Exploring Influential Figures in the American History Course

This essay explores the impact of influential figures in American history, focusing on George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Ann Lee. It highlights Washington's leadership and character, Jefferson's contributions as a diplomat and his vision of equality, King's role in advancing civil rights and addressing poverty, and Lee's introduction of the Shaker sect. The essay analyzes how these individuals shaped American society, politics, and culture, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to influence the nation.

Running head: AMERICAN HISTORY 1
Influential Figures in the American History
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AMERICAN HISTORY 2
Influential figures in the American History
In the recent years, American has grown to become a world leader. America has
experienced quite a large number of influential persons right from its birth, including political
leaders, spiritual icons, visionaries, and explorers. The number of influential figures in the
American history is increasing with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King
Jr. and Ann-Lee.
George Washington
George Washington was America’s First president and served for 22 years. Although he
was an average person, unlike his peers, his achievements during his reign created a huge impact
in shaping the American history. His military achievements are foremost the most important
accomplishments he attained during his time and have created a long-lasting experience since
then. His character was most admirable and this made people believe that being a president was
his predestination. He was a wise man whose means of the ruling is attributed to civic
humanism. Tolerance and nobleness are qualities that he possessed which made him famous in
his times. This was because he could relate to his subjects well (Time Staff, 2012).
Thomas Jefferson
According to Morrow (2012), Thomas Jefferson is an American leader who has impacted
greatly in the American history. He was a man with contradictory characters, which were
attributed to intellectualism and organic disorders of life, and this situation made it hard to
understand him. However, he was an enlightened leader who helped shaped the American
history. He served as a diplomat, as a congressman, as a secretary of state, and the President of
the great nation, a situation that proved that the American presidency was not primogeniture,

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but rather based on the peoples choice. He also founded the University of Virginia. Morrow
(2012) claims that Jefferson created and developed a founding aspiration for the American
people with his popular saying that all men are created equally.
Martin Luther King Jr.
According to Katie (2017), Martin played a key role in the advancing the civil rights.
Much tribute paid to him is through his ‘I have a dream’ speech in which he saw an American
revolution, where a black man would lead the great nation. Through his civil rights movements,
he was able to address the poverty levels in the country, which saw most of the people living as
peasants in the lands of the bourgeoisie. His protests and movements were always successful
and have been awarded various gifts among them being the Nobel peace prize, Presidential
Medal of Freedom, and a memorial. To celebrate him and his efforts, a day is named after him,
where the American people get to honor his legacy.
Ann Lee
Ann Lee is an American religious leader, who introduced the shaker sect to the American
people (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2015). During the period where Christianity was forbidden by
the English authorities, she was imprisoned and while there, she got to learn more about the
religion. After moving to America, she held various Christian gatherings through crusades
where she got to encourage people to join her quest. Through this, she gathered followers and
this led to the introduction of the millennial church.

AMERICAN HISTORY 4
Reference
Encyclopedia Britannica. (2015). Ann Lee. Retrieved on 28 November from
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ann-Lee
Katie, B. (2017). Martin Luther King Jr. and his impact on today. Retrieved on 28 November
2017 from https://www.collegenanniesandtutors.com/blog/title/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-and-His-
Impact-on-Today
Morrow, L. (2012). The 20 most influential Americans of all time: Thomas Jefferson. Retrieved
on 28 November 2017 from http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/07/25/the-20-most-influential-
americans-of-all-time/slide/thomas-jefferson/
Time Staff (2010). The 20 most influential Americans of all time: George Washington. Retrieved
on 28 November 2017 from http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/07/25/the-20-most-influential-
americans-of-all-time/