Famous Americans

Politicians Thomas Paine -Wrote Common Sense which called for independence from Britain Thomas Paine -Wrote Common Sense which called for independence from Britain

Alexander Hamilton Federalist Federalist Sec. of Treasury- Bank of U.S. Sec. of Treasury- Bank of U.S.

John Marshall Chief Justice of Supreme Court; decisions helped increase power of federal gov’t Chief Justice of Supreme Court; decisions helped increase power of federal gov’t established judicial review established judicial review

Douglas MacArthur Led U.S. occupation of Japan after WWII Led U.S. occupation of Japan after WWII Led UN troops during Korean War Led UN troops during Korean War dismissed by Pres. Truman for disagreeing with him dismissed by Pres. Truman for disagreeing with him

Joseph McCarthy Senator who led anti-communist movement Senator who led anti-communist movement claimed there were communists in State Dept. and U.S. Army claimed there were communists in State Dept. and U.S. Army

Thurgood Marshall Head lawyer for NAACP during Brown v. Board of Ed Head lawyer for NAACP during Brown v. Board of Ed first African- American Supreme Court justice first African- American Supreme Court justice

Sandra Day O’Connor 1 st female Supreme Court Justice 1 st female Supreme Court Justice

Businessmen Henry Ford Henry Ford  automobile manufacturer  used assembly line and interchangeable parts  made Model T affordable

John Rockefeller industrialist who had monopoly in oil industry [Standard Oil Company] industrialist who had monopoly in oil industry [Standard Oil Company] philanthropist philanthropist

Andrew Carnegie industrialist who had monopoly in steel industry [Carnegie Steel] industrialist who had monopoly in steel industry [Carnegie Steel] philanthropist philanthropist defended Social Darwinism defended Social Darwinism

Bill Gates Businessman Businessman software developer [Microsoft] software developer [Microsoft] philanthropist philanthropist

Reformers William Lloyd Garrison William Lloyd Garrison  Abolitionist  published anti- slavery newspaper The Liberator

Frederick Douglas Abolitionist Abolitionist former slave former slave published The North Star published The North Star also spoke for women’s rights also spoke for women’s rights

Harriet Tubman Abolitionist Abolitionist helped slaves escape by the Underground Railroad helped slaves escape by the Underground Railroad

Booker T Washington African American educator and scientist African American educator and scientist founded Tuskegee Institute founded Tuskegee Institute felt Blacks should earn equality through education and hard work felt Blacks should earn equality through education and hard work

WEB Du Bois African American civil rights leader African American civil rights leader founder of NAACP founder of NAACP opposed Booker T Washington’s viewpoint opposed Booker T Washington’s viewpoint influenced Harlem Renaissance by stressing pride in heritage influenced Harlem Renaissance by stressing pride in heritage

Jane Addams Founder of Hull House in Chicago [settlement house for immigrants] Founder of Hull House in Chicago [settlement house for immigrants] supported women’s rights supported women’s rights won Nobel Peace Prize won Nobel Peace Prize

Jacob Riis Muckraker Muckraker exposed poor conditions of slums and tenements exposed poor conditions of slums and tenements wrote How the Other Half Lives wrote How the Other Half Lives

Dorothea Dix social reformer social reformer worked for improved treatment of mentally ill worked for improved treatment of mentally ill

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Suffragette Suffragette organized the Seneca Falls Convention organized the Seneca Falls Convention president of the National Woman Suffrage Association president of the National Woman Suffrage Association

Susan B Anthony Suffragette Suffragette Leader of women’s rights movement Leader of women’s rights movement

Samuel Gompers Labor leader Labor leader organizer of the American Federation of Labor [skilled labor union] organizer of the American Federation of Labor [skilled labor union]

Rosa Parks Activist Activist refusal to give up bus seat lead to 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott- beginning of civil rights movement refusal to give up bus seat lead to 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott- beginning of civil rights movement

Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights leader Civil Rights leader use of civil disobedience and non-violence use of civil disobedience and non-violence founded Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded Southern Christian Leadership Conference “I Have a Dream” speech “I Have a Dream” speech won Nobel Peace Prize won Nobel Peace Prize assassinated in 1968 assassinated in 1968

Malcolm X Leader of Black Power movement Leader of Black Power movement advocated black separatism and use of violence if necessary advocated black separatism and use of violence if necessary assassinated in 1965 assassinated in 1965

Cesar Chavez Latino labor leader Latino labor leader migrant farm worker migrant farm worker formed United Farm Workers Union formed United Farm Workers Union organized grape boycott organized grape boycott

Rachel Carson Biologist; wrote book Silent Spring attacking use of pesticides Biologist; wrote book Silent Spring attacking use of pesticides stimulated environmental movement stimulated environmental movement

Betty Friedan Women’s rights activist Women’s rights activist wrote Feminine Mystique (1963) which encouraged women to work outside the home wrote Feminine Mystique (1963) which encouraged women to work outside the home founded National Organization of Women (1966) founded National Organization of Women (1966)

Jesse Jackson African American civil rights activist African American civil rights activist ran for president ran for president served as diplomat to negotiate with foreign leaders served as diplomat to negotiate with foreign leaders

Writers and Artists Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Beecher Stowe  Wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin which increased moral opposition to slavery

Upton Sinclair Muckraker Muckraker journalist journalist wrote The Jungle which led to Meat Inspection Act of 1906 and Pure Food and Drug Act wrote The Jungle which led to Meat Inspection Act of 1906 and Pure Food and Drug Act

Langston Hughes African American author and poet African American author and poet leading figure during Harlem Renaissance leading figure during Harlem Renaissance

Duke Ellington Jazz and Blues artist during Harlem Renaissance Jazz and Blues artist during Harlem Renaissance help popularize American music worldwide help popularize American music worldwide

Miscellaneous Sacco and Vanzetti Sacco and Vanzetti  Italian immigrants; anarchists  executed for armed robbery and murder during the Red Scare of the 1920s  cleared in 1977

Eleanor Roosevelt First lady First lady political activist for rights of African Americans and women political activist for rights of African Americans and women helped create UN Declaration on Human Rights and UN commission on Human Rights helped create UN Declaration on Human Rights and UN commission on Human Rights

Jackie Robinson Professional baseball player Professional baseball player first African American to play for major league baseball [Brooklyn Dodgers] first African American to play for major league baseball [Brooklyn Dodgers]