Alain Post #2 Changemakers

In my Public Speaking class we recently completed an assignment that focused on changemakers from different time periods. The goal of the project was to look at history through the people who influenced it rather than just the events themselves. Each group was assigned a different century and had to present several individuals who made important contributions to society. There were presentations about changemakers from the time of the Constitution, the 1800s, the 1900s (which was my group), and the 2000s. Seeing all the presentations together made the class feel like we were watching a timeline of how people throughout history have shaped the world. Overall, the assignment was really interesting and it taught me a lot about how one person’s actions can affect millions of others.

The first presentation focused on changemakers from the time when the United States was first forming its government. The group talked about important historical figures such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. These people helped create the foundations of the country and influenced the political system that still exists today. One thing that stood out to me was how uncertain everything must have been during that time. The country was still new, and the leaders were trying to figure out how to build a stable government after breaking away from Britain. George Washington was known for his leadership during the Revolutionary War and later as the first president. Benjamin Franklin was also interesting because he contributed not only to politics but also to science and inventions. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison helped develop ideas that shaped the Constitution and the structure of the government. Listening to that presentation helped me understand how important leadership and vision were during the early years of the United States.

The next group presented about changemakers from the 1800s. This period included a lot of important developments in technology, business, and social reform. Their PowerPoint included figures such as John Rockefeller, Nikola Tesla, Jane Addams, Thomas Edison, Harriet Jacobs, Harriet Tubman, and Abraham Lincoln. What I noticed about this group of people was how many different areas they impacted. Some of them were inventors who helped develop technology that changed everyday life, while others were activists who fought for justice and equality. For example, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison both worked on new electrical technologies that eventually became a major part of modern life. Even though their ideas and methods were different, both contributed to scientific progress. On the other hand, people like Harriet Tubman and Harriet Jacobs were fighting against slavery and working to help enslaved people gain freedom. Their bravery and dedication were inspiring because they were risking their own safety to help others. Abraham Lincoln also played a huge role during this time as president during the Civil War, helping guide the country through one of its most difficult periods. This presentation showed how changemakers can appear in many different roles, including inventors, leaders, and activists.

My group was assigned the 1900s, which is a time period that still feels somewhat connected to our lives today. Our group had seven members, and each person researched and presented a different individual. Adrian presented Frank Church, Aiva presented Duke Ellington, I presented Susan B. Anthony, Alexa presented Rosa Parks, Aliyah presented Paul McCartney, Kevin presented Rachel Carson, and Amanda presented Martin Luther King Jr. Our presentation included people from politics, music, activism, and science, which showed how change can happen in many different ways.

For my section, I focused on Susan B. Anthony. She was a major figure in the fight for women’s rights in the United States. At a time when women had very limited political power, she spent years organizing campaigns, giving speeches, and advocating for equality. One of the most well-known events in her life was when she voted in the 1872 presidential election even though women were not legally allowed to vote. Because of this, she was arrested and put on trial. Even though she faced consequences for her actions, it helped bring national attention to the issue of women’s voting rights. Her work was part of a long movement that eventually led to women gaining the right to vote in the United States. Preparing my part of the presentation helped me realize how long social change can take and how much effort activists put into their causes.

The other members of my group also presented people who influenced society in different ways. Rosa Parks, who was presented by Alexa, became famous for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. Her decision helped spark the Montgomery Bus Boycott and became a major moment in the Civil Rights Movement. Amanda talked about Martin Luther King Jr., who was one of the most important leaders in that movement. He promoted peaceful protest and equality, and his speeches inspired many people to stand up against discrimination.

Kevin’s presentation about Rachel Carson showed a completely different type of change. Carson was a scientist and author who wrote about environmental issues. Her work helped people understand how chemicals and pollution could harm nature and human health. Her writing encouraged the public to think more seriously about protecting the environment.

Music and culture were also represented in our group’s presentation. Aiva talked about Duke Ellington, who was an important figure in jazz music. His work influenced the development of jazz and helped bring the genre to a wider audience. Aliyah presented Paul McCartney, who became famous as a member of The Beatles and later continued a successful career in music. His influence on popular music reached people all around the world. Adrian presented Frank Church, a political leader who worked on important government investigations and policies. His work showed how change can also happen through government and political leadership.

After our group presented the 1900s, another group discussed changemakers from the 2000s. These were people who are much closer to the present day, and in some cases they are still influencing the world right now. The presentation focused on how technology, social media, environmental activism, and global movements have changed the way people create change today. Unlike earlier centuries, modern changemakers can communicate with large audiences very quickly through the internet and digital platforms. This has allowed ideas to spread faster and reach people all over the world.

Looking back at all the presentations together, one of the biggest things I realized is that changemakers can come from many different backgrounds. Some are politicians, others are scientists, musicians, activists, or writers. They do not all follow the same path, but they all share the ability to influence others and challenge existing ideas. It also showed me that making change is not always easy. Many of these individuals faced criticism, danger, or failure before their ideas were accepted.

This assignment also helped me appreciate the role of public speaking. Instead of just reading about these historical figures, we were able to learn about them through our classmates’ presentations. Hearing different perspectives made the stories feel more real and engaging. It also gave everyone in the class a chance to practice explaining ideas clearly to an audience.

Overall, I learned a lot from this project and found it to be a very interesting experience. It made history feel more meaningful because we focused on the people behind the changes rather than just the events themselves. Seeing how individuals from different centuries influenced society helped me understand that progress often happens because someone decides to take action. The assignment showed that even one person’s ideas or decisions can eventually have a major impact on the world.