Influential and Important leaders

of the Early U.S., by Birth Year

By: Ema Condori-Teves, Eric Delaney, Colin Hancock, and
Alexis Tanner
George Washington (1732-1799)
He was commander-in-chief for the
American forces in the American Revolution
and the first president of the United States.
He was born and died in Virginia, and never
actually went to college.
As perhaps the most famous founding father,
he paved the way for many American
traditions and policies.

Significance: Washington is still the most memorable president, and for

good reason. Although not particularly policy-oriented, his term in office set
a standard that every other president would follow. Similarly, he began the
tradition for staying as a president for only two terms.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd president of the United
States. He formed the basis of the republican party and
also served as the Secretary of State under George
Washington.
Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father
who was the principal author of the Declaration of
Independence.

Significance: By being the author of the Declaration of Independence, he came to

represent the true American spirit that would carry on for centuries. As he brought
about Jefferson Republicanism, he defined many ideologies that would stick around
until the Jacksonian Era.
James Madison (1751-1836)
James Madison was one of the founding
fathers and the 4th president of the United
States, he served 2 terms.
He was known as the father of the U.S.
Constitution
Co-founder of the Democratic-Republican
party and was Secretary of State

Significance: Madison helped shape the constitution and influenced legislation.

Also composed the first drafts of the Bill of Rights. In his presidency he led
the United States into the controversial war of 1812. When he was Secretary
of State to Jefferson, he also oversaw the Louisiana Purchase.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804)
Alexander Hamilton was the Secretary of the Treasury
during Washingtons presidency.
He established the United States financial system, the
Federalist party, and the U.S. coast guard.
He was killed during a duel with Aaron Burr, the
former vice president, when he was shot in the ribs and
fatally wounded

Significance: His establishment of the National Bank would be especially

controversial in following years, but eventually would be accepted and key to the
United States in later years. Also, his establishment of the Coast Guard would leave
us with our current, strong Coast Guard. The Federalist party would come to be
extremely popular for the first few decades of the U.S.
Andrew Jackson (1767-1845)

Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of

the United States from 1829 to 1837 and
the founder of the Democratic party.
He was a famous war general before
becoming president, and had extreme
popularity throughout his political career.

Significance: First, he broke from the Democratic-Republican

party and formed the Democratic party that lasted until today.
Second, he began the spoils system of American politics, and
overall was so influential during this period that his political
reign is sometimes referred to as the Jacksonian Era.
Lucretia Mott (1793-1880)
Lucretia Mott was an abolitionist and
suffragist quaker who refused to use
slave-produce products to show her
disapproval of slavery.
She co-planned the Seneca Falls
Convention and helped in writing the
Declaration of Sentiments that
resulted from said convention.
Significance: The idea of womens rights was fairly foreign to people at this time,
but Lucretia Mott was one of the many who made this idea popular among
throughout America. Many consider her to be one of the founders of modern
feminism, as certainly she had a lasting impact on the womens rights movement
that would later take American politics by storm.
Nat Turner (1800-1831)
Nat Turner was an African-American slave
who lead a slave rebellion against white
plantation owners in Southampton County,
Virginia in August 1831. His rebellion
ended up killing 55-65 people before he was
hanged in Jerusalem, Virginia on November
11, 1831.
Significance: This rebellion caused the highest number of fatalities of any
rebellion that occurred in the Southern States. It caused mass panic throughout
the South, and many laws were passed afterwards that prohibited education for
slaves. Still, this rebellion was a turning point that partially began a long line of
tension-building that would eventually lead to the civil war.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
Abraham Lincoln was an American politician and lawyer
who served as the 16th President of the United States
from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865
Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation
which began the process of freedom for America's slaves.
Abraham Lincoln was a strong supporter of the Thirteenth
Amendment that formally ended slavery in the United
States.

Significance: Lincolns presidency would see the end of slavery and be the beginning
of the movement to equalize human rights to all people, regardless of gender, race,
or ethnicity. He would become the iconic image of freedom, equality, and suffrage
for decades to come.
Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)
African social reformer. abolitionist,
writer, and statesman
Born into slavery he tried to escape
twice before he succeeded at age 20
He was the first African American to
hold a high United States government
rank
Significance: Frederick Douglas was the first African American to hold high rank
of position in government and would advise the president and leading up to that
would lecture thousands on his views. He supported women's rights movements as
well and even attended the first Seneca Falls Convention
Harriet Tubman (1822-1913)
Harriet Tubman was a former slave who was born
into slavery in Maryland and escaped 1849.

She was the most famous conductor in the

underground railroad helping other slaves escape as
well as helping the Union Army during the war
working as a cook, nurse, and spy.

She also guided the Combahee River Raid which

Significance: Through Harriet Tubman's
liberated morework
thanand
700leadership
slaves. and stance as an
abolitionist, she was able to help hundreds of slaves escape, even establishing a
home for the aged.