Influential People of American History

American History is probably one of the most interesting histories all over the world. And some of the most important people shaping the history of America in between 1492 to 1865 are Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and Abraham Lincoln.

             Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706, he was a clever boy, and as he grew up he was fascinated in books and poetry, which made him write articles for newspapers and books. He was a very creative person, and was the inventor of the Franklin stove which saved fuel. But the invention for which we all remember him still today is the invention of electricity, we remember him as the first person to introduce light in our lives. Franklin was such a person who thought all people were equal, and in 1765 he was asked by Thomas Jefferson to help him in writing the Declaration of Independence. The people of America still consider him as a hero, who struggled for their independence.

             George Washington was born in Virginia in 1732; he was a gentleman who developed good morals and manners at a young age. In the beginning of his career he worked as a surveyor and he had many lands. Till the American Revolution Washington managed his lands at Mount Vernon. In 1775 as a delegate of Virginia Washington was elected as Chief Commander of the Continental Army. Immediately after he took command of his troops and started the war against British, which lasted for six years. In 1781 he finally forced the arrest of Lord Cornwallis, which put an end to the war. He was one of the main persons in the Constitutional Convention in 1787 at Philadelphia. And finally on April 30^th 1789 he took oath as the first President of the United States.

             Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia in 1743; his father who was a planter was a rich man with lots of land, which Jefferson inherited from him. He was an active member of the Congress, who did not speak much. He along with Benjamin Franklin wrote the Declaration of Independence. He was appointed as a minister to France in 1785. He played a key role in writing a bill for religious freedom, which was put forward in 1786. Jefferson was elected as vice-president in 1796. In 1801 he was elected as the third President of United States. As the President he cut the expenditures for the Navy and the Army and he also slashed the budget. He was also busy in keeping the nation away from the wars of Napoleon.

             James Madison was born in Virginia in 1751; he was mostly inspired by people like Isaac Newton, David Hume and Voltaire. He worked on the Orange County Committee for safety in Virginia in 1774. Later he was elected to the Virginia Convention, which sought independence and wanted a new state. He served in the council of State in 1778 and 1779. He became a leader of the Nationalist Group in 1779. He worked closely with Jefferson and he left Congress in 1797. In 1801 he was appointed as the State secretary by then President Jefferson. James Madison was elected as the fourth President of United States in 1808. He played a key role in forming the US constitution, and was greatly favorable to a republican government.

             Alexander Hamilton was born in 1755; his parents were from West Indian trading families. Hamilton entered into politics by writing about the disputes between the Americans and the British. He was more interested in action so he joined the military and fought in different battles in 1775 and 1776, his abilities brought him closer to George Washington and he worked for four years with Washington as a staff officer. After leaving the army he went into legal practice and became a well known lawyer. Hamilton was the one to propose to establish a national bank to help the government to manage various trades and finance matters that was how the Bank of United States was started in 1791. Hamilton was obviously one of the most influential people, as he was the first secretary of the treasury and he had given America a very strong financial foothold.

             Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky in 1809; he used to work on a farm and tried to manage as much education as he could. He spent almost eight years in the legislature of Illinois. In 1858 Lincoln contested for the Senator elections, but he lost the elections, but while contesting with the opposition, he gained lots of popularity which earned him the nomination for the President in the Republic part in 1860. In 1861 he was elected as the 16^th President of the United States. Lincoln was totally against slavery and in 1863 he passed the Emancipation Proclamation bill which declared that all the people working as slaves were free forever. In 1864 he was re-elected as the President, he was a very flexible and generous person and he encouraged the people to stop fighting and unite with others.

             All the above people have played a key role in shaping the history of United States and all of them have influenced the country in their own way. Most of the influential people were the Presidents of the United States at some time or the other. People still remember these people with respect and that shows in the various names of states and memorials which are in the names of these people.