Protestantism

» Brian Tubbs - Prime movers

In response to George Washington posted by pink101:

Sam Adams (first) and Patrick Henry (second) were the two individuals most responsible for stirring up organized dissent and colonial resistance to the British government. Really Sam Adams much more so than Henry.

Then, Thomas Paine was the one most responsible in pushing us toward independence. Prior to Common Sense, the colonies were evenly divided over whether to declare independence. In fact, Sam Adams and company were still likely in the minority. Paine changed that. He started a torrent that resulted in the Declaration of Independence.

By the end of the Revolution, however, Paine's influence has greatly diminished. With the Constitution, it was non-existent. And in the 1790s, he was, if anything, COUNTER to the flow of the Republic.