Page 156 - Key to Social Studies 6

Let’s Observe Let’s Connect

Signi cant Figures That A ected American History The United States before vs. after Independence

George Washington
The United States before Independence
George Washington served as a general and
Before the United States got its independence, people’s rights were almost nonexistent, as the British
commander-in-chief of the colonial armies
rulers were in control of everything: buying and selling properties, imports and exports, and even
during the American Revolutionary War. He
imposing taxes. English monarchs and rulers owned everything in the colonies.
participated in both the First and Second
The United States after Independence
Continental Congresses.
After many battles against the British monarchs and rulers, the Americans nally got their
At the 1787 constitutional convention,
independence. Their independence was based on the availability of the rights of all men and that all
Washington was unanimously chosen as its
Americans are equal with freedom of choice and no allegiance to the British rule. Currently, the United
president. Later, he became the rst
States is considered one of the most powerful countries in the world.
President of the United States, ruling from

1789 to 1797.
th
George Washington The 225 anniversary of the defeat of the British army and the
Thomas Je erson end of the American Revolution, Yorktown, Virginia
Thomas Je erson was born in April, 1743, in

the British colony of Virginia to British

parents. Although he was British, he

considered himself American and became

one of the Founding Fathers who

established the United States.

After the Independence of the United

States, Je erson served as a Vice President

and then later served as a President in 1801,

being the third elected US President after

George Washington and John Adams.

Thomas Je erson

154