Audience versions of this page: FamilyOn January 11, 1775, Francis Salvador, nicknamed the “Southern Paul Revere,” took his seat as part of the South Carolina Provincial Congress in Charlestown (now Charleston). Salvador was the first Jewish person elected to office in what would become the United States.Salvador was a Sephardic Jew from a prosperous family in England. His family had recently lost much of their wealth. Salvador moved to South Carolina in 1773, seeking a better, more independent life for his wife and children. They remained in London until Salvador’s plantation in western South Carolina (what was called “Jews’ Land”) was settled.Salvador quickly joined the Revolutionary War. He earned his nickname, the “Southern Paul Revere,” in the summer of 1776, when his horse galloped nearly 45 kilometers (28 miles) to warn settlers of a planned attack by Cherokee and Loyalist (pro-British) forces.
Term Part of Speech Definition Encyclopedic Entry Cherokee Noun
people and culture native to the southeastern United States.
legislative branch of the government, responsible for making laws. The U.S. Congress has two bodies, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
to choose by vote.
to ride a horse at full speed.
free from influence, threat, or support.
having to do with the religion or culture of people tracing their ancestry to the ancient Middle East and the spiritual leaders Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
large estate or farm involving large landholdings and many workers.
Revolutionary War Noun
(1775-1783) conflict between Great Britain and the colonies that became the United States. Also called the American War of Independence.
having to do with country life, or areas with few residents.
to tear the skin from the head.
having to do with the Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula, expelled from Spain and Portugal in 1492.
person who migrates and establishes a residence in a largely unpopulated area.
amount of money or other valuable materials.