A discussion about heroic figures in American history and culture.

1. American Heroes

2. George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732 –
December 14, 1799) was the dominant
military and political leader of the new United
States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led
the American victory over Great Britain in
the American Revolutionary War and presided
over the writing of the U.S. Constitution in
1787. He was the unanimous choice to serve
as the first President of the United States from
1789 to 1797. Washington is universally
regarded as the "Father of his Country".

3. George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. (November 11, 1885
– December 21, 1945) was a United States
Army officer best known for his leadership
while commanding corps and armies as
a general during World War II. He was also
well known for his eccentricity and
controversial outspokenness.
In World War II, he commanded corps and
armies in North Africa, Sicily, and
the European Theater of Operations. In 1944,
Patton assumed command of the U.S. Third
Army, which under his leadership advanced
farther, captured more enemy prisoners, and
liberated more territory in less time than any
other army in military history.

4. What do you think?
• Do you think that military leaders are
“heroes?” Why or why not?
• Who are some famous generals and leaders
from your history?
• Are there some military leaders that inspire
you in other areas of life?

5. Lewis and Clark
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark lead the first
transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the
United States from 1804 to 1806. Lewis and Clark were
some of the first Americans to explore the area that is
now the western United States. Along the way they
learned many new things about the land and its people.

6. Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 –
October 24, 2005) was an African-American civil
rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the
first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the
freedom movement".
On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama,
Parks, age 42, refused to obey bus driver James
Blake's order that she give up her seat to make
room for a white passenger. Parks' act of defiance
became an important symbol of the modern Civil
Rights Movement and Parks became an
international icon of resistance to racial
segregation. She worked with many civil rights
leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr., helping
to launch him to national prominence in the civil
rights movement.

7. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April
4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist,
and prominent leader in the African-American
Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for
being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil
rights in the United States and around the world,
using nonviolent methods following the
teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. King has become
a national icon in the history of modern American
liberalism.
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 as he
stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in
Memphis, Tennessee.

8. Neil Armstrong
Neil Alden Armstrong , born August 5, 1930 is
a former American astronaut, and test pilot.
A participant in the U.S. Air Force's human
spaceflight programs, Armstrong joined
the NASA Astronaut Corps in 1962. His first
spaceflight was the NASA Gemini 8 mission in
1966, for which he was the command pilot,
becoming one of the first U.S. civilians to fly
in space. Armstrong's second and last
spaceflight was as mission commander of
the Apollo 11 moon landing mission on
July 20, 1969. On that day, Armstrong
became the first person to walk on
the Moon.

9. What do you think?
• What do you think of Rosa parks?
• Have you heard of Martin Luther King before?
Are you familiar with the American civil rights
movement?
• Who are some famous explorers from Chinese
history?
• Will a Chinese astronaut walk on the moon?

10. Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 –
October 18, 1931) was an American inventor,
scientist, and businessman. He developed many
devices that greatly influenced life around the
world, including the phonograph, the motion
picture camera, a battery for an electric car, and
a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb.
Edison is the fourth most prolific inventor in
history, holding 1,093 US patents in his name,
as well as many patents in the United Kingdom,
France, and Germany.

11. The Wright Brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville (August 19, 1871 –
January 30, 1948) and Wilbur (April 16, 1867 – May
30, 1912) are most famous for inventing, building,
and flying the first airplane the Flyer I. They flew it for
the first time on December 17, 1903 near the Kill
Devil Hills, about four miles south of Kitty Hawk,
North Carolina, U.S.
The Wright’s invention was so unbelievable at the
time that a news paper journalist was fired for
reporting their story.

12. Steve Jobs & Steve Wozniak
Steve Jobs (February 24, 1955 –
October 5, 2011) and Stephen
Gary "Woz" Wozniak (born August 11,
1950) are the co-founders of Apple
Inc.
In 1975, Jobs and Wozniak created
the Apple I, the first successful
personal computer. Before this time,
almost all computers were large
expensive machines owned by
corporations. These two men helped
create the world we now live in today
where individual people have
personal access to many different
types of electronic devices.

13. What do you think?
• How have the inventions of Edison, the Wright
Brothers, and Jobs & Wozniak affected your
life?
• Who are the greatest inventors in your
country?
• If you could go back in time, which famous
invention would you want to invent?