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President Washington

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On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first president. The path to the presidency, and the task of leading a new nation, was uncharted territory for which there was no precedent.

1. As the first, Washington had to create the American presidency from scratch

George Washington, as the first president, was well aware of the great responsibility of defining the American presidency. "I walk on untrodden ground," was a frequent comment he made in the days leading up to his first inauguration.

Washington believed that the precedents he set must make the presidency powerful enough to function effectively in the national government, but at the same time these practices could not show any tendency toward monarchy or dictatorship.

In addition to defining the actual powers of the office, Washington also needed to show the new nation how the leader of a democracy should behave socially. There was no precedent for this office in a world full of kings, leaving Washington the monumental task of figuring out how to act like a president.
5 challenges as first president
2. Washington's presidential campaign cost zero dollars-- because he did absolutely no public campaigning

Presidential candidates of the 21st century spend millions of dollars winning the endorsements of their parties and mounting nationwide campaigns. But Washington himself did absolutely no public campaigning, and even cast doubt on whether he would take the job if elected. The retired general said that he had "no wish which aspires beyond the humble and happy lot of living and dying a private citizen" at his Mount Vernon farm.
Washington's imperfect election
3. Washington did not really want to be president

After winning the Revolutionary War and helping set up the new government for his country at the Constitutional Convention, George Washington's thoughts turned away from battlefields and assembly halls to a much more modest arena-- his home at his Mount Vernon estate -- and the opportunity of "living and dying a private citizen on my own farm."

Yet, his dreams of a tranquil retirement were at odds with his peers and the American people at large. Even before the Constitution was ratified, rumors spread declaring George Washington would likely elected first President of the United States (much to the dismay of Washington himself).

George Washington's Reasons for Wanting to Decline the Presidency

1. Old age

2. Washington's "encreasing fondness for agricultural amusements"

3. "My growing love of retirement"

4. Belief that the Anti-Federalists may oppose his selection

5. After having already retired in 1783, Washington feared he would be looked upon as inconsistent, rash, and ambitious if he returned to office

6. Belief that "some other person...could execute all the duties full as satisfactorily as myself."

On the other hand, Washington could not escape his conscience. In a formal letter of acceptance, Washington succinctly assented to what he had agonized over for more than a year:

Having concluded to obey the important and flattering call of my Country ....

Washington's Unretirement
4. Washington is the only president to have been unanimously elected by the Electoral College

In both the election of 1789 and 1792 Washington received all votes from the Electoral College. During the first election, Washington won the electors of all ten eligible states. Three states, however, did not contribute to the vote total. Both North Carolina and Rhode Island were ineligible; neither had ratified the Constitution yet. In addition, New York was unable to participate in the election, as the legislature had not passed a bill in time to appoint its eight electors. In 1792, Washington received all 132 electoral votes, winning each of the fifteen states.

5. Washington was the only president inaugurated in two cities

However, neither of those cities was Washington, D.C., as the seat of government did not move there until 1800. Washington's first inauguration occurred in New York City on the portico of Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan on April 30, 1789. The second inauguration was in Philadelphia, held in the Senate Chamber of Congress Hall on March 4, 1793.

View the Primary Source:
Washington's First Inaugural Address | Second Inaugural Address

6. First Lady Martha Washington had her own separate inaugural celebration which lasted 11 days (3 more than her husband's)

One month after President Washington left Mount Vernon, Martha Washington set out on her own triumphant trip to the seat of the new government in New York. On May 16 1789, Mrs. Washington and her grandchildren, Nelly and Washy, embarked on an 11-day journey through Baltimore, Philadelphia, and more.

Her entourage attracted considerable attention and was greeted by crowded streets filled with admirers, ringing church bells, fireworks, and gun salutes.

7. The streets were so filled with people at Washington's inauguration in New York that the newly elected president had to walk home

President Washington's inauguration was celebrated with illuminations and fireworks. Citizens of the new nation showed up in droves. One exhilarated eyewitness recalled that " ... my sensibility was wound to such a pitch that I could do no more than wave my hat with the rest, without the power of joining in the requested acclamations which rent the air!" Another described the streets as "so dense that it seemed as if one might literally walk on the heads of people".
Inauguration in New York
8. The first artist to do a life portrait of President Washington was a former loyalist

Although John Ramage (circa 1748-1802) is well-known among art historians and collectors of portrait miniatures, his name is not immediately associated with Washington portraiture. Yet, Ramage painted George Washington from the life and was the first artist to whom he sat as President of the United States.

Ramage was in Boston, Massachusetts when the Revolutionary War broke out. There he enlisted in a unit formed by Irish Loyalists to fight the American colonials and General Washington's Continental Army. After the war, he became firmly established in New York's small artistic community.

Considered the best artist in the city, he was the obvious choice for Washington's first presidential portrait. The sitting took place on October 3, 1789, probably in the president's official residence on Cherry Street in New York.
Ramage's miniature portraits
9. The initial draft of the first inaugural address was over seventy pages long

James Madison later called the rambling first draft a "strange production". The first draft of over seventy pages had been prepared by Washington's aide David Humphreys and included extensive recommendations to Congress on such topics as internal improvements, military affairs, international treaties, and the expansion of national borders. After a private meeting at Mount Vernon, Madison prepared a drastically more concise address which left more open to Congress's discretion.
Read the first inaugural address
10. Washington's Acts of Congress, a rare volume which includes the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and a record of acts passed by the first Congress, returned to the Mount Vernon collection in 2012

George Washington's copy of the Acts passed at a Congress of the United States of America (New-York, 1789) contains key founding documents establishing the Union: the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and a record of acts passed by the first Congress.

The most significant features of this book are Washington's personal notes, penciled in the margins. All of his notes in this volume appear alongside the text of the Constitution, where he drew neat brackets to highlight passages of particular interest.

Washington brought the book home to Mount Vernon after retiring from the presidency in March 1797. Since leaving the hands of the Washington family in 1876, it has been treasured and preserved by several noted private collectors. The book now resides within The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington.
the acts of congress

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On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first president. The path to the presidency, and the task of leading a new nation, was uncharted territory for which there was no precedent. George Washington, as the first president, was well aware of the great responsibility of defining the American presidency.

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Constitution

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Constitution of the United States

Created

September 17, 1787

Presented

September 28, 1787

Date effective

March 4, 1789

Branches

3

Chambers

Bicameral

Executive

President

Entrenchments

2, 1 still active

First executive

April 30, 1789

First court

February 2, 1790

Last amended

May 5, 1992

Signatories

39 of the 55 delegates

Media type

Parchment

The United States Constitution is the highest law of the United States of America. It was signed on September 17, 1787 by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Later, it was put into effect, or ratified, by representatives of the people of the first 13 states. When nine of the states ratified the document, they created a union of sovereign states, and a federal government for that union. That government started on March 4, 1789, which took the place of the Articles of Confederation.

The Constitution of the United States is the oldest federal constitution now in use.

Since 1787, changes have been made to the United States Constitution 27 times by amendments (changes). The first ten of these amendments are together called the Bill of Rights.

Articles of the Constitution

When it was signed in 1787, the Constitution had a preamble and seven main parts, called articles.

The Preamble states:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Preamble is not a law. It gives the reasons for writing the Constitution. The Preamble is one of the best-known parts of the Constitution. The first three words, "We the people," are used very often. The six intentions that are listed are the goals of the Constitution.

Legislative power

Article One says that the United States Congress (the legislative branch) will make the laws for the United States. Congress has two parts, called "Houses": the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. This Article says who can be elected to each part of Congress, and how they are elected.

The House of Representatives has members elected by the people in each state. The number of members from each state depends on how many people live there. Each member of the House of Representatives is elected for two years.

The Senate has two members, called Senators, from each state, no matter how many people live there. Each Senator is elected for six years. The original Constitution allowed the state legislatures to choose the Senators, but this was changed later by the Seventeenth Amendment.

Article One also says how the Congress will do its business and what kinds of laws it can make. It lists some kinds of laws the Congress and the states cannot make.

Article One also makes rules for Congress to impeach and remove from office the President, Vice President, judges, and other government officers.

Executive power

Article Two says that the President, Vice President, and executive offices (the executive branch) will carry out the laws made by Congress. This article says how the President and Vice President are elected, and who can be elected to these offices. The President and Vice President are elected for four years by a special Electoral College chosen by the states. The Vice President takes over as President if the President dies, resigns, or is unable to serve.

Article Two also says that the President is the Commander-in-Chief in charge of the United States military. He can make treaties with other countries, but these must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate. He appoints judges, ambassadors, and other officers, but the Senate also must approve these appointments. The President can also veto bills. However, Congress can override the veto and make the bill into a law anyway.

Judicial power

Article Three says there will be a court system (the judicial branch), which includes the Supreme Court. The Article says that Congress can decide which federal courts, besides the Supreme Court, are needed.

Article Three says what kinds of "cases and controversies" these courts can decide. It also requires trial by jury in all criminal cases, and defines the crime of treason.

States' powers and limits

Article Four is about the states. It says that all states must give "full faith and credit" to the laws of the other states. It also says that state governments must treat citizens of other states as fairly as they treat their own citizens, and must send arrested people back if they have been charged with a crime in another state and fled.

Article Four also says that Congress can make new states. There were only 13 states in 1787. Now there are 50 United States. It says Congress can make rules for Federal property and can govern territories that have not yet been made into states. Article Four says the United States must make sure that each state has a republican form of government, and protect the states from invasion and violence.

Process of amendment

Article Five gives two ways to amend, or change, the Constitution.

1. Congress can write a change, if two-thirds of the members in each House agree.

2. The state governments can call a convention to write changes, although this has not happened since 1787.

Any change that is written by Congress or by a convention must be sent to the state legislatures or to state conventions for their approval. Congress decides whether to send a change to the legislatures or to conventions. Three-fourths of the states must approve a change for it to become part of the Constitution.

An amendment can change any part of the Constitution, except one-no amendment can change the rule that each state has an equal number of Senators in the United States Senate.

Federal power

Article Six says that the Constitution, and the laws and treaties of the United States, are higher than any other laws. It also says that all federal and state officers must swear to "support" the Constitution.

Ratification

Article Seven says that the new government under the Constitution would not start until conventions in at least nine states approved the Constitution.

Amendments

Since 1787, Congress has written 33 amendments to change the Constitution, but the states have ratified only 27 of them.

The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. They were argued over during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, but it wasn't until 1791 that they were ratified by two-thirds of the states. These ten additions or changes all limited the power of the federal government. They are:

1791

Congress must protect the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition. Congress cannot create a national religion.

1791

"A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." - People have the right to keep and carry weapons, such as guns.

1791

The government cannot get a warrant to arrest a person or search their property unless there is "probable cause" to believe a crime has been committed.

1791

The government cannot put a person on trial for a serious crime until a grand jury has written an indictment. If a person is found not guilty in a trial, they cannot be put on trial again for the same crime. The government must follow due process of law before punishing a person or taking their property. A person on trial for a crime does not have to testify against himself in court.

1791

Any person who is accused of a crime should get a speedy trial by a jury. That person can have a lawyer during the trial. They must be told what they are charged with. The person can question the witnesses against them, and can get their own witnesses to testify.

After the Bill of Rights, there are 17 more changes to the Constitution that were made at different times.

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Constitution of the United States Facts for Kids

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Constitution of the United States Created September 17, 1787 Presented September 28, 1787 Date effective March 4, 1789 Branches 3 Chambers Bicameral Executive President Entrenchments 2, 1 still active First executive April 30, 1789 First court February 2, 1790 Last amended May 5, 1992 Signatories 39 of the 55 delegates Media type Parchment The United States Constitution is the highest law of the United States of America.

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Constitution

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Kids learn about the Constitution of the United States government. The framework and supreme law of the land.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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American Revolution

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Mr. Nussbaum History Revolutionary War - Causes Activities

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American Revolution

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The American Revolutionary War for Kids - Causes, Battles, Daily Life, Games, Interactives, Timeline, Maps, Famous People, Spies and more - American Revolution for Kids

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For Kids: The American Revolution was not fought over paying taxes. It was fought over who had the authority to impose taxes - Britain or colonial governments. To colonial leaders, taxation without representation was a major cause of the Revolutionary War. Other ca…

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American Revolution

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Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version Download sample

The American Revolution was a political battle that took place between 1775 and 1783 during which colonists in the Thirteen American Colonies rejected the British monarchy and aristocracy, overthrew the authority of Great Britain, and founded the United States of America.
See the fact file & timeline of key events below for more information on the American Revolution. Alternatively, you can download our 41-page American Revolution worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Historical Background

The British government attempted to pass laws, enforce several taxes, and increase its control over the colonies. The colonies strongly objected to these laws and taxes. They wanted England to have no control over them.

For ten years before the war started, tension grew between England and the colonies.

Causes & Events of the American Revolution

When the British government became involved, members of the colonies worried that they would lose their freedom and be persecuted.

Members of the colonies didn't agree with paying taxes to Britain. This lead to their motto 'No Taxation Without Representation.'

The colonies didn't like the laws imposed on them by Britain, including the Sugar Act, the Tea Act, and the Stamp Act.

Members of the colonies were constantly being punished by the British for rioting, which made them even angrier.

The Boston Port Act forced the colonies to pay for the tea they had destroyed, in what came to be called the Boston Tea Party, before the port would be reopened, which angered the locals and scaring others.

The Tea Act of 1773 was imposed on the American colonies by the British government. The Act intended to subsidize the struggling East India Company, which was very important for the British economy, and the Tea Act would raise money from the 13 colonies for it.

The people of the colonies did not agree with the unfair taxes they had to pay and, as a result, destroyed over £90,000 worth of tea in the Boston Tea Party of 16 December 1773. The American protesters boarded three trade ships in the Boston Harbor and threw 342 wooden chests of tea into the water. In today's money, that tea would have been worth roughly a million dollars.

The Stamp Act was another tax imposed on the American colonies by the British in 1775. The tax covered printed materials, specifically newspapers, magazines, and any legal documents.

It was named The Stamp Act because, when these materials were purchased, they were given an official stamp (pictured above) to show that the buyer had paid the new tax.

The Boston Massacre started because the local people were taunting British soldiers - shouting and threatening them - because they did not agree with the British Army having a place in their city.

During the Boston Massacre, British soldiers stationed in Boston killed five men and injured six others. Two of the injured men later died because of their wounds.

The five men who died were Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Samuel Maverick, and Patrick Carr. Crispus Attucks is thought to be the first American casualty of the American Revolution.

All eight soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre were arrested. Six of them were released, and two were charged with manslaughter. Their punishment was 'branding of the thumb'.

The British called the massacre the 'Incident on King Street'.

The American Revolution, also known as the Revolutionary War, officially began in 1775.

British soldiers and American patriots started the war with battles at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts.

Colonists in America wanted independence from England.

The colonies had no central government at the beginning of the war, so delegates from all of the colonies were sent to form the first Continental Congress.

George Washington, a former military officer and wealthy Virginian, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.

Members of the Continental Congress wrote a letter to King George of England outlining their complaints and declaring their independence from England.

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, in which the colonies declared their independence from England.

On October 17, 1777, the Battles of Saratoga brought a huge victory for the Americans after the defeat and surrender of General John Burgoyne.

The winter of 1777 to 1778 became a huge challenge for General Washington as they spent winter training at Valley Forge.

By February 16, 1778, France honored the Treaty of Alliance with America and recognized them as an independent country from Britain.

The official government of the United States was defined through the Articles of Confederation on March 2, 1781.

The last major battle of the American Revolutionary War took place at the Battle of Yorktown. General Cornwallis surrendered, marking the unofficial end of the war.

The war ended in 1783, and the United States of America was born. By April 9, 1784, King George III ratified the treaty.

Timeline of the American Revolutionary War

June 29, 1767 - The British parliament passed the Townshend Acts [named after Charles Townshend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer], which imposed taxes on common products imported to the Colonies like paper, tea, and glass. The Colonial assemblies reiterated by condemning taxation without representation.

October 1, 1768 - British troops were sent to Boston to quell rising political unrest in the colonies. The civilians treated the newly arrived Redcoats as invaders by taunting them. Boston citizens, having gained control of the city, prevented the soldiers from carrying out their duties. This led to rising tension between the two sides.

March 5, 1770 - Boston Massacre - British soldiers opened fire on a mob of colonists at the Customs House on what was formerly King Street [now, State Street]. Their action resulted in the deaths of 5 individuals - 3 who died on the spot and the other two later on.

April 12, 1770 - The Townshend Acts were repealed.

June 10, 1772 - Rhode Island locals ran the revenue schooner Gaspee aground and burned it in defiance to unfair trade legislation.

May 10, 1773 - To support the failing East India Company, the British parliament exempted the company's tea from import taxations and allowed east India to sell its product to the colonies directly. This angered the colonists seeing the move as a tax indirectly funding one British company.

July 1773 - The Hutchinson Letters Affair - These letters, written by Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson, were published in a Boston newspaper. Through these, many colonists were convinced that the British were planning to squelch their freedoms.

December 16, 1773 - Boston Tea Party - An act of vengeance for the Tea Acts, colonists - American patriots - dressed as Mohawk Indians dumped some 300 chests of tea of the East India Company into the sea at Boston Harbor.

May-June 1774 - The Parliament's answer to the Boston Tea Party was the passing of four laws known as the Intolerable Acts, harsh laws that stripped Massachusetts off of its power to govern itself and of judicial independence. The colonists, in turn, boycotted from buying British goods.

September 1774 - The Continental Congress was formed in direct opposition to the Intolerable Acts.

April 19, 1775 - Battles of Lexington and Concord - the first skirmish of the American Revolution between the British soldiers and the Minutemen. The latter had been warned by the upcoming attack by the American Patriot Paul Revere.

June 16, 1775 - George Washington was appointed the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army by the Continental Congress.

June 15, 1775 - The Battle of Bunker Hill occurred, the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War. While the use of Bunker Hill as the location of the battle is common, the majority of the fight happened on Breed's Hill. At this time, after the colonists learned the British were planning to send troops to occupy the hills surrounding Boston, some 1,000 Continental Army soldiers under the command of Colonel William Prescott built earthen fortifications on Breed's Hill and waited for the enemy forces.
The British won the battle, obviously, as they had more ammunition and experience when it came to fighting. But their victory came with a staggering 1,054 casualties compared to the Patriots' 367. The fight was a morale booster for the Americans as they realized they had a chance at winning against the British. The British, in turn, also realized that war in the colonies wasn't easy and that it would be costly.

July 5, 1775 - The Continental Congress extended the Olive-Brach Petition, a proposal requesting the British Crown to recognize American rights and end the Intolerable Acts. In return, there would be a cease-fire. But British King George III rejected it.

August 23, 1775 - George III declared the 13 British colonies to be in open rebellion.

Winter 1775-1776 - The Invasion of Quebec [Canada] - This was the first major military move made by the Continental Army during the American Revolution and was headed by Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold.

January 9, 1776 - The pamphlet Common Sense was anonymously published in Philadelphia. The 48-page booklet was written by Thomas Paine and encouraged the citizens of the 13 British colonies to gain independence from the British Crown.

May 2, 1776 - France started to give secret aids to the Continental Army.

July 4, 1776 - greatly celebrated in recent times like the Fourth of July, on this day, the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.

August-December 1776 - Battles of Long Island and White Plains
Battle of Long Island - also known as the Battle of Brooklyn and the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, this fight was the first major one of the American Revolution fought after the Continental Congress declared America's independence. It was also the revolution's biggest battle in terms of fighting and troop deployment. The battle was won by the British.

October 26, 1776 - Battle of White Plains - fought on October 26, 1776, the battle resulted in the British winning with Washington's troops retreating farther north.

December 26, 1776 - fought between the Americans and the Hessians, the Battle of Trenton was a small but vital battle for the Americans. After a series of defeats, the Continental Army was at its lowest point until George Washington and his army defeated the Hessian soldiers at Trenton. The win boosted American morale and army re-enlistments.

January 2-3, 1777 - in the Battle of Princeton, New Jersey, General Washington attacked the British rearguard and train situated near Princeton after left Trenton to avoid the advances of the enemy. The Americans won this round.

September 19-October 7, 1777 - Battles of Saratoga - These series of battles were part of the British-initiated Saratoga Campaign wherein they attempted to capture the strategic Hudson River valley. The fight consisted of two small battles fought on the same ground - 14 kilometers south of Saratoga, New York. The Americans won the battles. The Saratoga battles marked a number of things - 1) It was the climax of the Saratoga Campaign, 2) The resulting victories were very decisive for the Continental Army, and 3) The battles' greatest outcome was British surrender.

October 13, 1777 - 5,700 British soldiers, together with German and Loyalist troops, surrendered following the British' defeat in Saratoga. It was a great turning point for the Americans in the American Revolution.

February 6, 1778 - France recognized the United States' independence.

August 16, 1780 - the Battle of Camden resulted in the defeat of Major General Horatio Gates' army against the British forces led by Lieutenant General Charles, Lord Cornwallis. It was an embarrassing defeat for Gates following his victory at Saratoga. He also had a bigger army. But his political connections greatly helped his not being questioned or court-martialed with regards to the disastrous defeat.

March 1, 1781 - The Articles of Confederation were ratified by the Second Congress. These articles served as the First Constitution of the United States.

September 5, 1781 - Battle of the Capes [also known as the Battle of the Chesapeake and the Battle of the Virginia Capes] This naval battle fought between France [Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, the Comte De Grasse] and Britain [Rear Admiral Thomas Graves] ended with the French winning strategically for the Americans as the win basically denied the British troops evacuation and reinforcements.

October 19, 1781 - This date marked the end of the Siege of Yorktown [also known as the Battle of Yorktown, Surrender at Yorktown, German Battle and the Siege of Little York] fought by the British [Lord Charles Cornwallis] against the combined forces of the Americans [General George Washington] and the French [Comte de Rochembeau]. The battle ended with Cornwallis' surrender and the start of peace negotiations between the warring parties.

March 5, 1782 - The British Parliament gave peace negotiations with the nod.

September 3, 1783 - The date of the signing of the Treaty of Peace in Paris [more commonly known as the Treaty of Paris], which formally ended the American Revolutionary War.

Key Individuals of the American Revolution

King George III - The reigning British monarch during the war.

George Washington - The commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first United States president.

Benjamin Franklin - more than an inventor, Benjamin Franklin was a writer, a statesman, and a diplomat, one of the five-man committee who drafted the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson - The 3 rd president of the United States, Jefferson, is credited for mainly drafting the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Paine - The English author wrote Common Sense, the 48-page pamphlet which encouraged the colonists to gain their independence. He also served as the personal assistant of General Nathanael Greene.

John Hancock - The president of the Second Continental Congress [1775-1777] and the main signer of the Declaration of Independence. He became the first governor of the Massachusetts Commonwealth.

Patrick Henry - An American patriot and lawyer who stirred fellow Virginians to enlist in the Continental Army with his passionate "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech.

John Adams - The first vice-president and second president of the United States, John Adams, was one of the five-man committee tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence.

his Prussian Major-General was appointed the temporary Inspector General of the Continental Army in 1778 and disheartened at the condition of the American troops. He went on to create a standard method of drills for the whole army. His military blue book "Regulation for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States" was used by the United States Army until 1814.

Thomas Sumter - Brigadier General Sumter was a prominent figure in the South Carolina militia. He earned the nickname Carolina Gamecock after defeating British officer Banastre Tarleton, and the latter complained about him fighting "like a gamecock." British General Lord Cornwallis also called Sumter "one of my great plagues."

Paul Revere - Made famous by his midnight ride, Paul Revere became famous for alerting the Colonial militia of the incoming British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord.

Casimir Pulaski - This Polish nobleman, soldier, and commander is dubbed the "father of American cavalry" after the reforms he made on the American Cavalry during the revolution. After joining the American Revolutionary War, he became known for saving General Washington's life. He is also one of the seven people to be awarded honorary United States citizenship.

Gilbert du Motier, "Marquis de Lafayette" - Lafayette offered his military service to the Continental Army during the American Revolution at the young age of 19 as he believed the American's fight for independence was a noble cause. He developed a close relationship with George Washington, played an important role in campaigning for support for the army from the French, and eventually, conducting an exceptional military campaign in Virginia that resulted in Cornwallis' surrender.

Benedict Arnold - More known for his treasonous acts against the Americans, Arnold started as one of the early heroes. He later became one of the most infamous traitors in U.S. history after he switched sides and fought for the British.

American Revolution Worksheets

This is one of our best ever bundles and includes everything you need to know about the American revolution across 41 wonderful pages. These are ready-to-use American Revolution worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the many events, places, and people that make up the infamous American Revolution. These worksheets are cross-curricular and can be used in Social Studies as well in English Language Arts.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

American Revolution Facts

Crossing the Delaware

Fill in the Blanks

Patriots vs Loyalists I

Patriots vs Loyalists II

The Liberty Bell

War Heroes

The Boston Massacre

What is 'Branding of the Thumb'?

The Tea Act Word Search

Artwork Analysis

Revolution Acrostic

Thirteen Colonies

Sons of Liberty

Matching Battles

Stairway to Independence

Stars and Stripes

Pivotal Revolutions

Intolerable Acts

Treaty of Paris

Women at War

Design Your Own Stamp

Description Of Worksheet Activities:

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Link will appear as American Revolution Worksheets & Facts: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 27, 2020
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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American Revolution Worksheets, Facts, Timeline & Key Battles For Kids

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Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version Download sample The American Revolution was a political battle that took place between 1775 and 1783 during which colonists in the Thirteen American Colonies rejected the British monarchy and aristocracy, overthrew the authority of Great Britain, and founded the United States of America.

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American Revolution

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Learn about the American Revolution including causes, battles fought, timeline, Boston Massacre, Stamp Act, Continental Congress, important people, daily life, and fun facts.