Who's Who: American Revolutionaries Quiz

Answer: Paul Revere

Before the Revolution began, Paul Revere was already a well-known artisan; he had taken control of his late father's silversmith business after a stint in the army during the French and Indian War. Revere joined the Sons of Liberty, a secret revolutionary organization, and is well-known for warning the colonists of the arrival of British troops before the first battles of the American Revolution at Lexington and Concord. Continuing to work as a messenger during the war, as well as serving as a member of the Massachusetts militia, Revere returned to civilian life at the conclusion of the war, and ran a profitable business.

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin learned the printing trade from his older brother, James, in Boston; he ran away to Philadelphia at the age of 17 and continued to work in print shops there, publishing pamphlets and the famous "Poor Richard's Almanac". Also during this time he conducted his kite and key experiment, and invented items such as bifocals and the rocking chair.

When the Revolution began, Franklin was elected to the Second Continental Congress and appointed the first Postmaster General in the colonies.

His work as Minister to France was invaluable in gaining much needed military, naval, and financial support. After the war he was chosen to represent Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention.

Answer: George Washington

George Washington became a professional surveyor when he was 17 years old. Four years later, he served the British in the French and Indian War as a major, gaining important experience in leading and organizing the militia, which served him well during the American Revolution when he served as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

In 1789 he was unanimously elected the first president of the United States of America.

Answer: Thomas Paine

At an early age, Thomas Paine worked with his father making stay lines for ships; he was later employed as an excise officer. While still living in England, he met Benjamin Franklin, who suggested that Paine immigrate to America. In Philadelphia he edited the "Pennsylvania Magazine", and also wrote articles against the institution of slavery.

His most famous works, "Common Sense" and "Crisis", were written after the American Revolution began. During the war he traveled with the Continental Army as a volunteer personal assistant to General Nathanael Greene, and was also appointed to other positions.

After the war, Paine ended up being imprisoned in France for his outspoken attempt to have King Louis XVI banished from France rather than killed.

Answer: Samuel Adams

After some failed business ventures, Samuel Adams went to work for his father's business as a maltster. After the Sugar Act was passed by Parliament, Adams became involved in the "taxation without representation" debate, and joined a revolutionary groups called the Sons of Liberty. During the Revolution he served in the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, and later became Governor of Massachusetts.

Answer: Joseph Warren

While Joseph Warren was practicing medicine in Boston, he became associated with a group of patriots who formed the Sons of Liberty, including Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere. In fact, Warren was the organizer of the famous night ride of Paul Revere and William Dawes, which warned the colonists that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord, and had plans to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

Although he was commissioned as a Major General in the Colonial Militia, he chose to join the fighting on Breed's Hill as a private, where he was killed when the British made their third and final assault.

Answer: Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry was elected to the House of Burgesses the same year that the British Parliament enacted the Stamp Act in the American colonies. Many saw his outspoken criticism as treason when he said that only the colony should be able to levy taxes on its citizens.

He met Samuel Adams after being selected to serve as a delegate to the Continental Congress; shortly after he gave his famous speech that ended, "Give me liberty or give me death"! Henry served as Governor of Virginia during the Revolution, and used his position to provide troops and supplies for George Washington.

After the war, he served two more terms as Governor of Virginia.

Answer: John Paul Jones

John Paul became an apprentice sailor in his native Scotland when he was just 13 years old, and quickly proved his ability to lead. Before the American Revolution began he had made quite a reputation for himself as a Captain in the British Merchant Navy; in two separate cases he was accused of cruelty to his subordinates. Shortly after he traveled to Fredericksburg, Virginia, in order to take care of the estate of his deceased brother, he added "Jones" to his name in order to hide from law enforcement officials, and joined the Continental Navy to fight against the British. Today he shares the title, "Father of the American Navy", with John Barry.

Answer: Ethan Allen

Ethan Allen hoped to study at Yale, however, when his father passed away unexpectedly, he took over the family farm in Connecticut, but did not stay there long. He was interested in exploring an area that was called the New Hampshire Grants, and was one of the earliest settlers around Burlington, in what eventually became known as Vermont.

His Green Mountain Boys were originally formed to keep New Yorkers from settling on the land that they had claimed in the Grants - sometimes in a rather violent manner.

When the American Revolution began the Green Mountain Boys teamed with Benedict Arnold to capture Ft. Ticonderoga, a British stronghold. After the war his efforts focused on earning statehood for Vermont, which was accomplished two years after Allen died.

Answer: John Hancock

A wealthy merchant before the Revolution, John Hancock was even suspected of supporting the colonial cause as a smuggler - although it was never proven. He served on the Continental Congress, and was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, as he was President of the Congress at the time. He later became Governor of Massachusetts.