African American History Elise Petruska, Ryan Dalson, Veronica Bogdanski, Jason Strauss

Introduction Though few records were kept in the 1700s, we found four events that have greatly impacted our world today. African Americans from Crispus Attucks to Benjamin Banneker have changed our world for the better.

Crispus Attucks The fearless leader of the riot that brought on the Boston Massacre He was one of the first men to die for the American Revolution, he was a fugitive slave who had escaped from his master and worked 20 years as a merchant.

Pictures of Crispus Attucks

Crispus Attucks Crispus Attucks was killed by gunshot in the Boston Massacre When five victims were buried in a common grave Attucks was the only victim of the Boston Massacre who was mildly remembered. He went down in history as the first black man to fight for independence for America from the hands of Britain.

Phillis Wheatley Phillis Wheatley was a poet She wrote 145 poems in her life She became a poet at 18 years old

Pictures of Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley The countess of Huntingdon helped Phillis publish a collection of her work Though most of her poems were published because she begged Tough times did not discourage Phillis because she was able to keep publishing her poems

Revolutionary War 5000 African Americans participated in the Revolutionary War on the American side. Although ¾ of the African Americans in Georgia joined the British side because they were promised independence.

Pictures of Revolutionary War

Revolutionary War The navy at the time of the Revolutionary War recruited both free African Americans and enslaved African Americans African Americans fought at Lexington and Concord, bunker Hill, Fort Ticonderoga, Saratoga, and Yorktown.

Benjamin Banneker Benjamin Banneker was a mathematician and scientist and he saved our nations capital with his incredible intellect. Andrew Ellicott, the son of George Ellicott, and Benjamin were hired as surveyors and mathematicians in the planning of Washington D.C. It was the first time an African American had received a presidential appointment for a scientific project.

Benjamin Banneker L’Enfant designed Washington D.C. but got in a misunderstanding with the Americans and left with his plans for the city and Benjamin Banneker remembered the designs for the unfinished city and saved our nations capital. Because Banneker reconstructed the plans for Washington D.C. he laid to rest the idea that he was not qualified to be part of the survey team.

Conclusion All the events we have explained to you today are in fact a very important part of not only African American history but also women's rights.