Pocahontas was the daughter of the great Chief Powhatan. Pocahontas was instrumental in helping Jamestown settlers survive a difficult winter and literally keeping peace between two diverse cultures.
Robert E. Lee was considered by many to be an amazing man of character, determination, and talent. Confederate President Jefferson Davis hired him as his assistant for the war. Soon he was commanding the Army of Northern Virginia, and he commanded until his men could fight no more. In the end, he resigned with dignity and asked his men to do the same.
Thomas Jefferson was a gifted writer whose words helped form the country. Although at one time he wanted to be a great speaker, he found comfort and ease in writing. Not only was he a great writer, but also an architect, inventor, surveyor, scientist, and a brilliant politician. He wanted to make life better for all people.
Many years ago, doctors trained nurses to help them treat people. Today, nurses go to school to learn about medicine and about how to help people when they are sick. Nurses perform many of the same duties as doctors.
Abraham Lincoln was president during one of the most unique times in history. With a country on the brink of war, his ultimate goal was to keep the Union together. When Lincoln freed the slaves, he angered many Southerners, including his assassin, John Wilkes Booth.
Ulysses S. Grant was a warrior, hero, and a compassionate soldier. Grant led the Union army to victory during the Civil War. The North thought of him as a hero for ending the Civil War and elected him president of the United States.
Great Britain passed the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, which made colonists angry. Eventually they boycotted and refused to purchase British goods. Great Britain sent soldiers to the colonies, which caused conflict like the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. 'Common Sense' by Thomas Paine helped convince people that they were no longer British citizens. The foundation for the American Revolution had been laid.
Doctors help people stay healthy. When people get sick, doctors help them get well again. Today, doctors use many complex instruments to treat people. Long ago, doctors had few instruments and did not know as many ways to help people get well.
The American Indian culture consisted of specific customs and traditions that regulated everything from who would lead the tribes to who would marry within the tribes. They kept precise, detailed accounts of their tribal histories because they foresaw the importance of passing down their histories.
Slavery officially ended in 1865 with the Thirteenth Amendment. But this did not mean that hard times were over. All of a sudden there were over 400,000 freed slaves who needed jobs and homes. Despite the fact that the law said they were free, many African Americans experienced discrimination due to segregation laws and racism. They were paid unfair wages and many ended up in debt. From the end of the Civil War to 1970 is known as the Great Migration. More than 7 million African Americans left the South in search of a better life. They established themselves in cities like Harlem where art, music, and literature flourished. During this time, there were many influential people who fought to end segregation and to improve the lives of African Americans. Marcus Garvey and W.E.B. Du Bois started organizations to unite African Americans. Booker T. Washington opened a university to promote education. Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. led nonviolent protests. Finally after 10 years of protests, the Civil Rights Act became law in 1964.
After problems developed with the Articles of Confederation, America’s leaders wrote the U.S. Constitution. Although our founding fathers were happy with their work on the Constitution, it was missing an important part. The Bill of Rights was soon added to protect individual American rights.
Siddhartha Gautama was born to the king of a tribe in northern India. He became known as “The Buddha.” Buddha traveled India for 45 years, teaching anyone who would listen.
