Benjamin Banneker was a noted African American inventor, mathematician, astronomer, and writer. The son of Robert and Mary Banneker, Benjamin was born in 1731 in Ellicott's Mills, Maryland. He was the oldest of four children. As a youngster, he helped his father on the family's homestead. From a very early age, Benjamin showed evidence of being especially bright, so his grandmother favored him and spent time nurturing his interests. Unlike many young men at his school, Benjamin devoted much of his time to reading and studying. Since his resources were limited, he could not read as extensively as he wanted to. Benjamin was undaunted by these limitations, however. Instead, he became a closer observer of the natural world. Benjamin drew upon surrounding sources to learn about his own community and even beyond it. Maintaining these resourceful habits, he built upon his supply of general knowledge.
2 Benjamin did not replace his family obligations with his studies, however. He remained devoted to helping his father with farmwork and proved to be as industrious in farming as he was diligent in his pursuit of knowledge. As a matter of fact, by utilizing the springs near the family’s farm, he invented an irrigation system to control the water flow. Because of this creation, his father's farm flourished, even during times of drought.
3 As he continued to develop his reading skills, he grew mentally and soon revealed a gift for analysis. He won the reputation for being a bright mathematician and often solved mathematical puzzles that distinguished scholars gave him. Sometimes Benjamin used his love for analysis in more hands-on projects. In the 1750s he borrowed a watch from a friend. Although he had seen a watch and a sundial, he had never seen a clock before. He deconstructed the friend's watch so that he could study its components. By the age of thirty, Benjamin had created a clock entirely from carved pieces of wood. Painstakingly using only a pocket knife and wood, he carved wheels and gears and completed the clock with such precision that it ran accurately for twenty years. Benjamin's clock, today known as the Banneker Clock, was recognized as the first clock to be built in America, and people even traveled to see his creation. Later, he began his own watch and clock repair business.
4 Benjamin's clock invention launched much speculation into what he would do next. His next interest was in the field of astronomy. He began to see patterns as he gazed at the stars. From these patterns, he made calculations and predictions. To kindle this mental spark, he borrowed books on astronomy and mathematics from a friend, George Ellicott, and Benjamin taught himself about these topics. He learned so much that he accurately predicted a solar eclipse in 1789. This prediction brought even more notoriety to him because it directly contradicted predictions made by well-known mathematicians and astronomers of the time.
5 In 1773, he began to make astronomical calculations for almanacs, which were used frequently by farmers. His almanacs included a variety of information on medicines, tides, and astronomy. Using his own calculations, he compiled and published his first almanac in the 1790s. It was called the Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Almanac and Emphemeris. He even sent a copy of it to Thomas Jefferson, who was United States Secretary of State at the time. With his almanac, he included a letter petitioning Jefferson's help to end slavery.
6 Impressed with Benjamin's abilities, Jefferson recommended Benjamin to become a part of a team of surveyors to plan and lay out the city of Washington, D.C. A Frenchman, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, was the lead architect for the project. After a year, however, L'Enfant was dismissed from the project and took the plans for the city's layout with him when he left the city. Benjamin's memory played an instrumental role, since he was actually able to reproduce the detailed plan in two days from his own memory. He provided a detailed, complete layout of the streets, parks, and major buildings in the city.
7 Benjamin continued to publish his almanacs from 1791 to 1802; these publications helped him to earn the distinction of being one of the first African American experts in science. He also continued to advocate for the elimination of slavery and war during this time. Toward the end of his life, he continued his writing. He wrote a scholarly paper on bees, a study of locust plagues, and letters about injustices toward African Americans. Benjamin Banneker died on October 25, 1806, but he never lost his desire for more knowledge. Benjamin's life served as an example of the importance of self-directed learning and improving the lives of others.
Select two ways that the author develops the effects of Banneker's practical approach to building upon his knowledge.
by illustrating his competition with famous architects
by stating that he published his first almanac before 1800
by explaining that he used available tools to create a clock
by including the detail of naming his almanac after the states
by providing the example of borrowing books to learn about astronomy
1 answer
The author develops the effects of Banneker's practical approach to building upon his knowledge in the following two ways:
By explaining that he used available tools to create a clock - This demonstrates Banneker's resourcefulness and ability to apply his knowledge practically, using what he had at hand to achieve a significant invention.
By providing the example of borrowing books to learn about astronomy - This illustrates Banneker's self-directed learning and his commitment to expanding his knowledge, highlighting his practical approach to education by utilizing available resources to teach himself complex subjects.
