Early America Map by Skye Lee

Martha Corey (1619-1692)

slee389 — 2021-11-30 20:16:37 UTC

In Salem, Massachusetts, 1692, mass hysteria swept over the town. People were being accused of meddling with magic. Neighbor turned on neighbor, and anyone who stepped out of line was convicted. Martha Corey was one of the people accused. She had a hard life, and stood no chance against the Salem Witch Trials. This is the story of how these events impacted and ended one woman’s life.
Learn More Here

Weetamoo (1635-1676)

slee389 — 2021-12-02 16:15:59 UTC

Weetamoo, a name not known by many, offers a new perspective into the European and Native American clash of cultures. She was born in 1635, near the mouth of the Taunton River. Her passion to fight for herself, for her family, for her tribe is and was unmatched. She was a leader of warriors, a carrier of truth, and a fighter for native protection. Learn More Here

Henry Knox (1750-1806)

slee389 — 2021-12-03 16:27:45 UTC

Have you ever heard of Henry Knox, the man who traveled 300 miles across frozen New England to help save Boston from the hands of the British? That was just one of his amazing adventures to aid the American Revolution. I am going to tell you a story about the loyal patriot named Henry Knox who helped to shape this entire country. Learn More Here.

Paul Revere (1735-1818)

archerf241 — 2021-12-03 16:35:21 UTC

Did you know Paul Revere is remembered for a lie? It's true. Paul Revere was an influential person in the outcome of the Revolution. He was a rider for the Minutemen. His job was to exchange information between long distances. Paul's most important ride was the Midnight Ride, which drastically changed the outcome of the war.Learn More Here

James Armistead Lafayette (1748-1830)

simonp242 — 2021-12-03 16:37:27 UTC

In the 1700s, you would not expect an enslaved person to turn the tide of the Revolutionary War, but James Armistead Lafayette did just that. James was a spy for Marquis de Lafayette during the Revolutionary War, and he was a crucial part of America's victory of the Battle of Yorktown.
Learn More Here

Ann Putnam (1679-1716)

jillc241 — 2021-12-03 16:42:33 UTC

Many of you may think I am the villain in this tale, however you may not know the whole story. My name is Ann Putnam, I was born on October 18, 1679 in Salem, Massachusetts. I live a hard life as the oldest of ten children and I always felt pressure to do what my parents told me to do and to set a good example for my younger siblings. My parents were Ann Senior and Thomas Putnam, and let me tell you, they were not perfect.

Learn More Here

Ann Bates (1748-1801)

salomed24 — 2021-12-03 16:44:27 UTC

A loyalist spy in the Revolutionary War. Her name was Ann Bates. Ann, like most spies, had to go through many difficulties. She was arrested, searched, and imprisoned. This paper will tell you about her advantages, disadvantages, obstacles, and triumphs.

Learn More Here

Sacagewea (1788-N/A)

kaelynb241 — 2021-12-03 19:18:22 UTC

Sacagewea, a young Native-American mother, traveled alongside Lewis and Clark on their famous Voyage of Discovery, and repeatedly saved their lives. I will be sharing the inspiring journey that she went on and how she persevered through intense weather and physical challenges along the way. Learn More Here

John Smith (1580-1631)

davidi24 — 2021-12-03 19:42:43 UTC

John Smith went from an early Jamestown citizen to the most influential man in the whole colony. He went from being a brave soldier, to the head of the council of Jamestown, to an author, publishing books that help us understand the history of early America. I will tell you about the interesting life of John Smith and how he went from just an average English citizen to an immense historical figure.

Learn More Here

Pocahontas (1596-1617)

juliag241 — 2021-12-03 19:55:36 UTC

My name is Pocahontas. I am the daughter of a chief, and a soft spoken woman. I am a Powhatan, but I have begun to shed that part of my life. I go by a new name now and I live in a different place. I used to be a joyful child, but now I stand here before you, a 22 year old mother, wife, and friend. I have come to tell you the story of my life, and how my actions changed the world.

Learn More Here

William Clark (1770-1838)

lukasr241 — 2021-12-06 19:24:12 UTC

Would you want to go on a journey into the unknown? William Clark and Lewis Meriwether went on an expedition called the Voyage of Discovery and traveled for two years into the unexplored west. I will tell you about the life of William Clark, who, while facing treacherous obstacles, impacted America forever by putting it on the map.
Learn More Here.

Harriet Jacobs (1813-1897)

haleyk241 — 2021-12-07 14:51:39 UTC

Have you ever wondered how the enslaved women of early America felt or what happened to them when they were enslaved? Harriet Jacobs answered these questions in her book, “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.” It explains her life as a slave and after she escaped.
Learn More Here

Alexander Hamilton (N/A - 1804)

kachii241 — 2021-12-07 16:04:57 UTC

Would you think a forsaken orphan, the son from a forgotten spot in the Caribbean, would turn into a hero and a scholar, as the award winning musical, Hamilton, would teach us? Hamilton is often known as the man that was shot by Aaron Burr. His career has been often defined by one tragic event in American history. However, there is a lot more to his life. Today you will learn about his role as a treasurer, founding father, and statesman.

Learn More Here

Anne Dudley Bradstreet (1612-1672)

kadijab241 — 2021-12-07 16:07:16 UTC

Anne Dudley Bradstreet holds many titles. Not only is she the first woman to have ever been published in England, she is also the first ever poet to have been published in America. This is the story of a woman who defied societal norms and paved the way for all women in writing. Anne always stayed true to her beliefs no matter how controversial. She was a woman who made history while raising eight children and being a loving wife and daughter. She is an important figure in early American history that I'm excited to tell you all about.

Learn More Here

Benjamin Rush (1734-1813)

barretth242 — 2021-12-07 16:09:03 UTC

Benjamin Rush. Who is he? Well, I'm sure you've heard of Benjamin Franklin and Rush is no Franklin. This founding father fought for the rights of Black people, women and the mentally ill. He is known as the father of modern psychology in America.

Learn more Here

Benedict Arnold (1761-1801)

jamieg241 — 2021-12-07 16:09:17 UTC

Leading up to the Revolutionary War, a boy was born. This boy was the man we now know as Benedict Arnold. He would forever change history and from his encouragement in battles he would be one of the leading players in the Revolutionary War. Benedict Arnold was born in Norwich, Connecticut on the 14th of January, 1741 to a wealthy family. He was the sixth Benedict of his family. Benedict had three sisters. However, two of them died due to yellow fever, leaving only a young girl named Hannah.
Learn More Here

John Bartram (1699-1777)

mylesc241 — 2021-12-07 16:09:17 UTC

When thinking of Early America, would you think of a botanist from Pennsylvania? No. No, you wouldn't. I didn't either, until I learned about John Bartram. Bartram was born in America to an English man and American woman. Both of his parents died when he was quite young, but that did not affect him. He started learning about botany from a young age, and it captivated him. Thus began one of the greatest botanists the world has ever seen.
Learn More Here

James Madison (1751-1836)

elainap241 — 2021-12-07 16:10:57 UTC

You probably know James Madison as the Father of the Constitution, but there are many other accomplishments you may not know about him.

Did you know he helped with the making of a new political party? Did you know that he was elected President? I bet you didn’t know that when he left college, even he didn’t know what his career would lead to.

Learn More Here

Lydia Darragh (1729-1789)

chaseg242 — 2021-12-07 16:12:33 UTC

Although Lydia Darragh was a well-known midwife and a mother of nine children, she had another side to her. She was a spy. While most spies for General George Washington were men Lydia was one of few women. Today you will learn about Lydia's life and how she helped save the Continental Army.
Learn More Here

Benjamin Banneker (1731- 1806)

anushkag241 — 2021-12-07 16:13:32 UTC

When you think of American pioneers in history, who do you think of? You might think of Amelia Earhart, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, or Nikola Tesla. Today though, I want to share with you the story of another, lesser known nonconformist, Benjamin Banneker.

Learn more here

Crispus Attucks (1723-1770)

slee389 — 2021-12-07 16:20:19 UTC

What do you think of when you hear the Boston Massacre? Perhaps the British soldiers? Or maybe the subject of my essay, Crispus Attucks? He was a leader of the crowd, and a martyr who died at the hands of the British Soldiers. Without the event in which he was killed, maybe even without his death, America possibly may not have began.

Learn More Here

Elizabeth Freeman (N/A-1829)

molliej241 — 2021-12-07 16:26:10 UTC

As time goes by, many important stories are forgotten. It is the job of us to keep these stories alive. I am here to tell you how a slave woman by the name of Mumbet earned the last name of Freeman to symbolize her hard won freedom.

Learn More Here

Sybil Ludington (1761 - 1839)

penelopeb241 — 2021-12-07 16:29:26 UTC

David Bushnell (1740-1824)

nathand244 — 2021-12-07 16:38:26 UTC

The submarine is an important ship of the navy. However many people don’t know the story of the first submarine. Today I’ll tell you the story of the Turtle, a submarine created by David Bushnell during the Revolutionary War. Bushnell was born in 1740 as the first child of five, and eventually lost his dad and two sisters in the span of three years. In 1771, when Bushnell was 31 he went to Yale, and discovered that gunpowder can explode underwater.

Learn More Here

Sally Hemings (1773-1835)

davenk241 — 2021-12-07 19:19:44 UTC

Sally Hemmings is a name not known to many, however it should be. The life of Sally Hemings should expose Thomas Jefferson for enslaving his own children. Sally was a so-called “Quadroon,” a person who, by definition, is one quarter black, and therefore according to the one drop rule is allowed to be enslaved. She was born in 1773 to an enslaved woman named Betty and came to Monticello with her family, and thus began one of the darkest secrets in American history.
Learn More Here

Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643)

larissan241 — 2021-12-08 15:55:59 UTC

No one expected a female puritan to have as much power as Anne Hutchinson did . She inspired decades of women to stand up for themselves. Today I will be telling you her inspiring story.

Learn More Here

Aaron Burr (1756-1836)

maxan241 — 2021-12-11 20:37:09 UTC

You most likely know Aaron Burr as the murderer that shot and killed Hamilton, but I would guess that you don't know much about the rest of his life. Did you know that he went to college at age 13 or that he was one of the founding fathers? There's more to Aaron Burr than the duel with Hamilton.
Learn More Here

Sybil Ludington (1761 - 1839)

penelopeb241 — 2021-12-12 16:55:51 UTC

While many people know of Paul Revere’s ride, not many know of the 16-year-old girl who rode twice as far. Sybil Ludington rode 40 miles on a rainy night to alert her father, Colonel Henry Ludington’s troops, because he was the closest to the British invasion. Without her, the British would have been able to charge into Peekskill, New York and attack General Washington’s army, which would’ve changed the course of the Revolutionary War.
Learn More Here

Margaret Brent (1601-1671)

2021-12-13 16:00:39 UTC

When many people think of suffrage, they think of the women who pushed for the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But long before, one woman pushed for her right to vote and also saved Maryland. The story of Margaret Brent, the first woman to request the right to vote, act as a lawyer and the woman who just might have saved Maryland from a rebellion is an amazing story. Brent was born in 1601 in Gloucester, England. Her mother, Elizabeth Reed Brent, was a descendant of King Edward III. Her father was Richard Brent, Lord Admington. She grew up a devout Roman Catholic with her twelve siblings. At the time in England, there was tremendous of discrimination against Roman Catholics. Seeking religious refuge, on November 22, 1638, Margaret, her sister Mary, and her brothers Giles and Fulke sailed up the Potomac River and arrived in Maryland. They were sent with a letter from Lord Baltimore, Cecil Calvert, who was the proprietor of the Colony of Maryland (in 1632, the Calverts’ founded Maryland). The letter stated that they were to be given land on the same terms as earlier Maryland settlers. The Brent’s were very connected to the Calvert family. Learn More Here

Benedict Arnold (1741-1801)

2021-12-13 16:03:14 UTC

Benedict Arnold will always be known as the traitor of the Revolutionary War. However, without him America could have lost it. Arnold most famously defeated British General John Bergoyne in Saratoga, New York, the strip of land between Lake Champlain and the Hudson River. This blocked and overall delayed the British offensive from Canada and gave the Americans important time to win the war.

Learn More Here.

James Forten(1766-1842)

emekaf241 — 2021-12-13 16:29:36 UTC

James Forten a Black man in Colonial America, was truly a rags to riches story. Forten used adversity to rise to a position of prominence and wealth in Philadelphia. No one expected James Forten to become one of the most influential men in Philadelphia; but he was. Learn More Here

Ona Judge (1773-1848)

2021-12-13 16:35:36 UTC

Although we tend to think of George Washington as a hero and father to our country, there is a whole other side to his story that we should not ignore. This includes Ona Maria Judge who was a part of the other side; slavery. Judge was one of his many slaves, and lets us remember who Washington really was.

Learn More Here.

Phillis Wheatley (1749-1784)

talb241 — 2021-12-13 16:37:34 UTC

In late 1776, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a prominent Bostonian poet met the general of the Continental Army on informal occasion for several hours to discuss any manner of casual topics. The poet, Phillis Wheatley, was a Black enslaved woman. The general, George Washington, was known for being a slave owner. It would take a work of genius for this to occur, and history shows that this genius was not on the part of Washington. At this point, Wheatley had already published nearly twenty poems, and she would go on to write a grand total of twenty-eight, a number that exceeded many white poets of the time. This is the story of Phillis Wheatley, someone who, through remarkable skill, luck and the combination thereof, defied history in order to be remembered by it. Learn More Here

Esther Reed 1746-1780

2021-12-13 16:40:40 UTC

Given the times, Revolutionary War America, a “mere” woman raised $300,000, now worth about $7,000,000, for the Continental Army during difficult times. You’ve probably never heard of Esther Reed but her impact was significant. She was a progressive woman of her time and a strong feminist when no such concept existed. She was a great woman with a great idea to help us win the war but her life came to an early end, nonetheless her legacy lives on and is not forgotten.

John Adams (1741–1775)

lucianh241 — 2021-12-13 18:25:58 UTC

John Adams was a lawyer, president, and diplomat. He was born on October 30, 1735. He grew up in Boston, and the state of Massachusetts is very important to him.

Adams became a lawyer at age twenty one. On October 25, 1764 he married Abigail Adams and later had four children. Learn More Here.

Jarena Lee (1783-?)

libbyg241 — 2021-12-13 18:26:18 UTC

A story of liberty, Jarena Lee:

Activist, religious, a rebel, a leader. All words that perfectly describe Jarena Lee.

While little is known about her childhood, it is known that she was born into a poor free Black family, and taught herself to read and write in a diary. Early in life her family decided it would be easier for Lee if she was surrounded by affluent people, so at seven she was sent out 60 miles from home to become a maid. During those tiring years she worked hard and started to read the Bible, which is something she was curious about as a child. She found that a lot of the questions she had in life could be answered by the Gospel. The Gospel also helped Jarena with her mental health issues, and made her job as a maid easier. This was just the beginning of her story.

Learn More Here

Aaron Burr (1756-1836)

caitlinr241 — 2021-12-13 18:27:49 UTC

Aaron Burr is known as the murderer of Hamilton and a traitor to the U.S, however few people know of the rest of his life and his contributions to the country. Burr had a reputation for being deceitful and unprincipled. However, Burr was also an advocate for criminal justice reform, freedom of the press, women’s rights, and the rights of immigrants. Sometimes even the villain is worth understanding. Learn More Here

Abigail Adams (1744-1818)

codyb241 — 2021-12-13 18:40:30 UTC

“Behind every great woman is a great man.” A modern twist on an old trite quotation. This is exactly who Abigail Adams was, a great woman married to a great man. Indeed, John Adams was married to a great woman. Born November 11, 1744 Abigail grew up in what is known today as Weymouth, Massachusetts, a village twelve miles from Boston. Her father, William Smith, was the minister of the first Congregational Church in the village. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Quincy, whose father John Quincy’s career in public service greatly influenced Abigail and her views. Abigail Adams grew up to be an amazing woman and her views and beliefs were way ahead of her time. Learn More Here.

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806)

2021-12-13 18:40:36 UTC

The Colonial time was a bleak time for Blacks in America. The nation was struggling with seeking independence from England and forging its own identity all while enslaving nearly 13 million Black People, defining one of the darkest and most brutal time periods in the U.S. History. Stripped of their language, religion, family and home, slaves were denied access to an education and were only cherished for the free labor they provided. Without the ability to think freely, or to even read or write, Blacks were thought of as, “low status”, “naturally inferior”, and “unintelligent.” Article 1 Section 2 of The Constitution itself even referred to slaves as three-fifths of a free individual. Despite all the hardships Black People endured, there was a subset of Blacks called freedmen or freedwomen who were Black people free to own land, learn and work to earn money. One of these freedmen was named Benjamin Banneker. He was a freedman so intelligent that he challenged the stereotypes attributed to Blacks and began to change the way many Whites viewed Colored people as he solidified the meaning of Black excellence.
Learn More Here.

Daniel Shays (1747-1825)

holdenm241 — 2021-12-13 18:40:53 UTC

Not one person thought that there would be somebody to start a rebellion against the government's tax increase, But here he is. The man that started a rebellion and started helping farmers in debt from the post-revolutionary war depression. Shays was born in 1747 in Massachusetts. He grew up with 3 siblings, two sisters and 1 brother. Daniel Shays grew up in not-so-good Circumstances. His family was very poor when he was growing up. Both of his parents had a family background in Ireland. As a child, he spent his time working as a landless farm laborer. Where he later acquired a small land farm. Shays was then promoted to sergeant and then joined the continental army and fought in bunker hill. Learn More Here

Nathaniel Dee Bacon (1647-1676)

poyrazd241 — 2021-12-13 18:42:30 UTC

Nathaniel Dee Bacon was a courageous rebel who was the first colonist in American History to rebel against the English, who's actions inadvertently led to a prolific increase in slavery in the American Colonies and eventually. to the Revolutionary War itself. Bacon led poor farmers willing to fight for their farms against Native Americans, but when Bacon attacked without Governor Berkeley's permission, Berkeley called Bacon a rebel. After that statement, the first rebellion in the colonies began. Learn More Here.

Henrietta Johnston (1674-1726)

tessaw241 — 2021-12-13 18:45:27 UTC

Who was the earliest recorded female artist in Colonial America? It was Henrietta Johnston. Henrietta, who worked in pastels, was born around 1674 in Rennes, France. She was the daughter of French Huguenots (a Hugonot is a French Protestent), Francis and Susanna de Beaulieu. They fled to London in 1687 because the danger of the French Crown was powerful. Learn More Here.

Ona Judge (1773-1884)

lucianal241 — 2021-12-13 18:48:39 UTC

Oney Judge, also known as Ona Judge, was an outstanding and determined woman who pursued a courageous escape to freedom from George and Martha Washington. To the Washingtons, slavery was a "natural" part of life, they expected help running their presidential households and used slaves to do that. Ona Judge was an amazing woman with a treacherous tale to tell. So without further ado, let’s learn about the enchanting story of Ona Judge. Learn More Here

Salem Poor(1747-1802)

davidj242 — 2021-12-13 18:52:36 UTC

Why is Salem Poor remembered as a “brave and gallant soldier”? Salem Poor was a freed slave in Massachusetts when he decided to join the rebels. He fought to the brink of death for his country at the bloody Battle of Bunker Hill. During this horror, Poor became a hero for the rebels. Salem Poor held up his end of work in the Battle of Bunker Hill. He gave the rebels a chance of winning the war.

Learn More Here

Mary Katharine Goddard (1738-1816)

aggiem24 — 2021-12-13 18:59:04 UTC

The making of our country is usually told from White men’s points of view, however, their tales are only a fraction of the real story. Mary Katharine Goddard was a devoted patriot, patient sister, and a female pioneer in the US Government. Although she is not very well known, she was a key figure in promoting ideas that formed the country we inhabit today. Mary Katharine Goddard ran three successful newspapers, printed the first copy of the Declaration of Independence with each signer’s name, and was likely appointed as the first woman employee in the United States Government. She risked her life to share the truth while many tried to slow her down. Mary Katharine Goddard couldn’t and wouldn’t be stopped. Learn More Here.

Deborah Sampson (1760-1827)

innanam241 — 2021-12-13 22:42:19 UTC

No one anticipated a woman to join the Continental Army to fight, yet Deborah Sampson managed to do so, and right under everyone’s noses. She was raised in Plymouth, Massachusetts and was born into a large, poor family, on December 17, 1760. At the age of ten, she was sent to her neighbour’s house to become an indentured servant. And later sent to work for the Thomas family where she managed to teach herself to read and write. Sampson did hard and physical labor, such as hunting and shooting. This would be most useful when, at twenty, she did what the standards of the time disapproved of: she dressed as a man to become a soldier. Learn More Here

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

dylans243 — 2021-12-14 01:57:43 UTC

Did you know that people didn’t discover lightning was a form of electricity until 1752? That's right, people discovered this even before America gained independence. This was all due to the heroic figure Benjamin Franklin. He was a scientist who brought new knowledge to the world with his amazing scientific discoveries including his most successful discovery of all time. This happened in 1752 when he proved lightning was a form of electricity, which made him worldwide famous.

Learn More.

Peggy Shippen Arnold

valentiac241 — 2021-12-14 14:20:03 UTC

Women of the 1700’s were often thought of as rather weak and frail. Most were kept from receiving an education and were expected to be subservient to their husbands and other men. The majority of women were forgotten, although it is hard to believe anyone could forget a woman like Peggy Shippen Arnold. Learn More Here

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

2021-12-14 14:20:18 UTC

How many times have you watched television, borrowed a book from the library or been protected by a lightning rod? For all of that, one can thank Benjamin Franklin. He started his incredible life journey in Boston on January 17, 1706. Benjamin was the fifteenth of seventeen children; his mother, Abiah Folger, was descended from some of the first English settlers in Massachusetts. Learn More Here

Sacagawea - (1788-?)

yuejiaz241 — 2021-12-14 14:22:50 UTC

To be honest, there would have been no successful Lewis and Clarke expedition without their guide, Sacagawea, early America’s most fantastic working mother. Lewis and Clark would have not been able to map the Louisiana Purchase if it had not been for Sacagawea. Sacagawea was born into a Shoshone tribe, in what is now present-day Idaho. Sacagawea's name means Bird Woman. One day, when she was about twelve years old picking berries, the Hidatsa, another tribe attacked and captured Sacagawea and her best friend Jumping Fish. Jumping Fish escaped but Sacagawea didn’t try. Sacagawea was taken to live in present-day North Dakota, where she grew up as a captive of the enemy chief.
Learn More Here. Part One
Learn More Here. Part Two

John Paul Jones (1747-1792)

jacksone243 — 2021-12-14 14:48:01 UTC

In a dimly lit room, in the U.S Naval Academy, in Annapolis, Maryland there lies the remains of one of the greatest naval men of all time. John Paul was born on 1747. He was born in Scotland; his parents were John and Jean. John Paul was a very smart child, Wiser than most of the adults in his community. Paul's home was near the ocean and he longed to go to sea. When his parents finally allowed him, he was an apprentice learning how to sail. went to the West Indies, Chesapeake Bay and Barbados, among other exotic locations. This was a great start for the brilliant Paul to become the Father of the United States Navy. Learn More Here.

Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804)

jacobp242 — 2021-12-15 17:44:45 UTC

In the 21st century, Alexander Hamilton was resurrected and made famous in Manuel Miranda’s Broadway play, Hamilton. No play, no matter how successful, could ever represent the reality of Hamilton's talents in war, or his political beliefs, nor his enduring relationship with the first President of the United States, George Washington. Learn More Here.