Notable People in Virginia History

Notable People Table of ContentsClick on the topic to go directly to it

Christopher ColumbusChristopher NewportJohn SmithChief PowhatanPocahontasJohn RolfeGeorge WashingtonThomas JeffersonJames LafayettePatrick HenryJames MadisonGeorge Mason

Nat TurnerHarriet TubmanJohn BrownAbraham LincolnRobert E. Lee“Stonewall” JacksonUlysses S. GrantMaggie WalkerHarry S. ByrdArthur AsheL. Douglas Wilder

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AssessmentOneTwoThreeFour

Christopher Columbus

• He discovered the “New World.”

• He called the people he found in the lands he discovered “Indians” because he thought he was in the Indies (near China).

Christopher Newport

Captain of the the ships which transported the first settlers to the Jamestown colony.

He returned to the colony with additional colonists and supplies a year later.

Captain John Smith

Leader of the Jamestown colony.He had one simple rule which helped restore order to the colony “He that will not work, will not eat.” He initiated trading relationships with the Powhatan Indians.

Chief Powhatan

The leader of the Powhatan Confederacy, a group of 30 Algonquian Indian tribes.

Powhatan was initially friendly to the English colonists.

Mutual trade developed between the Powhatans and the colonists .

Pocahontas

Pocahontas was the daughter of Chief Powhatan.

As a child she often visited the Jamestown Colony.

She persuaded Chief Powhatan to provide food to the starving colonists.

John Rolfe

A tobacco farmer

Married Pocahontas and together they had one son, Thomas.

George Washington

Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

First President of the United States of America .

Often called the “Father of Our Country.”

Thomas Jefferson

He wrote the Declaration of Independence.He wrote the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom, which served as the basis for the First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution

James Armistead Lafayette

Slave from Virginia who served in the Continental Army.

Given his freedom after the war.

Patrick Henry

He spoke out against taxation without representation by saying, “…give me liberty or give me death.”

George Mason

He wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which became the basis for the Bill of Rights of the U. S. Constitution.

James Madison

He kept detailed notes during the Constitutional Convention.

Often called the “Father of the Constitution.”

Nat Turner

He led a revolt against plantation owners in Virginia.

Harriet Tubman

She established a secret route that escaped slaves took, which became known as the “Underground Railroad.”

John Brown

He led a raid on the United States Armory (Arsenal) at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.

He was trying to start a slave rebellion.

He was captured and hanged.

Abraham Lincoln

President of the United States during the Civil War.

After becoming President some southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America.

Robert E. Lee

Confederate General.

Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House and ended the Civil War.

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson

Confederate general.

Played a major role in the First Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas).

Ulysses S. Grant

Union General

He lead the Union army that captured and burned Richmond.

Maggie Walker

First African American woman to become a bank president in the United States.

Harry S. Byrd

Former governor of Virginia.

Known for a “Pay As You Go” policy for road improvements.

He modernized Virginia state government.

Arthur Ashe

First African American winner of a major men’s tennis singles championship.

Author and eloquent spokesperson for social change.

L. Douglas Wilder

Former Governor of Virginia.

First African American to be elected a state governor in the United States.

Assessment – 1 of 4

Who was the Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution? Answer

Who was the first African American woman to become President of a bank president in the United States?

Answer

Who from the Jamestown Colony initiated trading relationships with the Powhatan Indians?

Answer

Assessment – 2 of 4

What document, written by George Mason became the basis for the Bill of Rights of the U. S. Constitution?

Answer

Who was the first African American winner of a men’s tennis singles championship, a author and a eloquent spokesperson for Social Change? Answer

Who was commander of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War? Answer

Assessment – 3 of 4

Who is referred to as the “Father of Our Nation?”Answer

Why did Christopher Columbus call the natives living in the lands he discovered Indians? Answer

What document written by Thomas Jefferson became the basis for the first Amendment of the U. S. Constitution?

Answer

Assessment – 4 of 4

Harry Byrd was known for what type of policy for road improvements? Answer

Who persuaded Chief Powhatan to provide food to the starving Jamestown colonists? Answer

What did some southern states do after Abraham Lincoln become President of the United States ?

Answer

Continental Army

George Washington was the commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Credits

• Virginia Studies Curriculum Framework, Commonwealth of Virginia, Board of Education, 2001

• Virginia Studies Posters (http://chumby.dlib.vt.edu/melissa/posters/vastudiesposter.html)

• Google Image Search (www.google.com/images)