American Literature / Unit 5 AML 0421 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Benjamin Banneker's Letter to Jefferson
Captions available
The idea
Banneker, born free in Maryland to a formerly enslaved father, taught himself astronomy and built a wooden clock the anchor calls the first made in America. In seventeen ninety-one he sent Jefferson an almanac and a letter quoting the Declaration back at him, and Jefferson replied.
In practice
An almanac, a letter, and a founder's own words.
Where people slip
The clock's priority is the anchor's claim.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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