1. Revolutionary War Heroes Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, Nathan Hale, Nathanael Greene, and Thomas Jefferson By: Queen O’ Cheeto

2. The Revolutionary War The Revolutionary War began on April 19, 1775. British soldiers and American Patriots fought in this war. Great Britain used to control the Thirteen Colonies. They taxed the colonies without getting their opinion. Most Americans thought this was unfair. They protested, but Great Britain wouldn’t listen. The British government declared war on the colonies in 1775. The colonies weren’t prepared for war. Delegates from each state got together and formed the first Continental Congress. They organized an army and navy and prepared the colonies for war. On July 4, 1776, Congress wrote the Declaration of Independence, which declared the colonies’ freedom from Great Britain. Battles were fought in Fort Ticonderoga, New York, Bunker Hill, Massachusetts, and Tybee Island. The British army surrendered at Yorktown in 1781. They ended the war by writing the Treaty of Paris. The Revolutionary War is important to our country because that is how we won our freedom. We celebrate it each year on July 4, the day the Declaration of Independence was written.

3. Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17 th, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the 10 th child of 17, and his father was a soap maker named Josiah Franklin. He married Deborah Read and adopted a boy named William. During the Revolutionary War, he thought that the colonies should unite. He was part of the second Continental Congress and even wrote part of the Declaration of Independence! He is famous for his kite experiment when he flew a kite in a thunderstorm to observe the nature of electricity.

4. Bought the Pennsylvania Gazette (he often contributed to it as well) organized the Junto, a group that works on self- and-civic improvement wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac (“a penny saved is a penny earned” came from his book) wrote part of the Declaration of Independence

5. Paul Revere Paul Revere was born on January 1 st, 1735 in Boston, Massachusetts. He rode from Charleston to Lexington to warn the Patriots that the British troops were approaching on the night of April 18 th, 1775. This was called the Midnight Ride. When most people think of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride, they think of him riding on his horse calling, “The British are coming! The British are coming!” This Revolutionary War hero died on May 10, 1818.

6. his famous Midnight Ride he saved the lives of many Patriots because of his Midnight Ride became official courier of the MA Committee of Correspondence

7. Nathan Hale Nathan Hale was born on June 6, 1775 in Coventry, Connecticut. He was the sixth child of twelve. His parents were Richard and Elizabeth Hale, and they lived on a farm. Nathan was a spy for General Washington in the Revolutionary War. He was captured by General William Hoe on September 22, 1776, and he was hung. His last words were, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” R.I.P. Nathan Hale

8. gave up his life for our country his last words became famous many people have made statues of him for being an American hero

9. Nathanael Green Nathanael Greene was born on July 27, 1742 in Rhode Island. He was interested in learning, and he often used his extra money to buy books. In July 1774, he married Catherine Littlefield. He soon became chosen to be a commander in the Revolutionary War. He won many battles and helped our country win the war.

10. was a commander in the Revolutionary War helped win important battles is in social studies’ textbooks today

11. Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia. He married Martha Wayles Skelton on January 1, 1772. He later had six children. He went to the second Continental Congress and was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. He was elected President from 1800-1809. This leader died on July 4, 1826, which is the 50 th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence!

12. was the main author of the Declaration of Independence was in the second Continental Congress was one of our presidents

13. Bibliography Benjamin Franklin Facts- http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/info /index.htm Picture- http://www.picsearch.com/pictures/cel ebrities/inventors/inventors%201/benj amin%20franklin.html Paul Revere Facts- http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/ Picture- http://www.americanrevwar.com/files /REVERE.HTM Nathan Hale Facts- http://www.connecticutsar.org/patriot s/hale_nathan.htm Picture- http://www.awesomestories.com/asset s/nathan-hale-image-and-story Nathanael Greene Facts- http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/s erved/greene.html Picture- http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/ Nathanael_Greene.aspx Thomas Jefferson Facts- http://sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/tjeffers on.html Picture- http://www.thomryng.com/governme nt.htm