American Side -
General George Washington:
George Washington was a general from Virginia. Though he was inexperienced, having only served in one war, and uneducated, he was still very intelligent and someone everyone looked up to. People were understandably hesitant to put Washington in charge of this pivotal war, but he proved his naysayers wrong when the war was won. His ingenuity was legendary and he was a key factor in the colonists' victory for without him, the army would lack their main source of motivation and thus likely fail. Washington was elected the first president of the United States of America in 1789.
McCullough, David 1776 (Information about everyone looking up to him and other information)
General George Washington:
George Washington was a general from Virginia. Though he was inexperienced, having only served in one war, and uneducated, he was still very intelligent and someone everyone looked up to. People were understandably hesitant to put Washington in charge of this pivotal war, but he proved his naysayers wrong when the war was won. His ingenuity was legendary and he was a key factor in the colonists' victory for without him, the army would lack their main source of motivation and thus likely fail. Washington was elected the first president of the United States of America in 1789.
McCullough, David 1776 (Information about everyone looking up to him and other information)
Marquis de Lafayette:
The Marquis de Lafayette was a rich nobleman from France. He trained the Continental Army as well as von Steuben. Lafayette was extremely loyal to Washington, and was thus dispatched to Canada with barely any tools by the disloyal Board of War leader Horatio Gates. Though this campaign was doomed to fail, most of his future battles went very well. After a long time in America, Lafayette decided he wanted to go back to France to see his family. Despite the fact he was out of the country, he still helped the Americans by getting them support from the king in the form of money and soldiers. Without Lafayette, the Americans would not have a large amount of money, supplies, and general support they enjoyed when France decided to ally with them, something that would surely make many battles after Saratoga much more difficult for the Americans.
School textbook (Lafayette's generosity)
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/lafayette.html (Lafayette's assistance, Canada campaign and other information)
The Marquis de Lafayette was a rich nobleman from France. He trained the Continental Army as well as von Steuben. Lafayette was extremely loyal to Washington, and was thus dispatched to Canada with barely any tools by the disloyal Board of War leader Horatio Gates. Though this campaign was doomed to fail, most of his future battles went very well. After a long time in America, Lafayette decided he wanted to go back to France to see his family. Despite the fact he was out of the country, he still helped the Americans by getting them support from the king in the form of money and soldiers. Without Lafayette, the Americans would not have a large amount of money, supplies, and general support they enjoyed when France decided to ally with them, something that would surely make many battles after Saratoga much more difficult for the Americans.
School textbook (Lafayette's generosity)
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/lafayette.html (Lafayette's assistance, Canada campaign and other information)
Baron von Steuben:
Baron von Steuben was active in warfare for quite some time but it was when he volunteered in the Continental Army that he became the famous figure he is today. Steuben was an excellent trainer who developed a progressive training system; he would train a particularly gifted group, they would go to teach the next batch of soldiers, and so on and so on. Steuben transformed the ragtag group into a true army admirably well using this new method with more simplicity and less time than other armies' training methods. He taught organization and discipline to the inexperienced soldiers. Without von Steuben, the army never could've won for their lack of training would've killed them.
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/steuben.html (von Steuben's training methods and other methods)
Baron von Steuben was active in warfare for quite some time but it was when he volunteered in the Continental Army that he became the famous figure he is today. Steuben was an excellent trainer who developed a progressive training system; he would train a particularly gifted group, they would go to teach the next batch of soldiers, and so on and so on. Steuben transformed the ragtag group into a true army admirably well using this new method with more simplicity and less time than other armies' training methods. He taught organization and discipline to the inexperienced soldiers. Without von Steuben, the army never could've won for their lack of training would've killed them.
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/steuben.html (von Steuben's training methods and other methods)
General Nathanael Greene:
Nathanael Greene was the son of a Quaker farmer. Though he did not receive much former learning from his sect, he studied himself. Though his sect disapproved of military learning, Greene educated himself secretly on just that topic. He joined the war as an unimportant general, but Washington saw the potential in the young soldier so he went on to become a crucial general who won many critical battles in the north then the south. He quickly became Washington's right hand man, the general who would take his position if anything were to happen to him. Greene was the youngest American general at the time, at the age of 33. Greene's ingenuinity led to many successes in the north and especially the south. Without Greene, the war in the south would've surely been lost.
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/greene.html (Greene early life and other information)
McCullough, David 1776 (Washington's thoughts and other information)
Nathanael Greene was the son of a Quaker farmer. Though he did not receive much former learning from his sect, he studied himself. Though his sect disapproved of military learning, Greene educated himself secretly on just that topic. He joined the war as an unimportant general, but Washington saw the potential in the young soldier so he went on to become a crucial general who won many critical battles in the north then the south. He quickly became Washington's right hand man, the general who would take his position if anything were to happen to him. Greene was the youngest American general at the time, at the age of 33. Greene's ingenuinity led to many successes in the north and especially the south. Without Greene, the war in the south would've surely been lost.
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/greene.html (Greene early life and other information)
McCullough, David 1776 (Washington's thoughts and other information)
General Daniel Morgan:
The alcoholic teamster Daniel Morgan originally served in the British army, but grew a passionate hatred for them after an incident where he punched an officer. He was subjected to 500 lashes for this act of insubordination, though he continued to serve through the French and Indian War, renowned for his excellent marksmanship skills. When the American Revolution began, Morgan's hatred of the British finally came to fruition as he joined the Americans and quickly became the leader of a team of marksmen. Him and the marksmen under his command played an important role in the the victory at Saratoga, which convinced the French to help the Americans, and many other battles as well.
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolutio1/p/American-Revolution-Brigadier-General-Daniel-Morgan.htm (Morgan British service, American service, and other information)
The alcoholic teamster Daniel Morgan originally served in the British army, but grew a passionate hatred for them after an incident where he punched an officer. He was subjected to 500 lashes for this act of insubordination, though he continued to serve through the French and Indian War, renowned for his excellent marksmanship skills. When the American Revolution began, Morgan's hatred of the British finally came to fruition as he joined the Americans and quickly became the leader of a team of marksmen. Him and the marksmen under his command played an important role in the the victory at Saratoga, which convinced the French to help the Americans, and many other battles as well.
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolutio1/p/American-Revolution-Brigadier-General-Daniel-Morgan.htm (Morgan British service, American service, and other information)
General Henry Knox:
Henry Knox was a bookseller from Boston, one of Washington's most trusted generals. He was married to Lucy Flucker. He had no experience prior to the war, but he rose to become one of Washington's most trusted generals alongside Greene, whom he happened to be close friends with. Knox was the one who received the artillery from Fort Ticonderoga and he used these cannons very effectively to help the Continental Army win plenty of battles, such as those at Dorchester Heights and Yorktown.
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/knox.html (Knox's friendship, Ticonderoga information, battle information, and other information)
Henry Knox was a bookseller from Boston, one of Washington's most trusted generals. He was married to Lucy Flucker. He had no experience prior to the war, but he rose to become one of Washington's most trusted generals alongside Greene, whom he happened to be close friends with. Knox was the one who received the artillery from Fort Ticonderoga and he used these cannons very effectively to help the Continental Army win plenty of battles, such as those at Dorchester Heights and Yorktown.
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/knox.html (Knox's friendship, Ticonderoga information, battle information, and other information)
General Israel "Old Put" Putnam:
Old Put received his nickname for a reason; he was very old. Israel Putnam was well-liked among the American soldiers, but he had little tactical expertise which did not bode well for those battles in which he had a leading role such as at Long Island. Putnam was forced to retire after a stroke partially paralyzed him. He suddenly died shortly after. Putnam really didn't do much when he was a general besides fail, but he provided excellent moral support for the soldiers during those hard times
http://www.masshist.org/bh/putnambio.html (Putnam's forced retirement)
McCullough, David 1776 (Putnam's tactical inexperience and moral support)
Old Put received his nickname for a reason; he was very old. Israel Putnam was well-liked among the American soldiers, but he had little tactical expertise which did not bode well for those battles in which he had a leading role such as at Long Island. Putnam was forced to retire after a stroke partially paralyzed him. He suddenly died shortly after. Putnam really didn't do much when he was a general besides fail, but he provided excellent moral support for the soldiers during those hard times
http://www.masshist.org/bh/putnambio.html (Putnam's forced retirement)
McCullough, David 1776 (Putnam's tactical inexperience and moral support)
General Horatio Gates:
Horatio Gates was one of the few experienced generals of Washington's army, having served previously in the Seven Years' War, otherwise known as the French and Indian War. Gates and Washington frequently argued; him becoming the president of the Board of War in 1777 intensified the bickering between him and Washington all the more. Gates was mostly responsible for the victory at Saratoga, which affected the war by causing France to join, but was also mostly responsible for the massive loss at Camden, which allowed Britain access to the South. His first battle after the reinstatement of his field status utterly destroyed his reputation as he was accused of cowardice and he was quietly removed from command. He was notable for being one of the generals who were constantly trying to overthrow Washington's reign, him being part of the Conway Cabal. In a way, it succeeded when Gates became Washington's superior after he was elected president of the board of war, but the actual plan never really happened.
http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/encyclopedia/horatio-gates (Gates' cabal affiliations and failures)
Horatio Gates was one of the few experienced generals of Washington's army, having served previously in the Seven Years' War, otherwise known as the French and Indian War. Gates and Washington frequently argued; him becoming the president of the Board of War in 1777 intensified the bickering between him and Washington all the more. Gates was mostly responsible for the victory at Saratoga, which affected the war by causing France to join, but was also mostly responsible for the massive loss at Camden, which allowed Britain access to the South. His first battle after the reinstatement of his field status utterly destroyed his reputation as he was accused of cowardice and he was quietly removed from command. He was notable for being one of the generals who were constantly trying to overthrow Washington's reign, him being part of the Conway Cabal. In a way, it succeeded when Gates became Washington's superior after he was elected president of the board of war, but the actual plan never really happened.
http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/encyclopedia/horatio-gates (Gates' cabal affiliations and failures)
General John Sullivan:
John Sullivan was a delegate for the Continental Congress who became a major general when he joined the Continental Army. He was incredibly brave (or foolish depending on your outlook), going up against an innumerable amount of Hessians by themselves. It really didn't help though since he was captured and the Battle of Long Island was lost... and many of the other battles where he had a leading role in. Fortunately for the Americans, the effects of these battles quickly vanished when America began their winning streak. He did manage to have a successful "Iroquois Expedition" which decimated Britain's Native American allies, but his inappropriate conduct of burning down their homes was unappreciated by most.
http://www.nndb.com/people/063/000049913/
(Sullivan's Iroquois Expedition and other information)
McCullough, David 1776 (Battle of Long Island information)
John Sullivan was a delegate for the Continental Congress who became a major general when he joined the Continental Army. He was incredibly brave (or foolish depending on your outlook), going up against an innumerable amount of Hessians by themselves. It really didn't help though since he was captured and the Battle of Long Island was lost... and many of the other battles where he had a leading role in. Fortunately for the Americans, the effects of these battles quickly vanished when America began their winning streak. He did manage to have a successful "Iroquois Expedition" which decimated Britain's Native American allies, but his inappropriate conduct of burning down their homes was unappreciated by most.
http://www.nndb.com/people/063/000049913/
(Sullivan's Iroquois Expedition and other information)
McCullough, David 1776 (Battle of Long Island information)
Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion
Francis Marion was a guerrilla soldier from the South who played a pivotal role in The War in the South. He came up with the idea of guerrilla warfare, defined as sneaking around the enemy and taking shots at them while constantly moving. He earned the name Swamp Fox when he was forced to take his men to hide in a swamp, which had animals that carried diseases and killed some of his men. Francis and his men came out of the swamp to go back to hunt the British as effectively as a fox would hunt its prey. He effectively slowed down British by destroying their supplies, killing renowned officers, and generally annoying them.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/biography/fox.html?c=y&page=1 (Swamp Fox information)
Francis Marion was a guerrilla soldier from the South who played a pivotal role in The War in the South. He came up with the idea of guerrilla warfare, defined as sneaking around the enemy and taking shots at them while constantly moving. He earned the name Swamp Fox when he was forced to take his men to hide in a swamp, which had animals that carried diseases and killed some of his men. Francis and his men came out of the swamp to go back to hunt the British as effectively as a fox would hunt its prey. He effectively slowed down British by destroying their supplies, killing renowned officers, and generally annoying them.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/biography/fox.html?c=y&page=1 (Swamp Fox information)
British Side -
King George III:
King George III was the king of Great Britain during the time of the war. History remembers him as an incompetent, ineffective leader, but he was apparently actually a smart person suffering from a disease unknown at that time. He might not have been as foolish as history remembers, but he was definitely foolish when he wronged the colonists so much he started a war. King George III enjoyed many sophisticated hobbies and had Mozart perform for him multiple times. If King George hadn't been so greedy and incompetent, the war never would have begun.
McCullough, David (George's hobbies and disease)
King George III:
King George III was the king of Great Britain during the time of the war. History remembers him as an incompetent, ineffective leader, but he was apparently actually a smart person suffering from a disease unknown at that time. He might not have been as foolish as history remembers, but he was definitely foolish when he wronged the colonists so much he started a war. King George III enjoyed many sophisticated hobbies and had Mozart perform for him multiple times. If King George hadn't been so greedy and incompetent, the war never would have begun.
McCullough, David (George's hobbies and disease)
General William Howe:
William Howe was one of the most important generals during the so-called War in the North, serving as its Commander in Chief. He won many battles but lost many as well due to his tendency to procrastinate when nothing was happening, an unfortunate deficiency when compared to Washington's tendency to plan. Probably the most important battle he won was at New York, allowing the British to cut off the New England colonies from the rest of the nation and giving them control of the Hudson River, though nothing substantial was ever done with this tactical advantage. In 1777, he chose to resign from his prestigious post since he was against the British war policy.
McCullough, David 1776 (Howe's shortcomings and victories)
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolutio1/p/hclinton.htm (The information about Howe's resignation)
William Howe was one of the most important generals during the so-called War in the North, serving as its Commander in Chief. He won many battles but lost many as well due to his tendency to procrastinate when nothing was happening, an unfortunate deficiency when compared to Washington's tendency to plan. Probably the most important battle he won was at New York, allowing the British to cut off the New England colonies from the rest of the nation and giving them control of the Hudson River, though nothing substantial was ever done with this tactical advantage. In 1777, he chose to resign from his prestigious post since he was against the British war policy.
McCullough, David 1776 (Howe's shortcomings and victories)
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolutio1/p/hclinton.htm (The information about Howe's resignation)
General John "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne
Gentleman Johnny was called that because of his stylish way of living. He became famous for his work during the Seven Years' War, though his reputation was shattered after his crushing defeat at Saratoga. Burgoyne didn't do anything very important in this war besides lose at Saratoga, giving the Americans a distinct advantage. He was also an accomplished playwright, but his playwright reputation never quite reached his military reputation at its height.
http://www.masshist.org/bh/burgoynebio.html (Burgoyne information)
McCullough, David (Burgoyne's playwright career and other information)
Lord George Germain:
Lord Germain was the Secretary of Defense who oversaw all the generals' work back home in London. Germain was considered rather inefficient as he was largely blamed for the horrendous coordination of the British field commanders. Due to this inefficiency, Germain's military career ended after the failed war.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/515327/George-Sackville-Germain-1st-Viscount-Sackville (Germain as Secretary of Defense)
Lord Germain was the Secretary of Defense who oversaw all the generals' work back home in London. Germain was considered rather inefficient as he was largely blamed for the horrendous coordination of the British field commanders. Due to this inefficiency, Germain's military career ended after the failed war.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/515327/George-Sackville-Germain-1st-Viscount-Sackville (Germain as Secretary of Defense)
General Henry Clinton:
Sir Henry Clinton was an important general in the American Revolution and his role increased further when William Howe resigned as Commander in Chief, at which point he became the new Commander in Chief. As such, he orchestrated a porton of the events of the war in the north and the entire war in the south. Before Howe's resignation, the two argued constantly. He supported the idea to take over New York to cut Boston off from the other colonies. He was reportedly very distrustful of himself which crippled his reputed intelligence.
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolutio1/p/hclinton.htm (Clinton information)
McCullough, David 1776 (Clinton's arguments and unconfidence)
Sir Henry Clinton was an important general in the American Revolution and his role increased further when William Howe resigned as Commander in Chief, at which point he became the new Commander in Chief. As such, he orchestrated a porton of the events of the war in the north and the entire war in the south. Before Howe's resignation, the two argued constantly. He supported the idea to take over New York to cut Boston off from the other colonies. He was reportedly very distrustful of himself which crippled his reputed intelligence.
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolutio1/p/hclinton.htm (Clinton information)
McCullough, David 1776 (Clinton's arguments and unconfidence)
General Thomas Gage:
General Thomas Gage served alongside Washington during the French and Indian War in the Battle of the Monongahela. From 1763 to 1775 he served as Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in North America. He implemented the Intolerable Acts while serving as the military governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. His attempts to seize military stores of Patriot militias in April 1775 sparked the Battles of Lexington and Concord, beginning the American War of Independence. After the disastrous Pyrrhic victory in the June Battle of Bunker Hill, he was quickly replaced by General William Howe, and he returned to Britain. Gage is noticeable for starting the Revolutionary War with his rash attack on Lexington and Concord. Perhaps, if a more peaceful military governor had been in control of Massachusetts, the war never would have begun.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/223455/Thomas-Gage (Gage's Intolerable Acts and military governor career)
General Thomas Gage served alongside Washington during the French and Indian War in the Battle of the Monongahela. From 1763 to 1775 he served as Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in North America. He implemented the Intolerable Acts while serving as the military governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. His attempts to seize military stores of Patriot militias in April 1775 sparked the Battles of Lexington and Concord, beginning the American War of Independence. After the disastrous Pyrrhic victory in the June Battle of Bunker Hill, he was quickly replaced by General William Howe, and he returned to Britain. Gage is noticeable for starting the Revolutionary War with his rash attack on Lexington and Concord. Perhaps, if a more peaceful military governor had been in control of Massachusetts, the war never would have begun.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/223455/Thomas-Gage (Gage's Intolerable Acts and military governor career)
General Charles Cornwallis:
Born into an aristocratic family and educated at Eton and Cambridge, General Charles Cornwallis joined the British army in 1757. In 1762 he became an Earl, and was promoted to Colonel in 1766. During the Battle of Camden, he defeated the Americans, but surrendered his army in 1781 at Yorktown. He had many disagreements with his superior, Henry Clinton.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/138109/Charles-Cornwallis-1st-Marquess-and-2nd-Earl-Cornwallis (Cornwallis general information)
Born into an aristocratic family and educated at Eton and Cambridge, General Charles Cornwallis joined the British army in 1757. In 1762 he became an Earl, and was promoted to Colonel in 1766. During the Battle of Camden, he defeated the Americans, but surrendered his army in 1781 at Yorktown. He had many disagreements with his superior, Henry Clinton.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/138109/Charles-Cornwallis-1st-Marquess-and-2nd-Earl-Cornwallis (Cornwallis general information)
Everything else that is not from a source is either:
School textbook
School handouts
School notes
My own research
School textbook
School handouts
School notes
My own research