An Independent Country

Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to attend medical school in the U.S. Throughout her life, she endured persecution for being a woman doctor. Fun Facts Elizabeth was born in 1821 in Bristol, England. She was the third child of nine children. Four unmarried aunts also lived in their home.…

Susan B. Anthony was passionate about women’s rights, abolition, and the temperance movement. Even when she was old, she was full of energy and determination. Fun Facts Susan B. Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts in 1820. Her father, Daniel Anthony, was a Quaker. Her mother, Lucy Read, was a…

Louisa May Alcott is one of the most beloved authors of all time. She wrote Little Women and many other books for children. Fun Facts Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1832. Her father, Bronson Alcott, was a teacher; her mother, Abby May, was a social worker.…

Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Before she was a lawyer and judge though, she was a rough-riding cowgirl, capable of shooting rabbits for a meal. Fun Facts Sandra Day O’Connor was born in 1930 in El Paso, Texas. She grew up on…

Sally Ride was the first female American astronaut in space. She was also a competitive tennis player. Fun Facts Sally Ride was born in 1951 in Los Angeles. Her parents were both Presbyterian ministers. Her mother volunteered at a correctional facility and her father taught political science at Santa Monica…

Born on Christmas Day in 1821, Clara Barton was a teacher, nurse, and leader. She was the founder of the Red Cross. Fun Facts Clara was born in Oxford, Massachusetts. She was the youngest of five children born to Stephen and Sarah Barton. As a teenager, Clara nursed her seriously…

Liliuokalani was the last monarch of Hawaii before it became part of the United States. She resisted the United States’ efforts to annex her country, but eventually lost. Fun Facts Liliuokalani was born in 1838 in Honolulu. Her parents were highly respected chiefs. As a child, she was called Lydia.…

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life and the procedure. The process is its own reward.” “No kind action ever stops…

As immigrants flooded to America from Europe, they discovered that finding jobs and homes was often harder than they’d expected. Thousands of people came to New York City every year and there weren’t enough resources to go around. These people ended up living in the streets, homeless. Their children often…