There were many Americans who had very ordinary lives before they changed the history of the United States and became famous. You may be surprised by the lives of some of the people.
Abraham Lincoln worked as a handyman building fences, harvesting corn, and plowing fields. He became the 16 th President of the United States and is known for signing the Emancipation
Proclamation, which ended slavery. Franklin D.
Roosevelt began his career as a member of the New
York State Senate. He is known for having the longest presidency, which lasted twelve years.
During his presidency, he led the country through the Great Depression and World War II. Martin
Luther King, Jr., was a Baptist minister. He became the leader of the Civil Rights Movement and is famous for his “I Have a Dream. . .” speech at the March on Washington.
Women also played a part in changing American history. Sacagawea was a Shoshone Indian who became an interpreter for Lewis and Clark. She used her skills to help guide the expedition across the United States. Susan B. Anthony started her career as a schoolteacher but is known for her role as a suffragist. As a suffragist, she fought to give women the right to vote, and eventually she succeeded. Rosa Parks was a seamstress who is known for her decision to not give up her bus seat.
Her actions started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was a pivotal incident in the Civil Rights
Movement. All of these people changed American history, but they started out as ordinary citizens just like you and me!
I.
II.
Men
A.
Abraham Lincoln
1.
Handyman a.
Built fences b.
Harvested corn c.
Plowed fields
2. 16 th U.S. President
a. signed Emancipation
Proclamation – ended
Ordinary Famous Men
1 Abraham Lincoln
2 Handyman
3 Built fences
3 Harvested corn
3 Plowed fields
2 16 th U.S. President
2 signed Emancipation
Proclamation – ended slavery
1 Franklin D. Roosevelt
2 Began career in N.Y. State Senate
slavery
B.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
1.
Began career in N.Y. State Senate
2.
Longest Presidency – 12 years
3.
Led country through WWII &
Depression
C.
Martin Luther King
1.
Baptist minister
2.
Leader of civil rights movement
3.
“I Have a Dream…” famous speech
Women
A.
Sacagawea
1.
Shoshone Indian
2.
Interpreter for Lewis & Clark expedition
2 Longest Presidency – 12 years
2 Led country through WWII & Depression
1 Martin Luther King
2 Baptist minister
2 Leader of civil rights movement
2 “I Have a Dream…” famous speech
Ordinary Famous Women
1 Sacagawea
2 Shoshone Indian
2 Interpreter for Lewis & Clark expedition
1 Susan B. Anthony
B.
Susan B. Anthony
1.
2.
Former schoolteacher
Suffragist – woman’s right to vote
C.
Rosa Parks
1.
Seamstress
2.
Didn’t give up bus seat a.
Inspired Montgomery Bus
Boycott
2 Former schoolteacher
2 Suffragist – woman’s right to vote
1 Rosa Parks
2 Seamstress
2 Didn’t give up bus seat
3 Inspired Montgomery Bus Boycott
3 Was pivotal incident in civil rights
movement
Was pivotal incident in civil rights movement