People Who Changed The United States
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence. The declaration stated a lofty vision of equal rights and freedom. Jefferson served as President for two terms. He was a believer in religious tolerance and religious freedom. Jefferson passed a law on freedom of religious conscience on the Virginia statue book.
Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin was a person of great character and energy. Franklin was an inventor who showed lighting could conduct electricity. He also served as foreign ambassador to France during a turbulent time.
George Washington
George Washington served as commander in Chief of the American forces during the War of Independence. George Washington also served as first US president.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was US president 1861-1865. He took his nation into a civil war to protect against a split between north and south and defend the union of the United States. The war also became an issue which led to the emancipation of slaves
Emily Dickinson.
One of America's greatest female poets, Emily Dickinson's themes of death and immortality became very popular and influenced the development of modern poetry.
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was a very successful businessman who revolutionised mass car production. His assembly lines were so efficient they reduced the cost of family cars making them available to average workers for the first time. Henry Ford had a ruthless streak in dealing with unions and displayed anti-semitic views on numerous occasions.
John Steinbeck.
One of the most influential US authors. Steinbeck wrote about the devastation of the Great Depression in novels such as The Grapes of Wrath and Mice and Men.
Rosa Parks
In 1955, Rosa Parks made a simple act of defiance. But, her refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Alabama led to a nationwide protest against segregation. It was an instrumental part of the civil rights struggle which helped end official segregation in the US.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley defined the pop age. An icon who epitomised the age of the 50s and 60s.
Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King was the most influential figure in the US civil rights movement. He powerfully articulated a sense of injustice about racial discrimination and motivated others to work for the end of racial segregation and a more equal society.
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy was only president for three years before his untimely assassination. He stamped his mark on America with his inaugural speech in 1961. He was the first Catholic president and presented a young and liberal face to America.
Malcolm X
A radical alternative to Martin Luther King's approach to civil rights. Malcolm X advocated a more radical brand of the civil rights struggle.
Lyndon Johnson
Whilst JFK seemed to be favouring reducing involvement in Vietnam, under Lyndon Johnson American involvement increased. The US became embroiled in a lengthy battle they were unable to win or extricate themselves from. The Vietnam war became increasingly unpopular as TV images should the casualties and destruction live on TV. Under Lyndon Johnson, the US passed the first major wave of civil rights legislation which sought to end the legalised system of segregation (apartheid)
Billie Jean King
Women's tennis player. One of the most successful professional players. Billie Jean King helped women gain equal recognition in a male dominated sporting arena.
Bill Gates
Founded Microsoft, Bill Gates became the richest man in the world. His Microsoft operating system have become one of the most widely used products in the computer age.
Ronald Reagan
Broke up post war consensus of Keynesian economics and welfare. Oversaw large tax cuts and rise in defence spending. President during period of easing in cold war tensions with Soviet Union
Bill Clinton
Presided over period of economic prosperity and relative international calm.
Hilary Clinton
Hilary Clinton. Wife of Bill Clinton. Senator and unsuccessfully ran against Barack Obama for Democrat nomination in 2008.
George W Bush jr
President during September 11th. Took US into war against Iraq and pursued ' A War on Terrorism
Barack Obama
Barack Obama was the first non-white US president. He was elected after 8 years of Bush presidency that increasingly polarised the world and US opinion. After only one year as president he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in the hope he would be able to reach out to parts of the world alienated under the previous administration.