George Washington's letters to the Continental Congress give us a glimpse into his thoughts and ideas during the American Revolution. Features a sample of one of these correspondences, along with a portrait of Washington, and a historic...

Overview and biographical facts on the life of John Adams, a Founding Father of the United States who was a representative to the Continental Congress and later became the second US President.

Charles Carroll is primarily remembered today for his political leadership in Maryland during the Revolutionary era. A wealthy planter, Carroll became a major figure in the patriot movement in 1773 when he penned the First Citizen...

General Thomas Gage, an amiable English gentleman with an American-born wife, commanded the garrison at Boston, where political activity had almost wholly replaced trade. Gage's main duty in the colonies had been to enforce the Coercive...

An unconventional, myth-busting history of the American Revolution from the Declaration of Independence to victory and the Treaty of Paris, 1783.

This is a guide to the evolution of the United States flag. It contains a timeline from 1777 when the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act to the Executive Order of President Eisenhower in 1959.

This site provides an interactive biography of former President John Adams, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Overview of the men primarily responsible for writing and revising the Declaration of Independence. Includes links to the signers of the document, an image of the Declaration, and information on the drafting of the document.

Dickinson has correctly been called the "Penman of the Revolution" by later historians. But his activities extended fortwo decades into the life of the new republic, years in which Dickinson's contributions were many. Dickinson's career...

This web page examines Benjamin Franklin, the Boston Tea Party, First Continental Congress, and the Second Continental Congress in 1775, where Canadians were invited to attend. Learn more about the flow of revolution and loyalty on each...

This site provides a detailed biography of Richard Henry Lee, including his role in the Virginia House of Burgesses, second Continental Congress, and American independence.

This is a discussion of the economic reasons for the 1783 Newburgh Conspiracy, a plot by some of the officers in the Continental Army. The site summarizes the events of the conspiracy.

Baldwin was born at Guilford, Conn., in 1754, the second son of a blacksmith who fathered 12 children by 2 wives. Besides Abraham, several of the family attained distinction. His sister Ruth married the poet and diplomat Joel Barlow, and...

A brief biography of Oliver Ellsworth, the delegate from Connecticut to the Constitutional Convention. He also served as a senator and as a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

A biographical entry for John Hancock. Although he seems to be known only for his "flamboyant signature," his dedication to the American Revolution was extremely important.

Overview and biographical facts on the life of John Hancock, patriot and leader of the Sons of Liberty. The signature of John Hancock was the first to be added to the Declaration of Independence.

Overview and biographical facts on the life of Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father of the United States who drafted the Declaration of Independence and later became the third US President.

Brief summary from the Library of Congress of Thomas Jefferson's involvement in the Declaration of Independence.

The Library of Congress provides a brief biography of Richard Henry Lee. Select "Return to Essay" to explore his role within the context of America's fight towards independence.

This site from Fordham University provides the first Declaration in modern times which Jefferson read and used as a model for writing the Declaration of Independence - the Dutch Revolution encouraged the Continental Congress to act. Read...

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. This resource from American Memory has lots of primary source material about the day and the flag. Read in the journals of the Continental Congress which designates the design of our first national...

He was a father figure to America's Founders. A renowned theologian from Scotland, John Witherspoon educated many young men who became prominent leaders of the Founding generation. He went on to embrace the revolutionary cause. He signed...

George Washington wrote of the period between the Treaty of Paris and the writing of the Constitution that the states were united only by a "rope of sand."Disputes between Maryland and Virginia over navigation on the Potomac River led to...

As part of a larger site about the extraordinary Benjamin Franklin, this section focuses on his being one of founding fathers of the new United States of America. Read about the three major documents he signed as a delegate and diplomat.