BIOGRAPHIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ADAMS John Paul Jones Some of the most prominent voices of the Revolution belong to widely recog nized names including Benjamin Franklin John Adams Thomas Jefferson and George Washington better known perhaps as some of the nation's Founding Fathers All were active in the Continental Congress which made important decisions regarding the colonies dealings with Britain and the direction of the country they hoped to form Most of them also signed the Declaration of Independence and participated in the creation of the U S Constitution From Franklin s orations and publications discuss ing the importance of colonists rights to Washington's role as commander in chief of the colonial army each wholly dedicated himself to the independence movement When protests and attempts at diplo macy failed to win the colonies what they needed the colonists turned to their mili tary to confront British forces head on Washington who secured numerous American victories including the decisive victory at Yorktown and such generals as Horatio Gates and Nathanael Greene who helped the colonies win pivotal battles at 10
INTRODUCTION Saratoga and in the South respectively were critical in turning the tide of war in the colonies favor The military success of the colonies also depended on the efforts of militias and leaders such as the swamp fox Francis Marion whose skill in navigat ing the forests and swampy terrain around Charleston S C led to the defeat of British troops in the area Colonists were not the only ones for whom independence was a rallying call The cry for freedom echoed far and wide draw ing in some seemingly unexpected allies such as Thaddeus Kosciusko and Casimir Pulaski both of whom fought for freedom in their native Poland before coming to the aid of colonial forces The French fighters Lafayette and Rochambeau also responded to the cry by serving with Washington during the war Not to be forgotten are the many indi viduals who risked their lives away from the front lines Crispus Attucks presumed to be an escaped slave was challenging the British presence in the colonies when he was shot and killed in the Boston Massacre Women though denied permission to fight found other ways to assist in the Revolution Lydia 11
BIOGRAPHIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ADAMS John Paul Jones Barrington Darragh and Sybil Ludington for example were each able to warn colo nial forces of impending British attacks thus averting possible disaster The struggle for independence was fought on many fronts some agitators took up their pens others took up arms and still oth ers simply did whatever was necessary to aid the cause No matter how they chose to show their support however the individuals you will encounter in this volume and the many other heroes who devoted themselves to the Revolutionſ shared a commitment to their land and represent some of the country's most impassioned patriots for whom sacri fice came second only to justice and freedom 12
