Many of the greatest patriots in American history were active in the American Revolution. Patrick Henry, John Adams John Adams was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency, he was a leader of the American Revolution that achieved independence from Great Britain and s…John Adams
Who were the Patriots in American history?
Patriots, also known as Revolutionaries, Continentals, Rebels, or American Whigs, were the colonists of the Thirteen Colonies who rejected British rule during the American Revolution, and declared the United States of America an independent nation in July 1776.
What are the names of some famous patriots and loyalists?
Some famous patriots and loyalists: Some of the famous patriots who fought for independence include John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Paul, Ethan Allen, Patrick Henry, Been Franklin, etc. Some of the loyalists who supported British rule include Benedict Arnold, Joseph Galloway, Andrew Allen, John Butler, David Mathews, etc.
Who are the Patriots in America?
Patriots, also known as Revolutionaries, Continentals, Rebels, or American Whigs, were the colonists of the Thirteen Colonies who rejected British rule during the American Revolution, and declared the United States of America an independent nation in July 1776.
Why are the Patriots named the Patriots?
The Patriots were named after the colonial American Patriots, a group of colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies, who rebelled against British Empire's control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation.
Who were some patriots in the Revolutionary War?
As Britain continued to attempt control over the colonies through taxes and regulations, calls for independence grew across the 13 Colonies. The colonists who favored independence from Great Britain were called Patriots. Those who wished to remain tied to Great Britain as Colonies were called Loyalists.
Who were the most famous patriots?
Perhaps the most famous patriot at the time was George Washington who led the Continental Army and later became the first President of the United States. Other famous patriots included Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, Ethan Allen, Patrick Henry, and Ben Franklin.
Who were patriots names?
Furthermore, fierce patriots such as James Otis, Samuel Adams, John Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere were all citizens of one great city: Boston.
Who were patriots leaders?
List of Continental Army and Colonial LeadersRankNameServiceGeneral and Commander-in-ChiefGeorge Washington1775–1783Major GeneralHenry Knox1775–1783Major generalHenry Lee1776–1783Major generalHoratio Gates1775–178333 more rows
Who was a famous loyalist?
One famous Loyalist is Thomas Hutchinson, a leading Boston merchant from an old American family, who served as governor of Massachusetts. Viewed as pro-British by some citizens of Boston, Hutchinson's house was burned in 1765 by an angry crowd protesting the Crown's policies.
Would you be a Patriot or Loyalist?
PATRIOT - those who rebelled against British rule and fought for independence from the British empire to create the United States. A patriot also means a person who supports their country. LOYALIST- a person who remains loyal to a ruler or government, especially in the case of a political revolt.
Who was the most important person in the Revolutionary War?
Thomas Jefferson was a one of the most important and prominent figures in American history. He was a founding father who was responsible for writing the Declaration of Independence as well as the third President of the United States.
Who declared war first in the American Revolution?
On April 19, local militiamen clashed with British soldiers in the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, marking the “shot heard round the world” that signified the start of the Revolutionary War.
What do British call the American Revolution?
the American War of IndependenceIn the UK and some other countries, it's called the American War of Independence.
Who said give me liberty or give me death?
Patrick HenryOn March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry signaled the coming revolution when he spoke at a Virginia convention and allegedly implored: “Give me liberty, or give me death!”
Who was considered to be one of the most outspoken Patriots?
Patrick Henry is known for being a steadfast patriot opposed to a strong centralized government. In 1765, Henry was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. By the 1770s, Henry had emerged as one of the most radical leaders of the opposition to British tyranny.
How did the Patriots get their name?
What does "Patriots" mean? Originally located in Boston, the team was named the Patriots because of the area's heritage as the birthplace of the American Revolution.
Was Thomas Paine a patriot?
One of early America's most important and influential patriots wielded not a sword or a gun but a pen. Thomas Paine, famous for his writings Common Sense and The Crisis, did more to inspire the troops and the folks at home by writing than he ever did by wielding a gun or marching in formation.
Was Alexander Hamilton a Patriot or Loyalist?
While still a student at King's College (now Columbia University), Hamilton took up the Patriots' cause, writing his first political article in 1774 (he signed himself "A Friend to America"). After war broke out, in April 1775, he joined a militia company.
What do the Patriots think of King George as a ruler?
When King George and Parliament put a tax on tea, the Patriots were angry. Their opinions of King George were hardened. Because of their anger, they were led to participate in the Boston Tea Party. Chronicle of the Revolution from Liberty!
How did the Patriots get their name?
What does "Patriots" mean? Originally located in Boston, the team was named the Patriots because of the area's heritage as the birthplace of the American Revolution.
What was the patriots?
Patriot (American Revolution) This article is about the Patriots in the American Revolution. For other uses, see Patriot (disambiguation). Patriots (also known as Revolutionaries, Continentals, Rebels, or American Whigs) were the colonists of the Thirteen Colonies. They rejected British rule during the American Revolution, ...
What group did the Patriots belong to?
Influence. Many Patriots were active before 1775 in groups such as the Sons of Liberty, and the most prominent leaders are referred to today by Americans as the Founding Fathers. They represented a cross-section of the population of the Thirteen Colonies and came from many different backgrounds.
What were the differences between the Patriots and the Loyalists?
He finds eight characteristics that differentiated the two groups. Loyalists were older, better established, and more likely to resist innovation than the Patriots. Loyalists felt that the Crown was the legitimate government and resistance to it was morally wrong, while the Patriots felt that morality was on their side because the British government had violated the constitutional rights of Englishmen. Men who were alienated by physical attacks on Royal officials took the Loyalist position, while those who were offended by heavy-handed British response to actions such as the Boston Tea Party became Patriots. Merchants in the port cities with long-standing financial attachments to Britain were likely to remain loyal to the system, while few Patriots were so deeply enmeshed in the system. Some Loyalists, according to Labaree, were "procrastinators" who believed that independence was bound to come some day, but wanted to "postpone the moment", while the Patriots wanted to "seize the moment". Loyalists were cautious and afraid of anarchy or tyranny that might come from mob rule; Patriots made a systematic effort to take a stand against the British government. Finally, Labaree argues that Loyalists were pessimists who lacked the Patriots' confidence that independence lay ahead.
What were loyalists afraid of?
Loyalists were cautious and afraid of anarchy or tyranny that might come from mob rule; Patriots made a systematic effort to take a stand against the British government. Finally, Labaree argues that Loyalists were pessimists who lacked the Patriots' confidence that independence lay ahead.
What did the British call themselves after 1768?
The critics of British policy towards the colonies called themselves "Whigs" after 1768, identifying with members of the British Whig party who favored similar colonial policies. In Britain at the time, the word "patriot" had a negative connotation and was used as a negative epithet for "a factious disturber of the government", according to Samuel Johnson.
What were the colonists who supported British authority called?
Prior to the Revolution, colonists who supported British authority called themselves Tories or royalists, identifying with the political philosophy of traditionalist conservatism dominant in Great Britain. During the Revolution, these persons became known primarily as Loyalists. Afterward, some 15% of Loyalists emigrated north to the remaining British territories in Canada. There they called themselves the United Empire Loyalists. 85% of the Loyalists decided to stay in the new United States and were granted American citizenship.
What was the slogan of the Patriots?
Further information: No taxation without representation. The Patriots rejected taxes imposed by legislatures in which the taxpayer was not represented. " No taxation without representation " was their slogan, referring to the lack of representation in the British Parliament.
What were the names of the patriots?
Other names for patriots included Sons of Liberty, Rebels, Whigs, and Colonials.
Who were the loyalists in the war?
Since the loyalists lost the war, there aren't as many famous loyalists as there are patriots. Benedict Arnold was a general in the Continental Army who went to fight for the British. Another famous loyalist was Joseph Galloway who was the Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress but later worked for the British army. Other famous loyalists include Thomas Hutchinson (governor of Massachusetts colony), Andrew Allen, John Butler (leader of the loyalists troops Butler's Rangers), and David Mathews ( mayor of New York City).
How did life for the loyalists become increasingly difficult during the war?
Life for the loyalists became increasingly difficult during the war. Loyalists who lived in areas controlled by the patriots were in constant danger from radical patriots. Many of them lost their homes and businesses.
Why did the Patriots swear an oath?
Patriots would swear an oath to these men in order to get a pass to travel freely through patriot controlled land.
What were the two groups of the American colonies?
The Revolutionary War split the people of the American colonies into two groups: the loyalists and the patriots.
What did loyalists do to help the British?
Many loyalists left the country and went back to Britain. Others decided to help the British fight the patriots. They either joined the British army or formed their own groups of fighters such as the Loyal Greens and the Royal American Regiment.
What did people think of the British colonies?
Some of these people were simply afraid to go up against the might of the British army. Others had business interests in Great Britain and knew that British trade was important to the economy. Still others thought that British rule would be better than patriot rule.
Who were the most important people in the creation of the United States?
Fielding#N#Most of us are familiar with the famous personalities who were responsible for the creation of the United States of America. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton are recognized names around the world. Many biographies and books have been written on these individuals, but this article aims to highlight the contributions of those lesser-known people who were elemental in helping win the war and secure the freedoms we celebrate each Fourth of July.
Who was James Armistead Lafayette?
James Armistead Lafayette – James Armistead Lafayette was born in Virginia. He was an African American slave who helped the American cause by working as a spy. Lafayette served under the French commander Marquis de Lafayette, and supplied him with information about the British movements.He entered enemy camp disguised as a runaway slave to collect important information which helped the Americans find out about Benedict Arnold’s treachery and later, about the movements of the British at the Battle of Yorktown.
What did Ethan Allen do?
Ethan Allen – Ethan Allen was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, on January 10, 1737, or January 21, 1738. Allen worked on the farm to support his family, loved to hunt and enjoyed reading.Recognizing the importance of Fort Ticonderoga as the “Gibraltar of America,” Allen and his Green Mountain Boys were sent to capture it from the British. By doing so, Allen made it possible for Henry Knox to later retrieve priceless cannons which were used to drive out the British from Boston.
Who was Daniel Morgan?
Daniel Morgan – Daniel Morgan was born in 1736. He made his mark in the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Cowpens on January 17, 1781. Morgan and his riflemen were chosen by Nathanael Greene to cut off any routes that would bring support or supplies to aid the British.Morgan carried the plan out strategically, displacing the British and scaring them off the pastureland with heavy firepower. The Battle of Cowpens, under Morgan’s leadership, changed the course of the Revolutionary War for the Americans.
Who was Henry Knox?
Henry Knox – Henry Knox was born on July 25, 1750, in Massachusetts. He was a bookstore clerk turned revolutionary patriot. Knox guided his men through a brutal winter and treacherous terrain to move fifty-nine cannons across three hundred miles from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. The cannons provided the Americans the necessary firepower to drive the British out of Boston.
Who was Nathanael Greene?
Despite a limp in one leg which he received in his childhood, Greene pushed to become an American soldier. Indeed, Greene became one of George Washington’s best military officers. He commanded Washington’s right-wing task force at the Battle of Trenton and participated in Germantown and Brandywine.
Who was the first man to volunteer to work as a spy for the Americans?
Nathan Hale – Nathan Hale was a born on June 6, 1755, in Coventry, Connecticut. Hale was a teacher who became the first man to volunteer to work as a spy for the Americans. Hale disguised himself as a Dutch schoolmaster and entered the British camp to collect all pertinent information that would help the American cause.H ale was discovered and captured by the British, then hanged from an apple tree in Rutger’s Orchard in New York City. His body was on display for three days as an example to anyone who dared to defy the British.
Who was Benjamin Brown?
Benjamin Brown (1859-1910) – Buffalo Soldier who fought bandits in the Wham Paymaster Robbery and awarded the Medal of Honor.
Who led the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
William Clark (1770-1838) – Explorer and geographical expert who co-lead the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
How many patents did Benjamin Franklin have?
During his lifetime, he was awarded 161 U.S. patents. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) – Intellectual, author, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, soldier, and diplomat, Franklin is noted as being one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
Who was Mad Ann?
Nathaniel Bacon (1640s-1676) – A wealthy colonist of the Virginia Colony who instigated Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676. Anne Hennis Trotter Bailey (1742-1825) – Better known as “Mad Ann”, she was a colorful figure, scout, spy, and Indian fighter during the colonial Indian Wars and the American Revolution.
Who was Susan Brownell Anthony?
Susan Brownell Anthony (1820-1906) Leader in the American Anti-Slavery Society, she later turned her life’s devotion to women’s suffrage and, with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, founded the National Woman Suffrage Association and the newspaper Revolution.
Who was George Washington Carver?
George Washington Carver (1864-1943) – American scientist, botanist, educator, and inventor. George Rogers Clark – (1752-1818) – Soldier from Virginia and the highest-ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War.
Who was Mary McLeod Bethune?
Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) The daughter of former slaves, Mary became a writer, educator, a champion of humanitarian causes, and an advocate of civil rights and education for Blacks.
Who were the heroes of the Revolutionary War?
Patriots of Independence: 5 Unsung Heroes of The Revolutionary War. Washington, Gates, and even Francis Marion (the swamp fox) are well-known leaders on the battlefields of the American War of Independence, but there were plenty of heroes whose tales are not told in history class and others whose heroic deeds were overshadowed by other events.
Who was the oldest person to serve in the Revolutionary War?
Samuel Whittemore. One of the first heroes of the war, Samuel Whittemore was also the oldest. An astounding 78 at the start of the Revolutionary War, Whittemore had a long military career before the war broke out. He fought in the French and Indian Wars and helped capture the strategic Fortress of Louisbourg twice over his years ...
How old was Samuel Whittemore when he shot and killed one soldier?
As they came close, he shot and killed one with his rifle and then drew his pistols and killed two more men. Then, at 78 years old, Samuel Whittemore drew his sword and charged the masses of soldiers.
Why was Bissell awarded the Military Merit?
For risking his life on the battlefield and within the enemy’s armies , Bissell was awarded the Badge of Military Merit by George Washington. Bissell continued to serve throughout the war and in the American Indian wars after the revolution.
What battle did Arnold fight in?
Marching through the wilds of Maine, Arnold fought against the walls of Quebec and was badly wounded in the leg in a failed assault. In the Battle of Ridgefield, Arnold’s horse was shot from under him and landed on his leg, after intense fighting for his life, Arnold escaped the battle with his life.
Why did Arnold decide to turn to the British cause?
Despite his heroics, and he was widely praised for his role in the victory, Arnold had to see general Gates get most of the glory and medals for winning the battle. This perceived lack of appreciation, combined with growing debt accumulated through the war, led to Arnold finally deciding to turn to the British cause.
What happened after the Battles of Lexington and Concord?
Immediately after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first engagements of the war, the British marched back to Boston, dealing with skirmish Americans all the way. Whittemore was working his fields when he noticed the British marching close to his land.
Overview
Patriots, also known as Revolutionaries, Continentals, Rebels, or American Whigs, were the colonists of the Thirteen Colonies who rejected British rule during the American Revolution, and declared the United States of America an independent nation in July 1776. Their decision was based on the political philosophy of republicanism—as expressed by such spokesmen as Thomas Jef…
Terminology
The critics of British policy towards the colonies called themselves "Whigs" after 1768, identifying with members of the British Whig party who favored similar colonial policies. Samuel Johnson writes that at the time, the word "patriot" had a negative connotation and was used as a negative epithet for "a factious disturber of the government".
Prior to the Revolution, colonists who supported British authority called themselves Tories or royal…
Influence
Many Patriots were active before 1775 in groups such as the Sons of Liberty, and the most prominent leaders are referred to today by Americans as the Founding Fathers. They represented a cross-section of the population of the Thirteen Colonies and came from many different backgrounds. According to Robert Calhoon, between 40 and 45 percent of the white population in the Thirteen Colonies supported the Patriots' cause, between 15 and 20 percent supported the L…
Motivations
Historians have explored the motivations that pulled men to one side or the other. Yale historian Leonard Woods Labaree used the published and unpublished writings and letters of leading men on each side, searching for how personality shaped their choice. He finds eight characteristics that differentiated the two groups. Loyalists were older, better established, and more likely to resist innovation than the Patriots. Loyalists felt that the Crown was the legitimate government a…
See also
• Loyalist (American Revolution)
Bibliography
• Ellis, Joseph J. . Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation (2002), Pulitzer Prize
• Kann, Mark E.; The Gendering of American Politics: Founding Mothers, Founding Fathers, and Political Patriarchy, (1999) online version
• Middlekauff, Robert; The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789 (2005) online version