Famous People of Virginia History Revolution War Era Civil War Era 20th Century Glossary Follow-Up Activities Resources and Links Teacher’s Slide (hidden in show)

Objectives, Purpose and Intended Users Objectives: SOL 4.3(social studies) The student will explain the economic, social and political life of the Virginia Colony, with emphasis on the backgrounds, motivations, and contributions of George Washington, George Wythe, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Patrick Henry and other prominent Virginians in the Revolutionary era. SOL 4.4 (social studies) The student will describe the social and political life of Virginians between the Revolutionary War and the end of the Civil War, with emphasis on Virginia’s role in the Civil War, including major battles and leaders in the Confederate army, including Robert E. Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. SOL 4.6 (social studies) The student will trace the history of VA in the 20th century with emphasis on: the accomplishments of prominent Virginians, including Woodrow Wilson, Harry F. Byrd, L. Douglas Wilder, and Arthur Ashe. Purpose: To familiarize students with important figures that made contributions to Virginia History. Intended Users: Fourth and fifth grade students.

Key Figures of the Revolutionary War 1775- 1781 Back to Index

George Washington “Father of Our Country” Born: February 22, 1732, Pope’s Creek, VA Surveyor, soldier and planter Commander in chief of the Continental Army 1789: Unanimously elected 1st president Died: Dec. 14, 1799

A person whose work is to measure and map plots of land Surveyor - A person whose work is to measure and map plots of land

Continental Army - The American Army led by George Washington that fought the British in the American Revolution

Patrick Henry “Give me liberty, or give me death!” Born: 1736 Spoke out against taxation without representation. Revolutionary War orator and statesman Urged armed resistance against the British Declared: "Give me liberty, or give me death!” Died : 1799

A person who gives a serious public speech Orator - A person who gives a serious public speech

Thomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of Independence Born: April 13, 1743 - Shadwell Plantation, Albemarle County, VA Graduated 1762, College of William and Mary 1776: wrote the Declaration of Independence 1801- 1809: 3rd President of the United States Died: July 4, 1826. Buried in Monticello, VA

Declaration of Independence A statement written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 that explained why the colonies should be independent from Great Britain

George Wythe Signer of the Declaration of Independence Born: 1726 near Yorktown,VA 1748: Became a member of Virginia House of Burgesses Lawyer and educator Thomas Jefferson’s law teacher August 27, 1776: Signed Declaration of Independence Died: June 8,1806 of poisoning Left all of his books to President Jefferson

Part of the colonial General Assembly House of Burgesses - Part of the colonial General Assembly

James Madison “ Father of the Constitution” Born: March 16, 1751 at Port Conway, Virginia Signed the Declaration of Independence 4th U.S. President Died on June 28, 1836

James Lafayette Spied on British during American Revolution Born: A slave - 1748 1781:Given permission to leave his master’s service and volunteer with American troops fighting under Marquis de Lafayette Became master spy 1787: Given freedom for service during American Revolution Died: 1830

A person who is owned by another person and has no freedom at all Slave - A person who is owned by another person and has no freedom at all

George Mason Father of the Bill of Rights Born: 1725 in Fairfax County, Virginia Author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights Died on Oct. 7, 1792, Fairfax County, Virginia Home was called Gunston Hall

James Monroe Author of the Monroe Doctrine Born: April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, VA Member of the Continental Congress Negotiated with Napoleon for the Louisiana Territory 5th U.S. President Drew up the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 Died: July 4, 1831 in New York City, New York

Monroe Doctrine - President Monroe’s statement that the U.S. would regard as an unfriendly act any move by a European nation to try to control the affairs of American countries or to get more territory on the American continent

Test Your Knowledge Which of the following men did not sign the Declaration of Independence? James Monroe James Madison George Wythe Thomas Jefferson Return to Menu

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Key Figures of the Civil War 1861 - 1865

Nat Turner Led slave revolt against plantation owners in VA. Born a slave in Southampton County, Virginia Gifted speaker and religious leader who claimed that God spoke to him August 21, 1831: led a revolt on his master’s plantation Sixty white people were killed State and Federal troops stopped the fighting Hanged for his part in the revolt Led to the strengthening of the "Black Codes" throughout the south

A person who is owned by another person and has no freedom at all Slave - A person who is owned by another person and has no freedom at all

The act of rising up against the government Revolt - The act of rising up against the government

John Brown Seized federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry in an attempt to arm slaves for revolt Born: May 9, 1800 Abolitionist who believed the slaves should be set free Led a revolt at Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia Revolt was crushed by the Union Army Hung for treason October 16, 1859 John Brown’s fort then and now.

One who tried to end slavery Abolitionist - One who tried to end slavery

Treason - The act of betraying one’s country, especially by helping the enemy in time of war

Abraham Lincoln 16th U.S. President Born: February 12, 1809, Harden County, Kentucky Learned to read, write and cipher on his own 1861: Elected 16th President 1863: Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves in the South and ended the Civil War Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending the theater April 15, 1865 in Washington D.C.`

cipher - To do arithmetic

Assassinate - To kill, especially to murder a government leader or other important person

Robert E. Lee General and Commander of the Confederate Army Born: January 19,1807 at Stratford, Virginia Graduated from West Point Military Academy Served in the U. S. Army 32 years Resigned to lead the Confederate Army Surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, Virginia in April 1865 Died: October 12, 1870

Surrender - To give oneself up

Ulysses S. Grant Union General that accepted Lee’s surrender Born: April 27, 1822, Point Pleasant, Ohio 1843: Graduated from U.S. Military Academy, West Point 1865: Accepted Lee’s surrender at Appomattox 18th president of the United States (1869-77) Died: July 23, 1885

J.E.B. Stuart General in Confederate Army Born: February 6, 1833, Patrick County, Virginia Graduated from West Point Resigned and joined the Confederate Army Called “Eyes of the Army” by Robert E. Lee Died: May 12, 1864, during Civil War battle

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson General in Confederate Army Born: January 21, 1824 at Clarksburg, West Virginia 1846: Graduated U.S. Military Academy, West Point Earned the nickname “Stonewall” at the first battle at Bull Run Robert E. Lee’s most trusted commander Died: May 10, 1863 of pneumonia, after being wounded in battle

Test Your Knowledge Which of the following men was a member of the Union Army? J. E. B Stuart Ulysses S. Grant Robert E. Lee Stonewall Jackson Return to Menu

Key Figures of the 20th Century 1901 - 1999

Maggie Lena Walker Opened the first bank for African-Americans Born: 1867 to former slaves Educated in Richmond’s public schools School teacher for three years 1903: Established St. Luke Penny Savings Bank Died: December 15, 1934, Richmond,VA

Woodrow Wilson 28th U.S. President Born: December 28, 1856, Staunton,Virginia 1912: Became 28th U.S. President Best known as the “World War I President” 1919: Won the Nobel Peace Prize Died: February 3, 1924, Washington, D.C. of natural causes

Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Led movement against integration Born: June 1, 1887 in Virginia Served as Virginia Governor U.S. Senator from Virginia Led the Massive Resistance Movement protesting integration Died: October 20, 1966

Arthur Ashe First African American professional tennis player Born: July 10, 1943, Richmond, VA First African-American ever picked for the U.S Davis Cup tennis team Won three Grand Slam singles titles during his 10-year career Died: February 6, 1993

L. Douglas Wilder First African-American governor in U.S. Born: January 17, 1931, in Richmond, Virginia Served 16 years in the Virginia Senate 1986: Became Lieutenant Governor of Virginia 1990: Elected Governor of Virginia; the first African-American governor in U.S. history

Test Your Knowledge Which of the following was the first African American governor? Arthur.Ashe Douglas Wilder Maggie Lena Walker Woodrow Wilson Return to Menu

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Glossary (A - H) Abolitionist -one who tried to end slavery Assassinate - to kill, especially to murder a government leader or other important person cipher - to do arithmetic Continental Army - the American Army led by George Washington that fought the British in the American Revolution Declaration of Independence - a statement written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 that explained why the colonies should be independent from Great Britain House of Burgesses - part of the colonial General Assembly

Glossary (M - Sla) Monroe Doctrine - President Monroe’s statement that the U.S. would regard as an unfriendly act any move by a European nation to try to control the affairs of American countries or to get more territory on the American continent Orator - a person who gives a public speech of a serious kind Revolt - the act of rising up against the government Slave - a person who is owned by another person and has no freedom at all

Glossary (Su - Z) Surrender - to give oneself up Surveyor - a person whose work is to measure and map plots of land Treason - the act of betraying one’s country, especially by helping the enemy in time of war

Follow up Activities Create a time line of events in Virginia history. Create a map of birthplaces, events, or a changing Virginia. Use information to write paragraphs about famous Virginians. Create a data base with information. Additional data can be researched and added. Use information to write Jeopardy questions. Play the game. Use information as a beginning to create more in-depth presentations on each individual. They could be written, oral or in Power Point Have students discuss the reasons these people were or were not included in the presentation. Are there other people who should be included? Why?

Resources and Links John Brown- Harper's Ferry National Historical Park - http://www.nps.gov/hafe/home.htm Maggie L.Walker- Walker national Historic Site- http://usparks.about.com/travel/usparks/library/weekly/aa071199.htm?rnk=r%terms=Maggie+Lena+Walker Ulysses S. Grant- Ulysses S. Grant Links -http://www.mscomm.com/~ulysses/page 152.html James Ewell “J.E.B.” Brown Stuart- “Great Southern Men”- http://www/pointssouth.com/csnet/greatmen.htm http://www.jebstuart.com James Lafayette - Black History: Virginia Profiles http://www.gateway-va.com/pages/bhistory/1997/lafa.html Civil War generals - http:// www.civilwarhome.com/jackbio.htm Heath Social Studies Exploring Virginia, D.C. Heath and Company CC 1991. George Wythe - http://www.georgewythe.org/ Encyclopedia Americana: George Washington http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/ea/bios/01pwash.html Abraham Lincoln Online http://www.netins.net/showcase/creative/lincoln.html Robert E. Lee -Robert E. Lee Memorial Association http://www.stratfordhall.org/rel.htm World Book Encyclopedia-CD Grolier Encyclopedia-CD