People of the Past…

1. People of the Past…  By: Sarah 

2. The Revolutionary War • The Revolutionary War was a war fought for America’s Freedom • It was against Great Britain, the country that owned us at the time • We had thirteen colonies at the time… Georgia was one of them, and was the 4th state to join America • The war started in 1775, and ended in 1783

3. Abigail Adams

4. Abigail Adams • Born on November 11,1744 • Died on October 28, 1818 from having a sickness called typhus • Married to John Adams • Mother was Elizabeth Quincy • Father was William Smith • She didn’t get an education, and later was embarrassed about not going to school • She met John Adams in 1759, and by 1762 were exchanging many love letters. By October 25, 1762, they were married. • Abigail got to do many things a man would do, due to John’s duties in the nation • They both believed slavery was a threat, and very evil. February 13, 1791, she wrote a letter to John saying a black boy had asked for money to go to school to learn to write, and they sponsored him • Was the 2nd first lady • She had 3 sons and 2 daughters: a son named John Quincy Adams, another named Charles Adams, and another named Thomas Boylston Adams. The daughters were Abigail “Nabby” Amelia Adams Smith, and Susanna Adams. Oldest to youngest: Abigail “Nabby”, then John Quincy, then Susanna, then Charles, and then Thomas • John and Abigail were active members of the First Parish Church in Quincy. She didn’t sign the membership book, but John did

5. John Adams

6. John Adams • Born in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1735 • Died in 1826 during the presidency of his son, John Quincy Adams • Married to Abigail Adams • A Harvard educated lawyer • During the Revolutionary War, he served in France and Holland in important roles • Helped negotiate the treaty of peace • From 1785-1788, he was a minister in Court of St. James • Was Vice President while Washington was serving • He served 2 terms as Vice President • He was the 2nd president of the U.S. • He complained to Abigail his wife, “My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.”

7. More about John Adams • The war between the French and the British was causing great difficulties for the U.S. • His administration focused more on France than Great Britain. • Adams sent 3 commissioners to France, but in 1798, a letter arrived saying that the French Foreign Minister Talleyrand refused to negotiate with them until they would pay a substational bribe • He didn’t call for war, but hostilities began at sea • On November 1st, 1800, just before he would resign from being president, he arrived in the new Capital City to take up his residence in the White House. On his second night at Capital City, he wrote to his wife saying, “Before I end my letter, I pray to Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit.” • After his presidency, he retired to his farm in Quincy

8. Ethan Allen

9. Ethan Allen • Ethan Allen is related to me, and is my ancestor • My dad’s full name is Thomas Allen Gould, the Allen being from Ethan Allen • Born in 1738, and died in 1789 • He was a folk hero from Vermont • The royal governor of New Hampshire began to grant lands in Vermont, with no official authority to do so. After the King decided that it was New York's governors' fault, the townspeople had to pay fees, and some found their land being confiscated or taken away. The settlers formed a militia called the Green Mountain Boys, to protect their chances of survival, as well as their rights • They elected Ethan Allen to be their colonel • Later on, Ethan Allen’s family, along with others, formed the Onion River Land Company. Ethan’s leadership helped Vermont through all these hardships • Ethan was the guiding spirit in taking Fort Ticonderoga, the first Crown property to fall to America and was the source of the cannon that lead George Washington to drive the British out of Boston

10. King George III

11. King George III • Born in London on June 4th 1738 • He was the son of Frederick, prince of Wales, and the grandson of King George II • Was the first House of Hanover to be born and educated as an Englishman • He was the longest reigning of the male British monarchs • He was king over Ireland, Great Britain, and for short time before the Revolutionary War; America • Was a powerful force in politics • He was a very strong supporter of the war (Revolutionary War) against America. • At one point, he placed the government in the hands of William Pitt • In 1801, he forced William Pitt out of the prime minister spot and took it back • His wife’s name was Charlotte Sophia • He had 15 children, and the first child was a boy, who would become King George IV

12. Betsy Ross

13. Betsy Ross • Born on January 1st, 1752-Died on January 30th, 1836 • Her real name was Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole • Married John Ross • Parents: Samuel and Rebecca James • Occupation: seamstress • She had 3 husbands: John Ross, who died in the militia, then Joseph Ashburn, who was held prisoner by the British and killed, and then John Claypoole, who died in 1817 because he had a disability. • She was known to have made the first American flag, but apparently the story wasn’t told until 1870 by her grandson, and even HE said the story needed confirmation • Most of the scholars agree it WASN’T Betsy Ross who made the first flag • The story says that she one day in June 1776 made the flag after a visit from George Washington, Robert Morris, and her husband’s uncle, George Ross • She showed them how to cut a five-point star with one snip of the scissors, if the fabric is folded correctly

14. Bibliography Abigail Adams: http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/abigailadams.html John Adams: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnadams Ethan Allen: http://www.uvm.edu/~vhnet/hertour/eallen/eahistory.html King George III: http://www.kinggeorgeiii.com/ Betsy Ross: http://www.womenhistory.about.com/od/rossbetsy/a/betsy_ross. htm