-1789.
- Intolerable Acts This was the name the colonists gave the 5 new acts or laws that Britain passed.
- Liberty Bell The Liberty Bell rang on July 8, 1776 in Philadelphia at the Independence Hall.
- Navigation Acts The Navigation Acts were laws that regulated trade between Britain and its colonies.
- Stamp Act The Stamp Act was an act passed by Britain to tax printed items in the American colonies.
- The Federalist Papers The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written in 1787-1788 to explain what America was.
- Townshend Acts The Townshend Acts were a series of laws from the British Parliament. Three of the four acts dealt with the American colonies and caused a bitter reaction in the colonies.
- Other Documents and Artifacts
Map of Downtown Boston
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Organizations
Revolutionary War organizations, such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, work to keep the memories of the Revolutionary War alive. This section contains information about different groups and organizations associated with the war.
Battles & Incidents
Major battles of the Revolutionary War include the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Cowpens. In this section, you can learn about these battles and their importance.
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