An
Early American Hero
•
Skill: Sequence
What
do you know about the heroes of our country's past? Who will
we remember as heroes in the future? As you complete the activities
in An Early American Hero, you'll learn about some people
we remember for the great things they said and did. You'll
also think about people from the present whose voices may
echo in the years to come.
Start
by clicking the first activity below.
Take-Home
Activity: Voices
to Remember
If you don't already have a copy of this activity, click the
link above. Then print out the page or copy the instructions.
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| Abigail
Smith Adams |
Frederick
Douglass |
Before
You Read: Heroes of the Past
Our
country's history includes the stories of many heroes—people
whose words and deeds have had a positive impact on the lives
of other Americans and on American society as a whole. Some
of these people were famous in their day. Others were not
fully appreciated at the time, but said or did things that
future generations have recognized as important. Many of these
voices from the past still echo today.
With a partner, talk about American heroes you admire. List
three of these historical figures. Write a sentence or two
about each person, telling why she or he was important.
When you're finished, read on to learn about three important
Americans that you may or may not have thought of.
Americans
Whose Words Still Echo
Abigail
Smith Adams
- Abigail
Smith Adams was the wife of John Adams, the second President
of the United States. She was also the mother of John Quincy
Adams, the sixth President of the United States. Abigail
Adams became known for her strong opinions and new ideas.
In many of the letters that she wrote to her family members
and friends, she spoke out against slavery and for women's
rights. In one of her most famous letters, she asked her
husband, then in the
Continental Congress, to
"remember the ladies"—that is, to allow women also
to have a part in the making of laws. The thousands of letters
that she wrote have helped historians learn more about the
times in which she lived.
Frederick Douglass
- Frederick
Douglass was an important voice for African Americans in
the mid-nineteenth century. He was born into slavery, but
managed to flee to freedom when he was still a young man.
He spoke out against slavery and protested the discrimination
that he saw in the workplace, in schools, and even in churches.
Douglass founded an antislavery newspaper and wrote two
inspiring books about his own life.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- Franklin
Delano Roosevelt was our nation's 32nd President. Despite
being unable to walk as the result of polio, he held office
longer than any other President—twelve years. Roosevelt
guided the United States through difficult times: he led
our country out of the Great
Depression in the 1930s,
and he supplied strong leadership throughout the course
of World War II. He made one of his most memorable statements
in a speech to the American public over the radio in the
darkest days of the Depression: "The only thing we have
to fear is fear itself."
Now read about an American scientist and mathematician who
helped many people see that great thinkers come from all races
and backgrounds.
Read "Benjamin
Banneker" and complete the worksheet.
If
you don't have a copy of the worksheet, click "Benjamin
Banneker" Worksheet. Then print out the page
or copy the instructions.
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Benjamin
Banneker
In
1792, when it seemed as if work on the United States of
America's new capital city was about to come to a grinding
halt, Benjamin Banneker came to the rescue. The French architect
who had been in charge of planning the city, Pierre L'Enfant,
was fired because of his hotheaded behavior. He immediately
left the country and returned to France, taking with him
all the plans for the city of Washington. President George
Washington and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson were
distressed.
Would they have to start all over, having a year's worth
of work go to waste? Perhaps not. Noted surveyor Benjamin
Banneker had been working closely with L'Enfant and Chief
Surveyor Andrew Ellicott. Banneker thought he might be able
to redraw all the plans—from memory! Two days later
he delivered the plans, and construction proceeded without
significant delay. Today the city of Washington, D.C., stands
as a reminder of Banneker's genius.
Who
was this individual who gave us our elegant capital? Benjamin
Banneker was born in the
colony of Maryland in 1731.
On his mother's side he was the grandson of a woman from
England and an enslaved man from Africa. His mother, Mary,
a free woman, married an enslaved man named Robert. Since
Benjamin's mother was free, he was born into freedom. When
Benjamin was twelve, he began attending a school near his
family's farm. There he became interested in mathematics.
He was so good at the subject that soon he knew more than
his teacher!
One
day, when Banneker was a teenager, he saw something that
caught hold of his imagination and wouldn't let go. It was
a pocket watch, something totally new to him. The watch
belonged to a man named Joseph Levi. When Levi saw how the
watch fascinated the young man, he told him he could keep
it. Banneker's fascination with the watch went beyond simply
admiring its function. He wanted to discover how it worked
so he could make his own
timepiece! By taking the
watch apart and examining its works, and then reading a
few books, Banneker was able to draw up plans for a large
clock. That clock took him two years to construct; he carved
all the pieces out of wood. It was probably the first clock
built entirely in America. Banneker's timepiece was a sensation:
people came from far away to see it. The clock kept near-perfect
time for decades to come.
After
finishing his clock, Banneker continued his studies. He
was given a telescope and some books on astronomy, and he
used these to learn about the stars and planets. Putting
to use his new knowledge of astronomy and his skills in
mathematics, Banneker successfully predicted a solar eclipse
in 1789. Three years later he published the first of ten
almanacs. His almanacs
predicted when eclipses would occur, when the sun would
rise and set each day, what the weather would be like, and
more. These books also included writings by Banneker and
others. They became quite popular with the American public.
Benjamin
Banneker was an
outspoken opponent of slavery.
He printed writings against slavery in his almanacs. He
even sent a copy of his almanac along with a letter arguing
against slavery to Thomas Jefferson, who was then secretary
of state and a slave owner. Jefferson was impressed with
Banneker's talent. He and many others saw Banneker as proof
that intelligence and ability were not linked to the color
of a person's skin.
Today
we remember Banneker for many different reasons. His great
mind saved the plans for our nation's capital. He wrote
practical books as well as passionate appeals for equality.
At a time when many Americans believed otherwise, he showed
that people of all races and backgrounds possess great minds.
Benjamin Banneker was truly an early American hero.
When
you finish the "Benjamin
Banneker" Worksheet, use Rate Yourself to
judge how well you did on this Reading Journey.
If
you don't have a copy of Rate Yourself, click Rate
Yourself. Then print out the page or copy the
instructions.
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