U.S. History Flashcards
Make sure you know all of the major historical figures from American history.
Who is:
John Adams
- American statesman of the 18th and 19th centuries and one of the Founding Fathers
- He signed the Declaration of Independence and later served as the second President of the United States
Who is:
Benedict Arnold
- American general of the Revolutionary War who famously plotted to betray the Americans and side with the British in giving up the fort at West Point
- His name is now synonymous with betrayal
Who is:
John Wilkes Booth
- An American actor and Confederate sympathizer who assassinated Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865
- He was tracked down and killed 12 days later
Who is:
Robert E. Lee
American general who commanded the Confederate troops during the Civil War
Who is:
Frederick Douglass
- American writer and abolitionist of the 19th century
- An escaped slave, he was known both for his oratory and for his autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Who is:
Benjamin Franklin
- One of the Founding Fathers of the United States and an inventor, scientist, statesman, writer, and printer
- He signed the Declaration of Independence and later served as American diplomat in negotiating with Britain and France
- His theories and research regarding electricity were significant, and he invented bifocals, the lightning rod, and a kind of metal-lined fireplace called the Franklin stove
- His written works include Poor Richard’s Almanack and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Who is:
Ulysses S. Grant
- Military and political leader of the 19th century
- During the Civil War he served as general of the Union army and later became the 18th President of the United States
Who is:
John Hancock
- American politician of the 18th century who was president of the Continental Congress and was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence
- As a result, his name now signifies a signature
Who is:
Alexander Hamilton
- American political leader of the 18th and 19th centuries who was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States
- He contributed to The Federalist Papers and helped draft the Constitution
Who is:
Thomas Jefferson
- American politician of the 18th and 19th centuries and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States
- The main author of the Declaration of Independence, he later served as the third President of the United States
- He oversaw the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and founded the University of Virginia
Who are:
Lewis and Clark
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who went on a two-year (1804-06) expedition to explore the American west to study the terrain, wildlife, natural resources, and geography
Who is:
Marquis de Lafayette
French political and military leader of the 18th and 19th centuries who supported the American Revolution and fought as a general in the American army during the war
Who is:
Abraham Lincoln
- American politician of the 19th century who served as President of the United States from 1861-65 and is generally regarded as one of the most revered presidents
- He oversaw the Union during the Civil War and is known for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, overseeing the approval of the 13th Amendment, and delivering the Gettysburg Address
Who is:
James Monroe
President of the United States from 1817-25, who issued the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 and oversaw the Missouri Compromise
Who is:
Thomas Paine
- English-born American revolutionary and author who wrote the highly influential 1776 pamphlet Common Sense, which called for the American colonies’ independence from Britain
- He later authored Rights of Man, in support of the French Revolution, and The Age of Reason, which supported deism and promoted reason
Who is:
James Madison
- Political leader of the 18th and 19th centuries, one of the Founding Fathers, and the fourth President of the United States
- He authored the Bill of Rights and played an enormous role in the drafting of the Constitution
- During his presidency the United States fought in the War of 1812
Who is:
William Penn
British colonist and Quaker of the 17th and 18th centuries who founded Pennsylvania
Who is:
Paul Revere
Hero of the American Revolution who famously rode through the Massachusetts countryside on the night before the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775, warning colonists of incoming British troops
Who is:
Harriet Tubman
- Escaped slave and abolitionist of the 19th and 20th centuries who helped dozens of slaves to freedom using the Underground Railroad
- During the Civil War she served as a spy for the Union
Who is:
George Washington
- One of the Founding Fathers, the general of the American army in the Revolutionary War, and later, the first President of the United States
- Unanimously elected President under the new Constitution, he adopted a careful financial program and foreign policy and made use of a cabinet system
Name the figure from American History:
- American statesman of the 18th and 19th centuries and one of the Founding Fathers
- He signed the Declaration of Independence and later served as the second President of the United States
John Adams
Name the figure from American History:
- American general of the Revolutionary War who famously plotted to betray the Americans and side with the British in giving up the fort at West Point
- His name is now synonymous with betrayal
Benedict Arnold
Name the figure from American History:
- An American actor and Confederate sympathizer who assassinated Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865
- He was tracked down and killed 12 days later
John Wilkes Booth
Name the figure from American History:
American general who commanded the Confederate troops during the Civil War
Robert E. Lee