# The American Crisis — Character guide

> Key figures in The American Crisis by Thomas Paine.

- [Thomas Paine](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/thomas_paine.md): Author and narrator of The American Crisis, urging American independence and resilience.
- [America](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/america.md): Personified nation representing the American colonies and their struggle for liberty.
- [Britain](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/britain.md): Personified adversary nation representing British monarchy and parliamentary tyranny.
- [George Washington](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/george_washington.md): Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, praised for leadership and perseverance.
- [Sir William Howe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/william_howe.md): British general commanding forces in America, criticized for indecisiveness.
- [Lord Howe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/lord_howe.md): British admiral and peace commissioner, brother of Sir William Howe.
- [General Burgoyne](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/john_burgoyne.md): British general defeated at Saratoga, symbol of British failure.
- [Silas Deane](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/silas_deane.md): American diplomat in France, later accused of treason and defended by Paine.
- [Benjamin Franklin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/benjamin_franklin.md): American statesman and diplomat in France, admired for wisdom.
- [Lord North](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/lord_north.md): British Prime Minister during the American Revolution, blamed for the war.
- [Congress](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/congress.md): Continental Congress, governing body of the American colonies.
- [Captain Asgill](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/captain_asgill.md): British prisoner of war whose life was spared by Congress.
- [Lord Shelburne](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/lord_shelburne.md): British statesman and peace negotiator, addressed by Paine.
- [General Gage](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/general_gage.md): British commander in Boston early in the war.
- [General Clinton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/general_clinton.md): British commander-in-chief in America later in the war.
- [General Conway](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/general_conway.md): British general and politician, criticized by Paine.
- [Lord Sheffield](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/lord_sheffield.md): British peer and writer on trade, rebutted by Paine.
- [Cornwallis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/cornwallis.md): British general who surrendered at Yorktown.
- [Mr. Grenville](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/mr_grenville.md): British politician associated with the Stamp Act.
- [George the Third](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/george_the_third.md): King of Britain, blamed for tyranny against the colonies.
- [John Pemberton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/john_pemberton.md): Quaker leader criticized for pacifist stance during war.
- [William Eden](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/william_eden.md): British peace commissioner to America, addressed by Paine.
- [George Johnston](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/george_johnston.md): British naval officer and politician mentioned in context of war.
- [Lord Chatham](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/lord_chatham.md): British statesman who sympathized with American grievances.
- [General Carleton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/general_carleton.md): British governor of Canada during the war.
- [General Gates](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/general_gates.md): American general who defeated Burgoyne at Saratoga.
- [Dr. Price](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/dr_price.md): British clergyman and supporter of American independence.
- [Sir John Dalrymple](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/sir_john_dalrymple.md): British historian and pamphleteer criticized by Paine.
- [The Quakers](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/the_quakers.md): Religious group opposed to war, rebuked by Paine for neutrality.
- [Tories](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/tories.md): American colonists loyal to Britain, denounced as traitors.
- [Hessians](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/hessians.md): German mercenaries hired by Britain to fight in America.
- [Providence](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/providence.md): Divine force invoked as guiding American cause.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters