Arguably, every country in the world has significant historical figures, whose activities are attributed liberation, independence, revolutions, as well as war. Others have steered the country into radical political, economic, and social changes. Certainly, these leaders are the basis of the contemporary situations. Some of these historical figures include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson is one of the famous and important personality in the history of United States. Jefferson was a philosopher, American political leader, and essayist. He was the third president of U.S. Jefferson was born on 1743 in Albemarle county Virginia, and died in the year 1826. Thomas carried out his college education at William and Mary College to study law Norton, & Sheriff, 2011).
Certainly, he was one of the founding fathers of in American history. Thomas Jefferson is remembered as the principal author of the 1776. During American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson was a continental congress, representing the state of Virginia. In the year 1779-1781, Jefferson became the governor of Virginia during wartime. After the conflict and war, Thomas became a diplomat and a commissioner whose function was to negotiate on commercial treaties (Greene, 1995). British passed out coercive acts, which according to Jefferson were not fair to Americans. Therefore, he came up with resolutions that were against the acts. The resolutions later became expanded to the summary of British American rights.
Additionally, Thomas Jefferson is a key iconic personality, especially in the democracy of United States. He was viewed as an Agrarian democrat who in one way or another shaped the thinking of the world and United States on democratic issues (Norton, & Sheriff, 2011). According to Vernon Louis, Jefferson embodied the idealism philosophies during the great world revolution. Certainly, Thomas Jefferson envisioned various forms of democracy in society.
Jefferson became the bearer of the modern diplomacy, which is founded by confidence of virtuous and free people. The revolutions that took place in the world changed American history. Jefferson Thomas envisaged United States hence becoming one of the greatest world, and the empire of liberty (Greene, 1995). Through Jefferson’s efforts, America became the model republicanism and democracy. Furthermore, he was the most famous and articulate spokesperson during the revolution.
George Washington
Another important figure in the history of American Revolution is George Washington; he contributed to development of various revolutions. He was born in the year 1732, in Westmoreland County. George Washington became the first president of United States from 1789 to 1797. People nicknamed him the Father of his country, for the contributions, he brought about. George Washington is one of the men who were fully behind the American Revolution. Being the first president, George Washington was the commanding general in times of American Revolution. Up to date, he is the most famous and prominent figure in the history of America (Norton, & Sheriff, 2011).
His legacy goes beyond his presidential post. This is because, in the year 1777, he led the American troops to a historic war during the revolution at the Germantown. George Washington led the army against Sir William who was the British commander. The move marked a tremendous progress in building the confidence of American army. They later challenged the British army on Harlem heights, White Plains, Long Island as well as New York. Through his leadership, America army fought various wars with British.
After the war, Washington give up as a commander, but continued to be part of the group that drafted a new document to be part of their constitution. The efforts of Washington are felt today through the constitution. He led the convention and presided the entire debate on the constitution. The delegates in the year 1789 ratified the U.S constitution and in the same year, George Washington was elected the first president of U.S (Norton, & Sheriff, 2011).
During his era as the president of U.S, numerous positive changes took place of which most of them shaped the American history. He supported the bill of rights and its addition to specify individual rights as a citizen (Greene, 1995). During revolutions, George Washington through his provisions established the basis of solid national debt as well as fiscal stability. Later he declared American state of neutrality when France declared war on Netherlands, Spain, and Britain. George Washington always believed in a standing army. His significance during the revolutions remains paramount in the history of United States.
Benjamin Franklin
Another founding father and liberator of United States is Benjamin Franklin. He was born in the year 1706 and died on April 1790. In one was of the leading political theorist, printer, author, diplomat, civic activist, musician, as well a public official. Hence, he was one of the influential people during the war and revolutions.
Franklin worked together with George Washington in championing the independence of United States. In his career, he became an abolitionist in society, freeing slaves. Due to his abolitionist activities, he finally became the president and the leader of Pennsylvania Abolition society. Additionally, he contributed during revolutions by being a delegate to Philadelphia convention (Norton, & Sheriff, 2011). Above all, he remains the only American founding father who sighed the four most important documents that dealt with founding United States. These treaties that founded U.S during the revolution are Treaty of alliance, U.S constitution, Declaration of independence, as well as treaty of Paris.
Certainly, later years as a congress, Benjamin Franklin dealt with the issue of slavery in depth. He did so by use of books, and articles to convince his readers to abolish slavery and support all documents that advocated for the abolition of slavery. According tom Benjamin Franklin, abolishing slavery and integrating blacks in American community was the best move to positive changes.
During the era, of revolutions, he established splendid plans in Philadelphia; this included improved transportation and communication, as well as protecting property and aiding insurance plans. Through his diplomatic brilliance, he became the ambassador to thirteen nations despite the fact that France and Britain were not in substantial terms. After the war, many people used Franklin for their own advantage, especially in making the American alliance (Greene, 1995). He negotiated with French politician on the treat that concerned the sovereignty and independence of America.
Franklin advocated for republicanism in society. He emphasized on how being virtuous was important in developing and building a new republic. In his entire life, he exhausted on the role of personal and civic virtues. During revolutions and war individual should thing of being virtuous to own self and the public. Furthermore, the historical figure believed that organized form of religion was an essential tool in keeping men good to other people. His presence in American history he is remembered for advocating the wellspring of man and morality in society (Norton, & Sheriff, 2011). Franklin is famous in America for tolerating, promoting, and respecting all churches. He cultivated characters in society using the thirteen virtues.
John Hancock
Possibly, another man who stands out in the history of America is John Hancock. He is rarely remembered in America, yet he made a lot of changes in United States history. He was born in the year 1737, and died in 1793. In his life, he was a prominent patriot, merchant, political leader as well as a loyalist during American Revolution. John Hancock became the 1st and the 3rd governor of Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and served as the president of the 2nd continental congress (Greene, 1995). Of all his contributions to the American revolutions, he is famous for his stylish and large signature on U.S Declaration of independence. In fact, the term John Hancock has become a synonym in United States for signature.
In the year 1965, John opposed the stamp act that was enacted in England. The act was unconstitutional and oppressed the American people. He held a party in his own house to celebrate the revoked stamp act. In the year, 1768 people elected him to be representative of Massachusetts (Norton, & Sheriff, 2011). Due to his effort, many changes took place. He served as a governor for nine years. In 1988, Hancock used his fame and power to ensure that his people ratified the U.S Constitution.
During the revolution, John Hancock commanded approximately six thousand men from England who participated in the campaign at Rhodes Island. Additionally, Hancock was among the leaders during the crisis and conflicts that led to American revolutionary war. The legacy of John Hancock is remembered in many ways. Many things and place in U.S are in his honor.
These include USS Hancock, which is a U.S Navy vessel, Liberty Ship, Hancock County, Insurance company, as well as institutions. The four significant figures in the history of America will always remain in the mind of the people. The America of today was built by these great figures.
References
Greene, J. (1995). Understanding the American Revolution: Issues and Actors. London: Wiley.
Norton, B. & Sheriff, C. (2011). A People and a Nation: History of United States. New York:
Wadsworth.
