John Laurens by Charles Willson Peale, 1780. Contents Quick facts Born: 28 October 1754 in Charleston, South Carolina. John Laurens’ father, Henry, was a partner in the largest slave-trading house in North America. While studying law in England, he married Martha Manning (1776), daughter of one of his father’s business partners. Martha was already pregnant. ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
John Jay by Gilbert Stuart, 1794. Contents Quick facts Peter Jay, a wealthy trader and merchant, married Mary Van Cortlandt in 1728. John Jay, the eighth of ten children (seven of whom survived into adulthood), was born on 12 December 1745 in New York City. But a few months after his birth his family moved ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
General John Burgoyne by Joshua Reynolds, c. 1766. Contents Quick facts Born: 24 February 1722 in Sutton, Bedfordshire, England. John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician, and playwright who is best known for his role in the American Revolutionary War, particularly his command of British forces during the Saratoga campaign of 1777. His surrender ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Charles Cornwallis by Thomas Gainsborough, 1783. Contents Quick facts Born: 31 December 1738 in London, England. Charles Cornwallis was a British Army officer and colonial administrator, best known for his role in the American Revolutionary War as a leading British general. He is most famously associated with his surrender to American and French forces at ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Contents In this guide, we’ve looked at some of the infantry weapons used by the British and Continental Armies during the American Revolution. We’ve also explained how these weapons were deployed in battle, and what they were like for soldiers to use. Muskets Smoothbore muskets were the most common type of weapon used during the ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Major General John Sullivan, Mezzotint engraving; published by Thomas Hart, London. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC., 1776. Contents Quick facts Born: 17 February 1740 in Somersworth, New Hampshire. John Sullivan was a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and later served as a delegate in the Continental ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
“ Editor’s note The late Wilcomb E. Washburn was one of America’s most versatile and accomplished historians, receiving his Ph.D. (American Civilization) from Harvard University in 1955. This is the annotated text of a presentation he made in Riverside, CA during the time he was Director of American Studies at the Smithsonian Institution. The author ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
AmericanRevolution.org is the internet's oldest, most comprehensive collection of facts, essays, sources, and analysis about the Revolutionary War.| AmericanRevolution.org
Henry Laurens by John Singleton Copley, 1782. Contents Quick facts Born: 6 March 1724 in Charleston, South Carolina. Henry Laurens was an apprentice in Crokatt’s Counting House (a record-keeping office) in London (1744 – 47). Unable to become a partner there, as expected, he accepted a partnership with George Austin back in Charleston, SC (1748). ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Contents Native Americans went through a huge amount of suffering, and a destruction of their culture, as a result of the American Revolution. Many tribes allied with either the Patriots or Loyalists, in order to try and protect their land. This meant that they were regularly involved in fighting, and were often displaced as territory ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
George Washington by Patriae Pater, c. 1824. Contents Quick facts Born: 22 February 1732 at the family Pope Creek Estate (near present-day Colonial Beach, Virgina). George Washington served as the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797 and is widely regarded as the “Father of His Country.” He was the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Contents King George III portrait by Allan Ramsay, c. 1761-62 Oil on canvas. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA. One of several copies of the 1760 Coronation portrait (in the Royal Collection), when George III ascended the throne at age 22. King George III portrait by Mather Brown, 1790 Oil on canvas. King George III ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Thomas Paine by Laurent Dabos, 1791. Contents Quick facts Born: 9 February 1737 in Thetford, Norfolk, England. Prior to arriving in Philadelphia (30-Nov-1774) at age 37, Thomas Paine had only succeeded at failure. He had been a privateer, stay maker, schoolteacher, excise officer, minister, grocer and tobacconist — and married twice. He had also written ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Paul Revere by John Singleton Copley, 1768. Contents Quick facts Born: baptized 1 January 1735 in Boston, Massachusetts. Paul Revere was a silversmith, engraver, and Patriot in the American Revolution, renowned for his midnight ride to alert colonial militia of British forces’ approach. He participated in the Boston Tea Party and was a member of ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Mercy Otis Warren by John Singleton Copley, 1763. Contents Quick facts Born: 14 September 1728 in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Mercy Otis Warren was a political writer and propagandist of the American Revolution, known for her influential works advocating for independence and democratic principles. She was a close associate of leading Patriots like John Adams, Samuel Adams, ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
John Hancock by John Singleton Copley, 1765. Contents Quick facts Born: 23 January 1737 in Braintree, Massachusetts. John Hancock was a prominent Patriot of the American Revolution, best known for his large and bold signature on the United States Declaration of Independence. He served as President of the Second Continental Congress, where he played a ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
James Otis Jr. by Joseph Blackburn, 1755. Contents Quick facts Born: 5 February 1725 in Barnstable, Massachusetts. James Otis Jr. was a prominent lawyer and political activist in colonial Massachusetts, famously arguing against the Writs of Assistance and British taxation policies. Elder brother of Mercy Otis Warren. His 1761 speech against the Writs of Assistance, ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Contents During the American Revolution, the colonists used different symbols to inspire troops, encourage unity, and promote the righteousness of their cause. In this article, we’ve discussed some of the most popular symbols of the Revolutionary War, and explained what they meant, and how they were used. The Rattlesnake In 1754, Benjamin Franklin published what’s ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Benjamin Franklin by Charles Willson Peale, 1785. Contents Quick facts Born: 17 January 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. Though associated with Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin was born and raised in Boston. He did not arrive in Philadelphia until he was 17 (6-Oct-1723). In addition, Franklin also spent some 28 years abroad, in England and France, at various ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Contents During the Revolutionary War, both sides used political cartoons to portray their perspective of events from the battle, mock the enemy, and promote the righteousness of their cause. Some cartoonists also expressed opposition to the war, and criticisms of military commanders. These political cartoons were often published in newspapers or printed pamphlets as war ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Contents Origins Join, or Die is a political cartoon drawn by Benjamin Franklin, originally published in the Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754. The cartoon depicts a rattlesnake cut into eight pieces, with each piece representing a specific British colony or region in America. At the time the cartoon was published, tensions were rising between ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Contents The French and Indian War was a conflict fought by the Thirteen Colonies and the British Army against the French, with different Native American tribes supporting both sides, from 1754 to 1763. The British and their colonies won the war, however, victory came at a cost. Waging war in America was extremely expensive for ... Read more| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the Sons of Liberty, including who they were, and what they did to help the cause of the American Revolution.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the Quartering Acts of 1765 and 1774. Read a summary of the acts and key facts, and learn how the colonists reacted to the Quartering Acts.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the different types of propaganda used by both sides during the Revolutionary War, including common themes used.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about John Adams, the second President of the United States. Read a biography and key facts about President Adams.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the Townshend Acts of 1767-68. Read a summary of what the acts did as well as fun facts, and discover how the colonists reacted.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about Thomas Hutchinson, last royal governor of the province of Massachusetts, and acting governor at the time of the Boston Massacre.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the Tea Act of 1773. Discover the purpose of this law, and the effects it had. Plus, learn how colonists responded to the Tea Act.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about Samuel Adams, American statesman during the Revolutionary War. Read a biography and key facts about Samuel Adams.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the Patriot slogan "No taxation without representation", including what this slogan means, who said it, and where it comes from.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the Sugar Act of 1764. Discover how this law affected the Thirteen Colonies, and how people reacted to it.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the Stamp Act of 1765. Discover how this new tax worked, and how the colonists reacted to it.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the Intolerable Acts, also known as the Coercive Acts passed by British parliament in 1774 on the Thirteen Colonies.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the burning of the Gaspee, a British customs enforcement ship. Read a summary of the Gaspee Affair.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the Boston Tea Party. Discover what happened in Boston in 1773, and find out about the aftermath and effects of the incident.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the Boston Massacre of 1773. Discover what caused the massacre and the effects it had in the leadup to the Revolutionary War.| AmericanRevolution.org
Learn about the Navigation Acts and how they affected the American Revolution. Read a summary of the acts and learn about their effects.| AmericanRevolution.org
