My Tuesday morning novel study class
has begun the study of the life and works of George Washington Carver. The
‘key’ student question we are pursuing is: What did George Washington Carver do
that made him so famous?
Here is what we have learned so far:
George was born into a slave family
sometime in January 1864.
His mother was Mary, she lived in a
hut on the Carver farm, near Diamond, Missouri, with baby George and his older
brother and sister. His father ‘big George’ lived on the next farm.
Slavery
was terminated during the year 1865 starting with the passing of the 13th
amendment, signed by President Lincoln, on January 31, 1865. Lincoln was
assassinated in April 1865.
George
and his mother, Mary, are kidnapped from the Carver farm sometime during the summer
by bushwhackers against ending slavery. Baby George was rescued; his mother was
never seen again. His sister died in the attack.
Three
quarters of the states approve the 13th amendment on December 6,
1865. It is officially signed into law by the Secretary of State on December
18, 1865.
It reads:
Section 1. Neither slavery
nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any
place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2. Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Susan Carver took care of George during
his early years, allowing him the time and space to recover health enough to
move forward with his life. He had a difficult time learning to speak because
his vocal chords were damaged by a severe cough resulting from the exposure he
suffered during the kidnapping. He was frail and sickly and learned many home
skills (Ie. he becomes an expert at doing laundry for people) and hand crafts
because he could not do the heavy farm work.
His love of nature and gift for caring
for ailing plants begins to grow and gain notice.
