After the French and Indian War ended in 1763, Americans in the 13 colonies became divided in their feelings toward Great Britain.  About 1/3 of the colonists supported England.  They wanted to remain English and loyal to King George III of England. They called themselves Loyalists or Tories.

Another 1/3 of the colonists wanted independence. They wanted to break away from Great Britain and form a new country.  Those who supported a revolution were called Patriots. That left about 1/3 of the colonists who did not take sides and remained neutral.

Patriot Leaders

The American Army was made up of soldiers from all of the 13 colonies. It was called the Continental Army, and General George Washington was made Commander in Chief.  That meant that he was in charge of all of the soldiers and officers in the army.  He was a great and wise military leader.

The Continental Army was not much of an army at all.  It was made up of 15,000 untrained, armed civilians, who were mostly farmers. They had very little money and few weapons or supplies. Their Navy was very small and weak. Washington led them in a war against Great Britain, one of the mightiest armies in the world. After six years of fighting, his Continental Army was able to drive England from the American colonies. Washington's dedication, courage, and wisdom helped him to later be chosen as the first President of the United States.

Thomas Jefferson was a lawyer during the American Revolution.  Born and raised in Virginia, Jefferson was a member of the Second Continental Congress and the second governor of Virginia.  He wrote the Declaration of Independence, which explained why the 13 American colonies were breaking away from England and starting their own country.  Jefferson believed that the people had the right to govern themselves and choose their own leaders.  After the revolution Jefferson became the third President of the United States. 

Benjamin Franklin helped organize the Committee of Correspondence, which helped patriot leaders throughout the colonies keep in touch with one another by writing letters.  He also helped organize the Continental Congress which united the colonists in their revolution against British rule.  Franklin traveled to England to protest English laws and taxes and to speak for the colonists.  He later helped lay the groundwork for the peace treaty with England.

Benjamin Franklin was an author, inventor, and scientist.  His great wisdom, wit, and talent made him one of America's most gifted citizens.

Ethan Allen was a patriot leader of a rebellious group of soldiers from Vermont known as the Green Mountain Boys. He led 300 of his men in a nighttime raid on the British-controlled fort, Fort Ticonderoga, in upstate New York.  The Green Mountain Boys captured the fort and handed it over to the American Army.  In 1775, Allen and his men went to Canada to attack Montreal.  He was captured by the British and sent to England where he was put into prison.

Many European countries outside of England sent military leaders to help the American Patriots.  General Washington greatly appreciated the help these foreigners offered. They provided leadership and training for the soldiers in the Continental Army. Some were wounded or killed in America. Some stayed in America after the war and made the United States their new home. 

Marquis de Lafayette was a young French nobleman who believed in freedom and independence for the American colonists.  He hoped that these ideas would spread to France.  He joined the Continental Army and became a Major General.  He was wounded in the war.

Other Patriots:

Thomas Paine, was a Patriot and author of a pamphlet called "Common Sense." He wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls," which helped raise the spirits of the people in their revolution against Great Britain.

Patrick Henry, a great speaker, rallied the colonists in their rebellion by delivering fiery speeches.  In one he declared,  "...give me liberty or give me death."

Nathan Hale was a young captain in the Continental Army.  He volunteered to go on a spy mission and was captured by the British and hanged without a trial. His last words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," showed his fearless determination to live in freedom.

Loyalist Leaders

King George III

King George III was the King of England during the American Revolution. England was the world's greatest colonial power. King George was determined to keep his colonies in America and refused to even read a petition sent by the colonists asking for a peaceful separation.  He felt the colonists owed him payment for protecting them during the French and Indian War. This payment was in the form of taxes the colonists paid to England.  The Patriots declared their independence in 1776, but King George would not give up until the final American victory at Yorktown in 1781.

John Burgoyne

British General John Burgoyne planned to capture the state of New York. This would split the colonies in two, and the Americans would not be able to freely move back and forth between the southern states and the states of New England. Burgoyne's plan eventually failed.  After several major battles, he was forced to surrender at Saratoga, in 1777.

Joseph Brant

Mohawk chief Joseph Brant's Iroquois name was Thayendanega.  He sided with the British against the colonists because he wanted to stop the settlers from taking Iroquois land.  He said the Iroquois would lose even more of their lands if the American colonies became independent.  Brant became a captain in the British Army and fought against the colonists during the Revolutionary War.  
For more information on Joseph Brant, see Native Americans in the Revolutionary War at http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss/b/natamrevwarl.cfm

Benedict Arnold

Benedict Arnold was a heroic Continental Army General who became a traitor against America.  He  secretly tried to surrender West Point, his fort in New York, to the British. Arnold then escaped to the British Army where he became an officer and led attacks against American troops.

Patriots: Those who wanted to break away from England and form a new country.
Loyalists:  Those who remained loyal to England