Historical characters

Abigail Adams

One of the earliest women’s rights activists in America. She wrote to her husband, John Adams, telling him, when writing the Declaration of Independence, “To remember the ladies.”
Was the second First lady, and the first First Lady to live in the white house
Advised the second president of the United States of America, over the years with here bold opinions
Advocated against slavery through her influnce of the president, “I wish most sincerely that there were not a slave in the province.”
Advocated for a free education. Was one of the first women to fight for equal opportunities for men and women in education.

John Adams

Was the first vice president and second president of the United States
One of the founding fathers
Was born in Massachusetts and died in Massachusetts
Graduated from Harvard before becoming a lawyer
Was the first US ambassador to Great Britain
In the Continental Congress, provided very revolutionary ideas regarding the future of the colonies.
He was seen as a prominent figure that inspired many patriots to fight for independence, greatly improved United States military.

John Quincy Adams

Began as the United States minister to the Netherlands
Joined the US Senate in 1803
Became Secretary of State due to his skills as a negotiator shown in his relations with Russia and its Tsar Alexander I
He was the sixth president of the United States
He was vocally against slavery, attempting to pass laws and defends slaves in legal issues

Samuel Adams

A founding father of the United States
Signed the Declaration of Independence (1776)
A leader of Colonial Independence
served four terms as governor of Massachusetts after the Revolution
Helped form resistance against the Stamp Act
Had an important role in the organization of the Boston Tea Party
Helped draft the articles of confederation
Leader of the Sons of Liberty
Second Cousin to John Adams

Louisa May Alcott

Best known for writing novel Little Women
Introduced readers to educated strong female heroines - great impact on American lit
Served in the Civil War as a nurse, wrote Hospital Sketches about the experience
Until age 22, her pen name was Flora Fairfield
Was a suffragette and the first woman registered to vote in Concord

Ethan Allen

Fought in the French and Indian War along with the American Revolutionary War
Led the Green Mountain Boys along with Benedict Arnold to capture fort Ticonderoga from the British
Tried to make Vermont It’s own country independent from the colonies
Later joined in on the invasion of Canada but was captured and became a P.O.W
Published Reason The Only Oracle Of Man which openly attacked Christian beliefs

Benedict Arnold

Was a patriot officer who served of the cause of the American Revolution, until he betrayed the Thirteen Colonies and shifted his alliance towards the british (1779)
Betrayed the Continental Army because he was unhappy with his position
Arnold escaped the Continental Army by taking a ship that was heading back to England
In 1880, Arnold informed British forces a proposed American invasion of Canada
Battles fought in:
Battle of the Cedars
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

John Jacob Astor

fur magnate and founder of a renowned family of Anglo-American capitalists, business leaders, and philanthropists. His American Fur Company is considered the first American business monopoly.
Benefitted from the controversial Jays Treaty

John J. Audubon

American ornithologist, naturalist, and artist
Ornithologist: A person that studies or is an expert on birds
Well known for his studies and detailed description of North American birds
He made a significant contribution the understand bird anatomy and behaviour
Produced the Birds of America which contained four hundred thirty-five life sized watercolor paintings of North American birds
This book also contained his discovery of twenty-five new species and twelve new subspecies

Nathaniel Bacon

Was a Virginia planter
Appointed to the council of governor William Berkeley
Disagreed with Berkeley and defied his orders
Led to the Bacon Rebellion
The first major rebellion in the colonies
Died of fever and the rebellion ended without his reign

Sarah Bagley

Published her “Pleasures of Factory Life” in the Lowell Offering, a magazine published by working women
Formed the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association and became president
Published and wrote in the Voice of Industry
Gathered multiple petitions to testify against the mills
Supported the peace movement during the Mexican--American War
Advocated for electoral reform and women’s rights
Traveled through New England writing on health care, working conditions, prison reform and women’s rights

Clara Barton

founder of the American Red Cross, it was founded in 1881, when she was 59, and she led the organization for the next 23 years. She risked her life during the Civil War to bring nursing care and supplies to soldiers, earning her the nickname Angel of the Battlefield. When the war ended, she worked with Lincoln to develop the Office of Missing Soldiers, which helped reunite 20,000 soldiers with their families.

Catharine Beecher

American Educator known for her beliefs on female education and support of the implementation of kindergarten in children's education
She promoted equal access to education for both women and also advocated for their ability to teach and as mothers.
She co founded the Hartford Female Seminary which had the purpose of educating women to become mothers and teachers.
Wrote A Treatise on Domestic Economy in 1841, a book detailing domestic values and the role of women

Alexander Graham Bell

Scottish-born inventor, scientist, and engineer. He was most known for patenting the first practical telephone. He was also known for the creation of the phonograph. He was also a teacher of the deaf. His mother was almost deaf and his father was also a teacher of the deaf. He was homeschooled for some time, and didn’t excel academically.

Elizabeth Blackwell

First woman in America to receive a medical degree
Started out in the teaching industry
Predominantly female profession
Turned to medicine after a close friend passed away
Stated that her ordeal would have been more positive if there had been a female doctor
1847, returned to Philadelphia seeking help of Quaker friends
Finally admitted into Geneva college (New York), she graduated top of her class in 1849
Opened her own medical college in 1868

Napoleon Bonaparte

Became Emperor of France after a decade of the French Revolution
Expanded France to become a world superpower after ages of inner turmoil
Sold the Louisiana Purchase to America in 1803, allowed for Westward expansion
Set a precedent for countries and law with his Napoleonic code
Eventually became exiled from France after losing in battles and becoming unpopular with the people

John Wilkes Booth

At 17, he started acting in Baltimore Shakespearean plays.
Acted for President Lincoln days before his famed Gettysburg Address.
He joined the Know Nothing party
Aimed at limiting immigration
Served as a secret agent of the confederacy
Aided in capture of John Brown and tried to kidnap Lincoln
After killing President Lincoln he broke his leg
managed to escape the law for 12 days till he was shot and killed

William Bradford

Fled to netherlands to escape prosecution from King James I in 1608
Had Puritan beliefs in England
Accepted the idea of coming to the americas on the Mayflower in 1619
In 1620 they left from Plymouth, England (leaving their son)
Partial founder and governor of the plymouth colony settlement
-Wanted to set up a trading/fishing settlement post for settlers to repay debts

Anne Bradstreet

America’s first poet
First poem collection = first book written by a woman published in America
Never intended to publish her work → her brother-in-law secretly took it and published it in England
Through poetry, pondered culture, family, death, history, and particularly religion - in manner unique to Puritan faith
Educated many on the struggles of life as a Puritan wife in the New England colonies (early feminist)

John Brown

Was an American Abolitionist
An individual wanting to abolish slavery everywhere
He led the raid on the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (1859)
The raid led to a nation wide uprising against slavery-> convicted and hanged and thus became a martyr for the abolitionist movement
Leader of the anti slavery guerillas in Bleeding, Kansas
He was a key factor in the heightening of the animosities that led to the American Civil War

James Buchanan

15th President of the United States (1857 - 1861)
Couldn’t effectively combat the American Civil War, from 1861 - 1865
Opposed the Wilmot Proviso, which prohibited slavery to spread into U.S. Territories
Supported the Compromise of 1850, which tried to balance the Senate seats to be equal between slavery and non-slavery states
Enforced the Fugitive Slave Act (1850), which let people capture and return runaway slaves who escaped to a different state or territory no matter what

Aaron Burr

American Politician and Lawyer
Third Vice President of the United States and State Attorney General in 1782
Infamous for killing Alexander Hamilton in a dual
Tried for treason in 1807
Attempted to annex mexico and Louisiana with the help of James Wilkinson, who later turned him in
Lived in self exile in England, still tried to push plans for annexing mexico
Returned to the US under the surname “Edwards”, and was buried the same day of the finalization of his divorce from Elixa Jemul

John C Calhoun

Elected to South Carolina legislature after attending Yale Law School
Joined “War Hawks” congress group
Advocated against British aggression on American ships and supported decisions that led to War of 1812
Helped in nation-building activities with Henry Clay (Second Bank of the United States)
Defended the right of owning slaves and protected white South interests
Vice President of the US under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson
Staunch defender of slavery
Very prominent state’s rights advocate

Chief Pontiac

Lead Pontiac's War/rebellion, which was an armed battle between the British and the Algonquian, Iroquoian, Muskogean, and Siouan Native Americans shortly after the 7 years war
United the Native Tribes to fight against a common enemy, the British.
Named Obwaandi'eyaag, and got the name Pontiac from the battle he lead.
Chief leader in Ottawa

Samuel Chase

One of the Founding Fathers
Signed the declaration of independence
Represented Maryland in the Continental Congress (1774–78, 1784–85)
Maryland Assembly (1764-1784)
Served as a judge of the Baltimore criminal court
Chief judge of the Maryland General Court (1791-1796)
George Washington appointed him to US Supreme Court
House of Representatives charged with treason and sedition trials
Found not guilty

Founding Fathers

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison, Samuel Chase

William Clark & Merriwether Lewis

explorers credited for mapping and charting the land west of the Mississippi River. They did an 8,000 mile long trek through the West, and started the Westward Expansion. They traveled west through Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and South Dakota before arriving at Knife River Village in North Dakota where they met Sacagawea. She would become their guide and interpreter during the trip. They finally made it to the Pacific in November 1805, over a year after they’d left.

Henry Clay

Senator, secretary of state, speaker of the house
Guided the Union through critical times and changes.
Earned titles like, “The Great Compromiser,” and “the Great Pacificator.”
Forced the Compromise of 1850
Political enemies with Andrew Jackson

James Fenimore Cooper

Wrote The Spy, one of the first American novels that bolstered Cooper to fame
In a collection of novels, called the Leatherstocking Tales, he describes Westward expansion, conflict between whites and Natives, and manifest destiny
Many of Cooper’s Native characters portrayed the stereotype of the “noble savage”
Shaped the idea of the romantic west and a westward bound protagonist
Both the setting and characters of his novels influence tales of the West for many years to come

George Custer

United States cavalry officer who fought in the American civil war:
Fought with his cavalry in the Hancock expedition but fled to his wife-> suspended
Led his men to the first major victory for the US against the Southern Plain tribes
Sparked a gold rush on the sacred hunting grounds of the Sioux called the Black Hills in 1874 => Natives were moved to reservations
Led himself and his cavalry to die in the Battle of the little Bighorn against the angry Sioux
At first received a civil war hero status but soon was known as a brutal Indian killer

Jefferson Davis

American politician who served as the president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. He represented Mississippi in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic Party before the American Civil War Became hero after mexican-american war gaining him popularity The president (franklin pierce) made him secretary of war in 1853

Alexis De Toqueville

French Political scientist who lived from 1805-1859
Visited America in in 1831 in order to study the Penal system
“Democracy in America” (1835) was a reflection of americas equality and individualism of the time.
Criticized and warned that with this level of freedom, could come consequences that would result in the compromisation of individual rights from the state.
Late 1830s-late 1840s, he began engaging in politics in France, became Louis Napoleon's Foriegn minister for a short time

John Dickinson

He was a founding father of the United States
Politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
He represented Pennsylvania in the stamp act congress and he also drafted its declaration of rights and grievances
He opposed the signing of the declaration of independence, and the separation of the United States from Great Britain

Dorothea Dix

Advocate for the mentally ill, blind, deaf, etc.
Opposed the cruel treatment and neglect
Intended to pass bills to establish hospitals and share work with politicians → ideas were brought down
Established the first mental hospitals in North Carolina, New Jersey, and Illinois → aided many more (32)
Leader of nurses for the Union Army, advanced the role of nurses in the army and medical field
Completely reformed the view on the ill, ‘moral treatment’

Stephen Douglas

a democratic member of the US Senate from 1847-1861 He always supported and wished for the expansion of America (ex. He consistently supported the annexation of texas and Mexican American War) he also created the theory of popular sovereignty in which people of each territory would decide if they wanted slavery he was recognized as a dedicated worker and gifted speaker and was given the nickname, “Little Giant” due to his size He was also influential in the passage of the Compromise of 1850( Congressional Balance between slave holding states and free slave states)

Frederick Douglass

african american slave when he was young in maryland. After escape slavery he moved to the northern colonies and became a leader in the aboitionist movement He have written 3 autobiography in which he made significant contributions in promoting abolishing slavery.

Jonathan Edwards

Well known British theologian and philosopher of American Puritanism
Greatly contributed to the revival of religion in the colonies; the Great Awakening
Oversaw some of the first revivals (1733-35) in his church in Northampton, Massachusetts
Talented spokesperson; “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” speech becomes a classic of American literature
His books influenced thousands of missionaries; The End for Which God Created the World

Ralph Waldo Emerson

a very accomplished writer that wrote many artistic pieces on philosophy, existence,and spiritual doubt After graduating from Harvard he made a group of writers and thinkers called The Transcendentalists Together the Transcendentalists wrote pieces like Nature, “The American Scholar”, and “Self Reliance” The Transcendentalists believed that each person must be able to come to their own conclusions about God and the world, Abolitionist and was known as the sage of concord. Additional fact #6: Ralph was nicknamed “The Father of American Literature” and is known for his boldness in fundamentally changing the way literature was read and written in America

Benjamin Franklin

Negotiated the treaty of Paris
Ending the Revolutionary war
Organized first American library
He was an apprentice to a printing shop at 12
At 42 he was the one of the richest men in Pennsylvania
Had honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, and University of Oxford
He was appointed as the first postmaster general
Helped drafted the declaration of independence and the Constitution

Charles Grandison Finney

Lawyer, theologian and college president, was also the most famous revivalist of the Second Great Awakening. He has been called the "Father of Old Revivalism." He rejected much of traditional Reformed theology, teaching that people have complete free will to choose salvation.

John Fremont

Was best known for his explorations into the Western Frontier
Helped California gain independence from mexico
Was a well known Republican being a two-time presidential candidate, California Senator, and governor of the Arizona territory
Made millions during the California Gold Rush
Lost all his fortune through bad investments in the railroad industry

Albert Gallatin

Secretary of Treasure for President Thomas Jefferson
Government debt was economically threatening and politically corrupt
Authority that only rests upon citizens and not implement forceful and oppressive action
Debt was beneficial for the financially elite but negatively affected the people
Opposed Federalists ↗
Financial transparency in government
Government finances in order during the War of 1812
Repaid half of the national debt and continued to balance budgets
Believed in individual liberties and freedoms
Supported bills that abolished paper money and agreed upon establishing banks to assist businesses
Believed in freedom and speech and press, opposed Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798

Robert Fulton

creation of the steamboat, also known as the North River Steamboat He was an American engineer, inventor, and artist Robert Fulton, ended up living in London for a short amount of time as an artist Unfortunately his art wasn’t “tasteful” enough and it was no succes Fulton was also known for his canal engineering Publishing Treatise on the Improvement of Canal Navigation in 1796 His canal ideas were rejected everywhere

William Lloyd Garrison

Published a newspaper called “The Liberator” which helped lead the abolition campaign to rid the US of slavery
Founded the New England Anti-Slavery Society in 1832
A bounty of 4,000 dollars was put onto his head for speaking his anti-slavery views to the world

Ulysses S Grant

most known for his success on the northern side of the war during the American Civil war. Grant then went on to use his fame as a General to later become the 18th president of the United States. was an abolitionist and tried to do his best as president to destroy the vestiges of slavery. As President, he often allowed congress to make calls that he should have made himself. Upon retiring, he became a partner at a financial firm that went bankrupt several years later

Horace Greeley

American Newspaper Publisher
Opposed slavery
Founder of the New York Tribune - America's most popular newspaper in the mid 19th century.
Used his platform to comment on american society and politics
Supported a wide range of social causes - women's rights and land reform
Known best for strong support to Union war effort and his fierce opposition to slavery

George Grenville

Prominent Whig politician who became British Prime Minister following the 7 Years’ War
Supervised the Sugar Act of 1764, raising sugar and non-British import taxes
Supervised the Currency Act of 1764, banning paper currency and making more taxes
Oversaw the Quartering Act of 1765, forcing colonists to house soldiers
Oversaw the Stamp Act of 1765, establishing an internal tax for the colonies on newspapers, legal documents, and more

Angelina & Sarah Grimke

were among the first women to publicly speak against slavery and womens rights Sarah was the author of the first developed public argument for women's equality Angelina Grimke joined the interracial Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society she wrote“Appeal to the Christian Women of the South,” which urge southern women to read, pray, speak, and act on the issue of slavery Both women were very significant by defying the gender norms to promote racial and gender equality

Nathan Hale

Graduated from Yale in 1773
Became a teacher
Joined a Connecticut regiment in 1775
Participated in the Boston siege and was commissioned a captain
Volunteered to gather information behind enemy lines (spy)
Disguised as a Dutch schoolmaster
Captured on September 21st, 1776
“I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country”
No historical record to prove it was said
Hanged, the morning of September 22nd, 1776
Only 21 years old

Alexander Hamilton

Completes his education and is licensed to argue cases before the Supreme Court of New York
Joins the Hearts of Oak and leads the charge on the Battery in 1775
Drafts the Federalist Papers with John Jay and James Madison in 1778
Becomes the Secretary of the Treasury under Washington in 1789
Becomes the Father of America’s Bank
Pushes the controversial Whiskey Tax
Publishes the Reynolds Pamphlet detailing his scandalous relationship with Maria Reynolds in 1797
Shot and killed in a duel with Aaron Burr after backing Thomas Jefferson in 1805

John Hancock

an American Founding Father, forging the path for American independence. Acted as president of the second Continental congress, where they drafted the the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Acted as the governor of Commonwealth Massachusetts, leading the colony. Fought for Independence from the British, by signing the Declaration of Independence. Escaped the British with John Adams, during the night of Paul Revere's Midnight ride.

Hinton Helper

The only prominent Southern man to oppose slavery before the American Civil War (1861-1865)
Published The Impending Crisis of the South: How to Meet it, which attacked slavery since it made non-slave owning whites seem like the victim and held the South back
Abraham Lincoln’s consul in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1861
He did not care for the rights of black slaves, but for the problems with “free white labor,” and published Nojoque, A Question for a Continent in 1867 where he demeaned and attacked black people with his text
In 1868 he published Negroes in Negroland which further degraded black people

Patrick Henry

Sam Houston

Led the army that defeated Mexican General Santa Ana at San Jacinto.
Gained enduring fame as leader of the texas revolution.
He was the first president of the lone star republic
( 2 terms)
Only governor of a southern state to oppose secession
Houston took an active role in native american affairs (negotiated peace between various tribes)

Julia Ward Howe

Author, poet, abolitionist, and suffragist
During the Civil War Howe worked for the US Sanitary Commissions which promoted clean and healthy conditions for soldiers
In 1862 she published a poem entitled “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” which is considered the Union’s Civil War anthem
Many of Howe’s ideas/progressive ideals were considered to be ahead of her time for the 1800’s
Howe also championed the vote for women establishing the NE Suffrage Association and the MA Woman suffrage Association

Anne Hutchinson

Early American Feminist
Challenged the Massachusetts Puritans and the authority of the clergy
Antinomianism
Living a holy life was not a true sign of salvation and in order to be truly saved, don't obey the laws of God or man.
Behavior/sin did not affect whether someone went to heaven
Men felt that her actions questioned their authority
Put on trial by General Court and convicted to banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Washington Irving

Famous Biographer, essayist, historian and short-story writer:
-wrote and released “The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent” in liverpool, 1819-1820 -> contained most famously “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle = first American short-stories
- popular writer in England and America and influenced their society and traditions
-first American writer to make a living off of writing
- wrote an extensive biography of George Washington in 1850s making him more relatable to the public

Andrew Jackson

the 7th president of the US
He served as a general at the war of 1812
He gained his support after winning after the battle of new orleans
Presidency
he signed the Indian Removal Act which forcefully remove the southern indian tribes from their homes (the trail of tears)
Oppose abolition movement
Survive the first ever asasination towards a sitting president
During the tariff of 1828 south carolina threatened to secede. The crisis was defused by amending the tariff and after Jackson threatened to attack south carolina

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson

One of the Confederate army’s most successful generals, serving under Robert E. Lee
Was respected for his drive and commitment to everything he did
Served his first military duties in the Mexican War
Taught natural history and philosophy (physics) and artillery at virginia military institute
July 1861 he stood on Henry House Hill during the battle of Bull Run and earned his nickname by standing his ground and winning the battle for the confederates
Defeated 3 armies in the Shenandoah Valley which outnumbered his troops 3/1, earning the nickname “Jackson’s Foot Cavalry”