Significant Individuals AOS 1 & AOS 2 Flashcards
1
Q
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (AOS 1)
A
- June 1754, Franklin represented Pennsylvania at the Albany congress to discuss trade and defence. Franklin created the Albany Plan which sought to unite the colonies but it was rejected
- Franklin had opposed the stamp act but eagerly chased the sale of stamp paper, those in the colonies came to see him as a traitor
- Franklin left London in 1775 he was chosen as a delegate from Pennsylvania for the Second Continental Congress
- he was a pro independence delegate, appreciating American arguments for separation
- he was then made a man on the 5 man committee which drafted the declaration of independence.
2
Q
KING GEORGE III (AOS 1)
A
- INDIRECTLY responsible for the revolution, did not create the policies which fuelled the revolutionary sentiment however did give them his assent and potentially endorsement
- although charged in the declaration of independence with a multitude of crimes and painted a tyrant by the American colonists; he was hardly callous or blood thirsty
- he harboured no hatred of Americans but he rejected the declaration of independence as he didn’t believe the republican experiment would last
- the loss of the colonies affected him deeply as he considered abdication (the act of formally relinquishing monarchical authority)
3
Q
THOMAS PAINE (AOS 1)
A
- did not arrive to America until the eve of the revolutionary war
- in London 1774 Paine had a chance of meeting with Benjamin Franklin who gave Paine a written reference to move to American
- In America Paine began writing and publishing
- in January of 1776 Paine published his political pamphlet ‘Common Sense’; the language of this pamphlet was accessible and therefore all American people could understand. ‘Common sense’ had a profound effect on the masses
THEMES IN COMMON SENSE; - America shouldn’t be ruled by a small island
- condemnation of the monarchy and privilege
- independence would benefit America
- while encamped with the continental army in 1776, Paine wrote a series of essays called ‘The American Crisis’. The essays constituted Paine’s ongoing support for an independent and self governing America–> George Washington forced all troops and Valley Forge to read them
4
Q
RICHARD HENRY LEE (AOS 1)
A
- A Virginian politician and revolutionary
- became a member of the Virginian house of Burgesses in 1758, he expressed radical views, drafting proposal for protests against the stamp act, supporting Virginia resolves
- Lee organised boycotts on the stamp act and British goods
- Lee is best known for raising in congress in June 1776 and moving that American colonies “are and of right ought to be free and independent states”
- he opposed the constitution on the grounds that it did not protect individual rights
5
Q
PATRICK HENRY (AOS 1)
A
- born in Virginia
- was elected to fill a casual position in Virginian legislature in the midst of the stamp act crisis
- introduced the Virginian resolves, allegedly delivering the well known comment “if this be treason, make the most of it”
- the resolves contain some of the strongest anti British sentiment of the time
- the resolves brought Henry to public prominence
- 10 years after his famous speech he once again said “give me liberty or give me death” in support of military preparations against the British
- was present at both continental congresses
- he was the strongest most prominent opponent of the constitution.
6
Q
JOHN HANCOCK (AOS 1)
A
- was a Boston merchant who was known for being a smuggler and an evader of customs
- was one of the richest men in the colonies in the 1700s
- he was a moderate who pledged loyalty to Britain however over time, Hancock evolved into a passionate opponent of the British acts that affected his business
- he sat in the second continental congress, acting as its president
- contributed his own funds to the war effort
7
Q
SAMUEL ADAMS (AOS 1)
A
- born in Boston and from a young age was vocal about his opposition to the British interference in American matters
- in 1764 Adams opposed both the sugar act and the stamp act , both acts gave him grounds to spread his theories
- in 1768 he published his circular letter which declared the Townshend act to be unconstitutional and unacceptable as it was not passed by colonial representatives
- this led to the suspension of the Massachusetts assembly and the start of the committees of correspondence, which aimed to spread revolutionary sentiment
- Adams organised the Boston Tea Party to respond to the tea act
- he served on both continental congresses
8
Q
JAMES OTIS (AOS 1)
A
Born in Massachusetts and was an advocate for colonial rights
- was best known for his 1756 case against the British Writs of Assistance, which he claimed were unconstitutional and unlawful
- a strong opponent of the British revenue acts and is accredited with the famous revolutionary catchphrase “no taxation without representation”
9
Q
JOHN ADAMS (AOS 2)
A
- A Massachusetts lawyer and colonial politician
- John Adams became a strong advocate for colonial rights and self government.
- published several essays which voiced objections to British policy
- Rose to prominence when he agreed to represent the eight British soldiers who were involved in the Boston massacre. 6 were acquitted.
- he made clear that he was still opposed to the British
- He was a delegate to the continental congresses where he pushed for separation
- sat on the sub-committee which drafted the declaration of independence
10
Q
GEORGE WASHINGTON (AOS 2)
A
- An American military commander and politician
- loyal to the king, admirer of British imperial, military and naval power, however he was frustrated with England’s dealings with the colonies
- in 1769 due to the Townshend duties he encouraged a continent wide boycott of British goods
- he deplored the coercive acts calling them “despotic measures”
- by the end of 1774, he was a revolutionary and during the second continental congress was appointed the commander in chief of the continental army
- his army was confronted with a well equipped and well trained British army yet Washington was able to turn his army into a competent force which led to success
- gave his support to the U.S constitution which was a great asset
- he was voted unanimously to be president in 1789
11
Q
ALEXANDER HAMILTON (AOS 2)
A
- arrived in Boston when he was 16 and soon began writing for local pamphlets criticising British policies
- in 1782 Hamilton was elected to the confederation congress but was frustrated by its inadequacies, particularly congress’ inability to generate revenue and its lack of power over the states
- Hamilton became one of the leading advocates for constitutional reform and the strengthening of federal power
- during the ratification process of the constitution, Hamilton would write 51 federalist papers which would defend the constitution and highlight how it would be sufficient in upholding individual rights
12
Q
THOMAS JEFFERSON (AOS 2)
A
- was a figure of the enlightenment
- entered the Virginia assembly in 1769 and wrote an essay in which he opposed the coercive acts on the basis that they breached the natural right of colonial Americans
- Was a delegate at the second continental congress, however he played a limited role in discussions
- the other delegates were aware of his natural flair with the quill–> he was appointed to the 5 man committee charged with drafting the declaration of independence
- he later became a minister to France
13
Q
JAMES MADISON (AOS 2)
A
- was a delegate to the second continental congress in its final 3 years
- like others in the 1780’s, he became frustrated with the inadequacies of the confederation congress and the unwillingness of the colonies to work for the common good
- he attended the 1787 Philadelphia convention where he proposed his Virginia plan, which recommended that the states be represented based upon their population in a bicameral structured system
- his proposals were integrated into the draft constitution
- he became a leading supporter of the constitution during the ratification debates penning some of the federalist papers
