Common Sense By Thomas paine - primary document
· Pamphlet published on January 15, 1776
· Written by Thomas Paine o An Englishman who had come to America in order to help the colonies obtain freedom · The pamphlet stated that it was “common sense” to cut all ties with Great Britain o The colonies should rid of the tyranny of the kings of England and rule themselves · The pamphlet swept the colonies – over 100,000 were sold o It was a huge reason for the later obtained independence of the colonies · Boorstin, Daniel J., Brooks Mather. Kelley, and Ruth Frankel. Boorstin. A History of the United States. Boston, MA: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. Print. |
Paul revere
· Born: January 1, 1735
· Started off as a silversmith · He took part in the Boston Tea Party · He is best known for his famous ride to Lexington and Concord, in which he was trying to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming · His famous ride took place on April 18, 1775; however, he didn’t complete his ride, as he was stopped by a British patrol officer on his way to Concord · During the war, he also was known for making gunpowder and printing the country’s first money · http://www.biography.com/people/paul-revere-9456172#revolutionary-times |
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George washington
· He was born in Virginia in 1732
· He had a love for math o This drove him to apprentice as a surveyor of lands in Virginia · He was appointed General of the Continental Army in May 1775 during the Second Continental Congress · His knowledge of the land due to his apprenticeship gave him a huge advantage when he became General · He led the Continental Army to victory, as he took part and led the way on many battles throughout the American Revolutionary War, including the battles Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown · After the war, he was elected first president of the United States · http://www.ushistory.org/us/8c.asp |
Thomas Jefferson
· (1743-1826)
o Born in Virginia to a wealthy/highly respected family · He was a delegate in the Second Continental Congress o There, he was elected to be in charge of the Second Continental Congress · He drafted the Declaration of Independence o Although other people, such as John Adams and Ben Franklin took part in editing it here and there, Thomas Jefferson did all of the writing of the Declaration of Independence · Jefferson focused on the common sense of the matter while writing the Declaration of Independence o Focused on what everybody already believed o It simply ignored the British Parliament – saying they had no rights over the colonists · Boorstin, Daniel J., Brooks Mather. Kelley, and Ruth Frankel. Boorstin. A History of the United States. Boston, MA: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. Print. |
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Declaration of Independence - Primary Document
· July 2, 1776 – began to write the Declaration of Independence
o Written by Thomas Jefferson and other delegates, including Ben Franklin and John Adams · July 4, 1776 – the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Second Continental Congress · Preamble o States that it is necessary for the colonies to separate from Great Britain o To support his argument, he follows the preamble with a list of abuses and other actions of the colonists that had occurred earlier on · The Declaration of Independence stated o British Parliament had no rights over the colonies – ignored the British Parliament · http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html |