John Adams (Massachusetts): bold and brash personality
Abigail Adams: Abigail’s tone is one of maturity, intellectual support, and strong encouragement to her husband John Adams.
Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania): pleasant, philosophical, boyish, often funny
Thomas Jefferson (Virginia): Pensive, quiet, strong silent type
Martha Jefferson: Martha is flirtatious, young, and attractive and fiercely devoted to her husband.
John Dickinson (Pennsylvania): is the primary adversary of the show, portrayed as opposing Independence. He represents the conservative side of Congress, the wealthy landowners who do not want to break from Great Britain.
Edward Rutledge (South Carolina) a commanding actor, with excellent oratory skills. He is the secondary antagonist role, next to Mr. Dickenson. Youngest member of congress. Speaks with an elegant, educated South Carolina accent. Has the most dramatic song in the show
Richard Henry Lee (Virginia): Excellent comic character that sets the show in motion. Gregarious buffoon
Robert Livingston (New York) Cosmopolitan
Roger Sherman (Connecticut)
Samuel Chase (Maryland) Large and clumsy
Charles Thomson (congressional clerk and secretary) in the show, he reads all the letters from General George Washington, introduces each item up for vote, gives minutes from previous sessions of congress
Andrew McNair (congressional custodian and bellringer) In the show, he is portrayed as a quirky, exasperated middle-aged man who lights the fires and candles, opens and closes the windows, fills the ink wells, and keeps the continental congress meeting room clean, in addition to ringing the Liberty Bell. McNair’s additional job is to fetch mugs of rum, mostly for Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island.
The Leather Apron (apprentice): Teenaged, helper of McNair.
The Courier: Teenager bringing news from the battlefield, one solo.
John Hancock (president of Congress, Massachusetts) Often bored with proceedings, caustic when sparked, quick
Dr. Josiah Bartlett (New Hampshire) Dry and reserved
Stephen Hopkins (Rhode Island) Crusty old geezer who loves his rum. Supporter of Independence.
Lewis Morris (New York) Lead delegate of New York, who abstains from every vote. Proper and unphased.
Reverend John Witherspoon (New Jersey): Lead delegate from New Jersey. Supporter of Independence. Congressional Chaplain. Softspoken and pious.
James Wilson (Pennsylvania): Wilson is portrayed as a mere “sidekick” to his fellow delegate John Dickinson, and usually parrots whatever John Dickinson says. He holds a key role in the passage of Independence at the very end of the show.
Caesar Rodney (Delaware): Caesar Rodney wears a type of chin strap or head scarf that apparently covers some sort of injury or malady. He is a supporter of Independence, but is very ill.
Colonel Thomas McKean (Delaware): Argumentative and very loud.
George Read (Delaware): argues with members of his own delegation. Usually portrayed as a “weasel” who always seconds the motions of the opposition (those against Independence).
Joseph Hewes (North Carolina) His main characteristic is that he is always deferring to Edward Rutledge of South Carolina and does not seem to have much independent thought for himself.
Dr. Lymon Hall (Georgia): Physician and pastor. Has an important dramatic scene toward the end of the show.