Historical Research Library
Discover the people, events, and key documents that shaped the Founding Era.
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Hamilton-Burr Duel, 1804
A fatal confrontation between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr that stemmed from political and personal animosities and shaped American political history
Event
Samuel Adams
One of the first Americans to challenge British rule and resist their policies in the 1760s and 1770s
Person
Paul Cuffe
Black and Wampanoag businessman and shipbuilder who advocated for abolition, civil rights, and African colonization
Person
Alexander Hamilton
A poor immigrant from the Caribbean who became a key figure in the Revolution and in establishing the US government
Person
Philip Hamilton
Eldest son of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton who died in a duel defending his father’s honor
Person
George III
King of Great Britain viewed as a tyrant by colonists and a symbol of imperial rule
Person
Patrick Henry
A leading figure in the Revolutionary era in Virginia, known for his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech
Person
David Humphreys
Revolutionary War veteran, poet, and abolitionist who advocated a new, uniquely American literature
Person
Belinda, Patty Gipson, Jemima Hunt
Little-known figures in the fight for the abolition of slavery
Person
Absalom Jones
Abolitionist, religious leader, and founder of the first Black Episcopal church in the United States
Person
Hercules Mulligan
Irish immigrant who befriended Hamilton and served as a spy for Washington in British-held New York City
Person
Thomas Paine
Author of “Common Sense” and “The Rights of Man” who was influential in the American and French Revolutions
Person