Key People of the American Revolution

Which Side Are You On?

• Patriot: Colonists who supported Independence from Great Britain

• Loyalist: Colonists who supported staying loyal to Great Britain and the King

• Neutral: Colonists who did not pick a side—War is wrong, no matter what.

Colonist AColonist A is a poor farmer in the Hudson River Valley of New York. Colonist A has paid no attention to the trouble brewing in the colonies. His day to day struggle to maintain his farm and family is what worries him. His problems have recently become worse; his landowner, a Loyalist, has had some financial troubles and to get himself out of his enormous debts, he has raised Colonist A’s rent three times in the last five months. Colonist A barely earns enough from selling his crops to pay the original rent amount and now with the raise in rent, Colonist A will be evicted from his farm. He and his wife has 6 children and fear they will have nowhere to go if they are forced to leave the farm. Patriot? Loyalist? Neutral?

Patriot? Loyalist? Neutral?

“I am Determined to defend my rights and maintain my freedom or sell my life in the attempt.” ~Nathanael Greene“I leave America and every endearing connection because I will not raise my hand against my country. When I can conscientiously draw it in her favor, my life shall be cheerfully devoted to her service.” ~Isaac Wilkins

Patriot? Loyalist? Neutral?

“I see the inhabitants of our plundered cities quitting the elegancies of life, possessing nothing but their freedom, I behold faction and discord tearing up an island we once held dear and a mighty Empire long the dread of distant nation, tott’ring to the very foundation.” ~Mary Otis Warren

“If we do nothing for the British there will be no peace for us. Our throats will be cut by the Red Coat man or by America. We should go and join the father [Britain] this is the only for us.” ~Joseph Brant, Mohawk Chief

Colonist B

Colonist B is a wealthy women from New York City. Her husband’s business earns tremendous wealth and honor for the family. She frequently claims to be related to several members of the House of Lords in the British Parliament. She worries about eh amount of violence being committed by mobs of men called the Sons of Liberty. She and her husband fear that their wealth and their connections to Britain may cause them to be targets of the mob.

Patriot? Loyalist? Neutral?

Colonists C

Colonist C lives close to Boston’s waterfront. He has very little money and cares little about politics. He works on the docks loading and unloading the ships and at night he hangs out and plays cards in one of the local taverns. He has been known to spend a few nights in jail after fighting in the taverns. His toughness has caught the eye of the Sons of Liberty and for months they have been trying to recruit him. Colonist C accepted their rum and ale but refused to join the Sons of Liberty. Yesterday, colonist C was informed that he was out of a job because the British passed a series of acts which closed Boston Harbor to trade.

Patriot? Loyalist? Neutral?

Go to these Links!www.theamericanrevolution.org

http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/people.htmwww.history.com (you will have to use the search

field on the top right hand corner)

On the following slides, please tell me who the person is and how the person was involved in the American

Revolution. On the back page of your notes, I want you to find two women

who were involved in the American Revolution and tell me about them. Where were they from and what did they do?

King George III

General Cornwallis

Benedict Arnold

Marquis de Lafayette

Thomas Jefferson

George Washington

Benjamin Franklin