Historical Figures Chapter Notes | Social Studies for Grade 2 PDF Download

Introduction

Historical figures are important people from the past who helped make our world better. They did amazing things like inventing, leading, exploring, or fighting for what is right. In this chapter, we will learn about ten special people from the United States who made a big difference in history. Each person has a unique story that shows how one person can change the world!

Famous Americans Who Changed the World

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was a very smart man who lived a long time ago.

• He was born in 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts.
• He was a printer and wrote newspapers and books.
• He helped write important papers like the Declaration of Independence.
• He discovered things about electricity, like how lightning works.
• He invented things like bifocal glasses and a stove called the Franklin stove.
• He started the first library and fire department in America.
• He was a leader who helped make the United States a country.
• He loved learning and reading books.
• He died in 1790, but people still remember him today.

Paul Revere

Paul Revere was a brave man who helped during the American Revolution.

• He was born in 1735 in Boston, Massachusetts.
• He was a silversmith and made things like bowls and spoons.
• He is famous for his midnight ride to warn people about British soldiers.
• In 1775, he rode his horse to tell people the British were coming.
• His ride helped the American soldiers get ready to fight.
• He also made pictures and drawings to share news.
• He was a patriot who loved his country.
• He worked with other leaders like Samuel Adams.
• He died in 1818, and we still honor his bravery.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was a very important leader in America.

• He was born in 1743 in Virginia.
• He wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
• This paper said America wanted to be a free country.
• He was the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809.
• He helped buy a big piece of land called the Louisiana Purchase.
• He loved books and built a big library.
• He was a farmer and grew many plants at his home, Monticello.
• He also designed buildings because he liked architecture.
• He died in 1826, but his ideas still help America today.

Davy Crockett

Davy Crockett was a famous frontiersman and storyteller.

• He was born in 1786 in Tennessee.
• He was a great hunter and knew how to live in the wild.
• He told big stories about his adventures, like fighting bears.
• He was a soldier and fought in wars to protect people.
• He became a leader in the government and worked for fairness.
• He helped people in Tennessee by speaking for them.
• He fought at the Alamo in 1836 and died there bravely.
• People loved his stories, and he became a legend.
• His life teaches us about courage and helping others.

John Deere

John Deere was an inventor who helped farmers.

• He was born in 1804 in Vermont.
• He was a blacksmith and fixed tools for people.
• He made a special plow in 1837 that made farming easier.
• His plow was made of steel and could cut through tough soil.
• Farmers loved his plow because it saved them time.
• He started a company to make more plows and tools.
• His company, John Deere, is still famous today.
• He worked hard to make life better for farmers.
• He died in 1886, but his tools still help farmers.

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was a brave man who fought for freedom.

• He was born around 1818 in Maryland as an enslaved person.
• He taught himself to read and write, even though it was hard.
• He escaped from slavery when he was young.
• He became a speaker and wrote books about his life.
• He told people that slavery was wrong and should end.
• He helped women get the right to vote, too.
• He worked with other leaders to make America fairer.
• His newspaper, The North Star, shared his ideas.
• He died in 1895, but his words still inspire people.

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt was a strong leader and President.

• He was born in 1858 in New York.
• He loved nature and wanted to protect forests and animals.
• He was the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909.
• He made many national parks to save land for everyone.
• He was a soldier and led a group called the Rough Riders.
• He worked to make food and medicines safe for people.
• He helped build the Panama Canal for ships.
• He won a prize called the Nobel Peace Prize for helping countries get along.
• He died in 1919, but his love for nature lives on.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader who fought for fairness.

• He was born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia.
• He wanted everyone to be treated the same, no matter their skin color.
• He gave a famous speech called “I Have a Dream” in 1963.
• He led peaceful marches to ask for equal rights.
• He believed in love and peace, not fighting.
• He helped make laws that gave everyone equal rights.
• He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work.
• He was hurt and died in 1968, but his dream lives on.
• We celebrate his life every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong was an astronaut who went to the moon.

• He was born in 1930 in Ohio.
• He was a pilot and loved flying planes.
• In 1969, he became the first person to walk on the moon.
• He said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
• He was part of a space mission called Apollo 11.
• He worked with other astronauts to explore space.
• He taught people about space after his moon trip.
• He showed that people can do big things if they try.
• He died in 2012, but his adventure inspires us.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates is a man who helped make computers popular.

• He was born in 1955 in Seattle, Washington.
• He started a company called Microsoft with his friend.
• Microsoft made software that helps computers work.
• He made computers easier for everyone to use.
• He became one of the richest people in the world.
• He gives money to help people who are sick or poor.
• His group, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, helps schools and hospitals.
• He loves learning and reading books.
• He is still alive and helps make the world better.