Benjamin Banneker's Contributions and Achievements

Benjamin Banneker, born in 1731, was a pioneering African-American scientist and innovator. Educated at a Quaker school, he developed an irrigation system at 15 and built a clock that worked for 40 years. His work in astronomy led to the successful prediction of a solar eclipse and the publication of the Benjamin Banneker Almanac. Banneker's political writings caught Thomas Jefferson's attention, leading to discussions on slavery. He played a crucial role in planning Washington D.C., recreating lost designs from memory. Banneker's legacy as a mold-breaking scientist endures.

What innovative project did Banneker undertake at the age of 15?

• Invented a new type of plow

• Developed an irrigation system

• Created a weather prediction model

• Built a telescope

How did Banneker gain a reputation in clock-making?

• By building a clock that worked for 40 years

• By repairing clocks for famous people

• By writing a book on clock-making

• By inventing a new type of clock

What did Banneker successfully predict in 1789?

• A meteor shower

• A comet sighting

• A solar eclipse

• A lunar eclipse

What was included in the Benjamin Banneker Almanac?

• Historical events and timelines

• Weather patterns and farming practices

• Recipes and cooking tips

• Travel guides and maps

What social issue did Banneker address in his letters to Thomas Jefferson?

• Religious freedom

• Education reform

• Slavery and abolition

• Women's rights

Who did Banneker work with on the planning of Washington D.C.?

• Pierre L'Enfant

• Benjamin Franklin

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

What challenge did Banneker overcome during the planning of Washington D.C.?

• Political opposition

• A shortage of workers

• The loss of city plans

• A lack of funding

How did Banneker recreate the plans for Washington D.C.?

• By using a blueprint

• From memory

• By consulting with other architects

• By using a map

What is one of Banneker's lasting impacts?

• Developing a new form of government

• Founding a university

• Influencing future scientific and agricultural advancements

• Creating a new language

What is Banneker often credited as being the first of in America?

• African-American author

• African-American inventor

• African-American president

• African-American scientist