Read about historical figures Chapter Notes | Social Studies for Grade 3 PDF Download

Introduction

Learning about historical figures helps us understand the past and how people made a difference in the world. These individuals worked hard, showed courage, and helped others in many ways. In this chapter, we will explore the lives and contributions of important people who shaped the United States. From leaders and inventors to activists and heroes, their stories inspire us to be kind, brave, and creative.

Heroes and Leaders in American History

George Washington

George Washington was the first President of the United States.

• He was born on February 22, 1732, in Virginia.
• He was a farmer and a surveyor before becoming a leader.
• He led the American army during the Revolutionary War to fight for freedom from Britain.
• He helped create the U.S. Constitution, which is the plan for the government.
• He served as President from 1789 to 1797 for two terms.
• He is called the "Father of His Country" because he helped start the United States.
• He lived at Mount Vernon, his home in Virginia.
• He believed in fairness and worked to unite the country.
• He died in 1799, but his ideas are still important today.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States.

• He was born on February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Kentucky.
• He taught himself to read and became a lawyer.
• He led the country during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865.
• He worked to keep the United States together when some states wanted to leave.
• He signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 to free enslaved people in the South.
• He believed all people should be treated equally.
• He gave a famous speech called the Gettysburg Address.
• He was President from 1861 until he was killed in 1865.
• He is remembered for his honesty and kindness.

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was a brave woman who helped enslaved people escape to freedom.

• She was born around 1820 in Maryland and was enslaved.
• She escaped from slavery in 1849 and went to the North.
• She helped others escape through the Underground Railroad, a secret path to freedom.
• She made about 13 trips and helped around 70 people reach freedom.
• She was called "Moses" because she led people to safety.
• During the Civil War, she worked as a nurse and a spy for the Union army.
• She spoke out for women’s rights and equal treatment for all.
• She lived until 1913 and never stopped helping others.
• Her courage inspires people today.

Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony worked to get women the right to vote.

• She was born on February 15, 1820, in Massachusetts.
• She grew up in a family that believed in fairness for all people.
• She traveled across the country to give speeches about women’s rights.
• She helped start groups to fight for women’s right to vote, called suffrage.
• In 1872, she voted in an election, which was against the law then, to show it was unfair.
• She also worked to end slavery and help people in need.
• She never married and spent her life working for equality.
• She died in 1906, but her work led to women voting in 1920.
• Her face is on a U.S. dollar coin to honor her.

Sitting Bull

Sitting Bull was a leader of the Lakota Sioux people.

• He was born around 1831 in what is now South Dakota.
• He was a strong warrior and a spiritual leader for his people.
• He led his people to protect their land and way of life.
• In 1876, he helped win the Battle of Little Bighorn against the U.S. army.
• He wanted Native Americans to keep their traditions and freedom.
• He traveled with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show to share his culture.
• He spoke out for Native American rights.
• He was killed in 1890 during a conflict with soldiers.
• His bravery and leadership are still remembered.

Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison was an inventor who created many important things.

• He was born on February 11, 1847, in Ohio.
• He did not do well in school but loved to learn on his own.
• He invented the light bulb that could be used in homes.
• He also invented the phonograph, which played music and sounds.
• He improved the telephone to make it work better.
• He built a laboratory to test his ideas and make new inventions.
• He had over 1,000 patents, which are papers for new ideas.
• He worked hard and never gave up, even when things failed.
• He died in 1931, but his inventions changed the world.

George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was a scientist who helped farmers.

• He was born around 1864 in Missouri and was born enslaved.
• He loved plants and studied them in school.
• He became a teacher at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.
• He taught farmers to grow peanuts and sweet potatoes to help the soil.
• He found over 300 ways to use peanuts, like making oil and butter.
• He helped poor farmers improve their lives with better crops.
• He believed in sharing knowledge to help others.
• He was kind and worked to make life better for everyone.
• He died in 1943, and his work is still important today.

Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart was a brave pilot who flew airplanes.

• She was born on July 24, 1897, in Kansas.
• She loved adventure and learned to fly in 1921.
• In 1932, she was the first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean.
• She set many records for flying long distances.
• She wrote books and gave speeches to inspire others.
• She showed women could do the same jobs as men.
• In 1937, she tried to fly around the world but disappeared.
• Her plane was never found, but her courage is remembered.
• She inspired many people to follow their dreams.

Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall was a lawyer and judge who fought for fairness.

• He was born on July 2, 1908, in Maryland.
• He studied law and worked to help people treated unfairly.
• He won a big case in 1954 that said schools must be open to all races.
• This case was called Brown v. Board of Education.
• He worked for the NAACP to fight for equal rights.
• In 1967, he became the first Black Supreme Court Justice.
• He made decisions to protect people’s rights on the Supreme Court.
• He believed everyone should have the same chances in life.
• He died in 1993, but his work made the country fairer.

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks helped start the Civil Rights Movement.

• She was born on February 4, 1913, in Alabama.
• She worked as a seamstress and helped with civil rights groups.
• In 1955, she refused to give up her bus seat to a white person.
• This happened in Montgomery, Alabama, and she was arrested.
• Her action led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, where people stopped using buses.
• The boycott helped change laws to make buses fair for all.
• She moved to Detroit and kept working for equal rights.
• She received many awards for her bravery.
• She died in 2005, and her courage is still celebrated.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was the first Black baseball player in Major League Baseball.

• He was born on January 31, 1919, in Georgia.
• He was great at many sports, like baseball, football, and track.
• In 1947, he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the color barrier.
• Before him, Black players could only play in separate leagues.
• He faced unfair treatment but stayed strong and played well.
• He was named the best new player in 1947 and a star in 1949.
• He helped his team win the World Series in 1955.
• After retiring, he worked for equal rights for all.
• He died in 1972, and his number 42 is honored in baseball.

Cesar Chavez

Cesar Chavez worked to help farmworkers have better lives.

• He was born on March 31, 1927, in Arizona.
• His family worked as farmers and faced hard times.
• He started a group called the United Farm Workers (UFW).
• He led strikes and boycotts to get fair pay and safer work for farmers.
• In the 1960s, he organized a grape boycott to help workers.
• He believed in peaceful ways to make changes, like marches.
• He taught people to work together for fairness.
• He received awards for his work, including a medal from the President.
• He died in 1993, but his work still helps workers today.