american leaders library

 

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.

Featured Article:  John Penn

Penn, John (1741-1788), a United States lawyer and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. See more »

Did Betsy Ross really make the first American flag?

Did Betsy Ross really make the first American flag?

Its broad stripes and bright stars are up for debate. Classic American lore would have us believe that Betsy Ross made the first U.S. flag, but some historians dismiss this as a campy tale.

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Who Said It: Thomas Jefferson or Alexander Hamilton?

Who Said It: Thomas Jefferson or Alexander Hamilton?

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were two of the most important figures who shaped the American government in its infancy. See if you can tell who's who among some of their most famous quotations.

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Who was the Swamp Fox?

Who was the Swamp Fox?

He was called the "Washington of the South," but Francis Marion's guerilla war tactics were less distinguished than Gen. George Washington's.

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Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry

Henry, Patrick (1736-1799), a United States orator and statesman. He was one of the first American patriots to speak out against taxation by Britain.

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Abraham Clark

Clark, Abraham (1726-1794), a United States patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

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Alexander Hamilton

Hamilton, Alexander (1755 - 1804), a United States patriot and statesman. He was a leader in the formation of the United States government.

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Andrew Pickens

Pickens, Andrew (1739 - 1817), a United States Revolutionary War army officer.

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Anthony Wayne

Wayne, Anthony (1745 - 1796), a United States army officer. Wayne was an able commander in the Revolutionary War and, after the war, against Indians in the Northwest Territory.

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Artemas Ward

Ward, Artemas (1727 - 1800), an American Revolutionary War general. After the Battle of Lexington in 1775, he was given command of Massachusetts forces.

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Arthur Middleton

Middleton, Arthur (1742-1787), an American patriot and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

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Arthur St. Clair

St. Clair, Arthur (1736? - 1818), an American Revolutionary War general and public official.

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Baron De Kalb

De Kalb, Baron, the assumed name of Johann Kalb (1721 - 1780), an officer in the French army, and later in the American army during the Revolutionary War.

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Benedict Arnold

Arnold, Benedict (1741 - 1801), an American Revolutionary War general who turned traitor.

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Benjamin Franklin

Franklin, Benjamin (1706 - 1790), an American statesman, scientist, and author. He was one of the great figures in the colonial and Revolutionary periods of American history.

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Benjamin Harrison (1726-1791)

Harrison, Benjamin (1726-1791), an American patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

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Benjamin Tallmadge

Tallmadge, Benjamin (1754 - 1835), a United States soldier. From 1778 to 1783 Tallmadge was in charge of the major part of General Washington's secret service operations.

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Betsy Ross

Ross, Betsy (1752-1836), by tradition the designer and maker of the first Stars and Stripes flag.

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Button Gwinnett

Gwinnett, Button (1735-1777), an American Revolutionary War patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

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Carter Braxton

Braxton, Carter (1736-1797), a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was born in King and Queen County, Virginia, the son of a wealthy, aristocratic planter, and graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1755.

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Casimir Pulaski

Pulaski, Casimir (1748-1779), a Polish count who fought in the American Revolution.

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