1. STAAR Biographies

2. Colonial America Important People

3. Thomas Hooker Founder of Connecticut Connecticut 1586-1647
Founded the colony of Connecticut and helped write the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut which called for the election of officials.

4. John Locke British Philosopher England 1632-1704
Promoted the idea of natural law which emphasized individual rights. His idea helped inspire the American Revolution.

5. Charles de Montesquieu
Social and Political Philosopher France Montesquieu’s book The Spirit of the Laws influenced America’s founders. His main idea was that separation of powers was necessary to maintain individual liberty.

6. William Penn Founder of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 1644-1718
Helped establish the Pennsylvania Colony. Promoted religious tolerance because his faith, Quakerism, was often persecuted.

7. William Blackstone
Expert jurist, professor, and writer. England Blackstone’s book Commentaries on the Laws of England was the most read legal book in Colonial America.

8. American Revolution Important People

9. Abigail Adams
Second First Lady of the U.S. Massachusetts Promoted equal education for women before most people.

10. John Adams
Founding Father, Federalist, Second President of the U.S. Massachusetts (U.S. President) Adams served as America in the Continental Congress during the American Revolution and became the second President of the U.S.

11. Samuel Adams
Founding Father, Sons of Liberty Leader. Boston, Massachusetts Adams was the leader of the Sons of Liberty, which organized many protests against the British, including the Boston Tea Party.

12. James Armistead
First African-American double spy. Virginia Armistead was a double spy who worked for the Americans.

13. Crispus Attucks
Boston Massacre Victim Boston, Massachusetts First person to die in the Boston Massacre. Viewed by many as the first casualty of the American Revolution.

14. No Picture Available Wentworth Cheswell
American Revolution Veteran, First African-American to hold public office. New Hampshire Part of the midnight ride that warned of the British.
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15. Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father, Journalist, Diplomat Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Franklin promoted American unity and independence. He wrote or signed the Albany Plan of Union, Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Paris (1783), and the Constitution.

16. Bernardo de Gálvez Spanish Administrator, General
Spain/Louisiana/Florida
Helped the U.S. during the American Revolution by winning battles in Florida and Mississippi River.

17. Patrick Henry
Founding Father, Anti-Federalist Virginia Advocate for liberty. Henry was one of the leaders of the American Revolution.

18. King George III
King of England England Unpopular King of England during the American Revolution.

19. Thomas Jefferson
Founding Father, Anti-Federalist, Third President of the U.S. Virginia (U.S. President) Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence which said that all men were created equally and were entitled to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

20. John Paul Jones
American Naval Officer during the American Revolution. Virginia Fought well against the British’s feared navy.

21. Marquis de Lafayette
French General France/U.S (Assisted American Revolution) Convinced France to assist the Americans during the Revolutionary War. Led troops during the war.

22. Thomas Paine Journalist England/New Jersey 1737-1809
1776 (Common Sense)
Thomas Paine helped inspire the American Revolution with his pamphlet Common Sense.

23. Haym Salomon
Businessman Philadelphia, Pennsylvania A member of the “Sons of Liberty”. Salomon helped pay for the American Revolution.

24. Mercy Otis Warren
Writer, Historian Massachusetts Promoted and honored the American Revolution with her writings. Her book, the History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution is her most famous book.

25. George Washington
Founding Father, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, First President of the U.S. Virginia (U.S. President) Washington is known as the “Father” of the U.S. because he helped the U.S. win independence as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

26. Creation and Ratification of the Constitution Important People

27. Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father, Journalist, Diplomat Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Franklin promoted American unity and independence. He wrote or signed the Albany Plan of Union, Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Paris (1783), and the Constitution.

28. Alexander Hamilton Federalist, First Secretary of the Treasury
New York
Made many arguments for the Constitution in the Federalist Papers. Believed a stronger National Government was needed to ensure the safety and stability of the country.

29. Patrick Henry
Founding Father, Anti-Federalist Virginia Henry opposed America’s Constitution because he feared it would give the government too much power. Henry believed in State’s Rights.

30. James Madison
Founding Father, Federalist, Fourth U.S. President Virginia (U.S. President) Helped write the U.S. Constitution. Promoted and explained the Constitution in the Federalist Papers.

31. George Mason
Founding Father and Anti-Federalist Virginia Wrote Virginia’s Constitution and helped write America’s Constitution. However, Mason felt the new Federal government was too powerful and would damage individual rights.

32. George Washington
Founding Father, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, First President of the U.S. Virginia (U.S. President) Washington was elected President during the Constitutional Convention due to his immense popularity.

33. Early Republic Important People

34. John Adams
Founding Father, Federalist, Second President of the U.S. Massachusetts (U.S. President) The second President of the U.S. His Presidency was marked by controversy from the XYZ Affair and the Alien and Sedition Acts.

35. Alexander Hamilton Federalist, First Secretary of the Treasury
New York
Helped create the first National Bank. As Secretary of the Treasury he strengthened the National economy.

36. Thomas Jefferson
Founding Father, Anti-Federalist, Third President of the U.S. Virginia (U.S. President) Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory which doubled the size of the U.S. Also, Jefferson started the Democratic-Republican Party.

37. James Madison
Founding Father, Federalist, Fourth U.S. President Virginia (U.S. President) President during the War of Madison’s leadership during the war, helped the nation fight the British to a draw.

38. John Marshall Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Virginia 1755-1835
Helped establish Judicial Review as Chief Justice. Ruled over some of the most important cases in U.S. History.

39. James Monroe
Fifth U.S. President Virginia (U.S. President) American President who wrote the Monroe Doctrine which changed American foreign policy by making it more aggressive/strong.

40. George Washington
Founding Father, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, First President of the U.S. Virginia (U.S. President) As the first President of the United States, Washington set many examples for future Presidents, such as the Presidential Cabinet and serving two terms.

41. The Age of Jackson Important People

42. John Quincy Adams
Secretary of State, Sixth President of U.S., Congressmen
Massachusetts
Beat Andrew Jackson with the help of Henry Clay. He received less votes than Jackson and his Presidency was not respected as a result.

43. John C. Calhoun
Senator, Vice President, States Rights Advocate South Carolina (Nullification Crisis) As Vice-President of the U.S. Calhoun fought with Jackson over the Tariff of 1828 and the idea of Nullification. Nullification said states could cancel out Federal Laws.

44. Henry Clay
Speaker of the House, Secretary of State Kentucky As leader of the Whig Party. Clay was one of Jackson’s biggest political enemies. Clay supported Industrialization and government support of business.

45. Andrew Jackson Army General, Seventh President of the U.S. Tennessee
(U.S. President)
Andrew Jackson’s election and Presidency was the beginning of the “common” man. He turned the Presidency into a more powerful office.

46. Reform and Culture Important People

47. Susan B. Anthony Woman Suffragist New York and Massachusetts 1820-1906
One of the first and most important fighters for woman’s rights.

48. John James Audubon Painter New York 1785-1851
Audubon’s artwork focused on nature and helped “define” the American style of art.

49. Frederick Douglass Former Slave, Abolitionist, Author, Editor
Washington, D.C.
Wrote on of the most impactful biographies of American History. Argued for the rights of African-Americans and women.

50. Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Woman Suffragist Seneca Falls, New York Seneca Falls (1848) Organized the Seneca Falls convention which was viewed as the beginning of the Women’s Rights Movement.

51. Henry David Thoreau
Author and pioneer of Civil Disobedience. Massachusetts Thoreau’s ideas about civil disobedience inspired leaders like Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

52. Sectionalism and Civil War Important People

53. John Quincy Adams
Secretary of State, Sixth President of U.S., Congressmen Massachusetts Only President to become later become a Congressmen. As a Congressmen, Adams fought passionately against slavery.

54. No Picture Available Philip Bazaar
Served in the Union Navy Born in Chile, lived in Massachusetts ( ) Served for the Union Won the Medal of Honor for his service during the battle for Fort Fisher.
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55. John C. Calhoun
Senator, Vice President, States Rights Advocate South Carolina (Nullification Crisis) Calhoun promoted the idea that states had the right to ignore federal laws. His views influenced the Confederacy.

56. Henry Clay
Speaker of the House, Secretary of State Kentucky Known as the “Great Compromiser”, Clay tried to keep the country together before the Civil War with acts such as The Compromise of 1850.

57. William Carney Union Soldier
Born in Virginia, but escaped to Massachusetts.
(1863) Battle of Fort Wagner
Won the Medal of Honor for defending the flag while wounded during the Battle of Fort Wagner.

58. Jefferson Davis
President of the Confederacy Mississippi ( ) Confederate President Led the Confederacy during the Civil War.

59. Frederick Douglass Former Slave, Abolitionist, Author, Editor
Washington, D.C.
Wrote on of the most impactful biographies of American History. Argued for the rights of African-Americans and women.

60. Ulysses S. Grant Union General, Eighteenth U.S. President Ohio
(Union General)
Led the Union Army during the Civil War. Grant was the best General of the Union. He later became President and fought against the KKK during Reconstruction.

61. Stonewall Jackson Confederate General Virginia 1824-1863
Battle of Bull Run (1861)
Won many of the early battles of the Civil War and was known as one the Civil War’s great general.

62. Robert E. Lee
Confederate General Virginia (Confederate General) Considered one of the best generals of American History. Lee led the Confederate Army against the Union Army.

63. Abraham Lincoln
Sixteenth U.S. President Illinois and Washington D.C (U.S. President) Led the U.S. during the Civil War. Wrote some of the best speeches in American History, which helped redefine the country.

64. Hiram Rhodes U.S. Senator Mississippi 1827-1901
First African-American to serve in the U.S. Senate.

65. Daniel Webster U.S. Senator Massachusetts 1782-1852
As Senator of Massachusetts, Webster promoted the Union against Sectionalism.