Question

Benjamin Banneker and Paul Cuffe were free-born residents in colonial America. Use the encyclopedia or other resource books to find out about their lives. Be sure to include the accomplishments of each of these men.

Answer 1

Benjamin Banneker was an African American citizen. His mother was a former slave, however his father was a slave. This made Banneker's life difficult, fraught with prejudice and with few opportunities for study, economic development and quality of life. However, he was a very self-taught man and through books he borrowed he became a great intellectual, with an admirable talent for calculations and a gigantic knowledge for astronomy managing to predict a lunar eclipse, something was very difficult to predict at the time. In addition, he was a great connoisseur of literature and history.

Paul Cuffe was also an African American citizen, who had a life full of situations of racism and prejudice. He was also a very studious, talented and self-taught person and through much research he managed to become a great intellectual. Unlike Banneker, Cuffe had a great talent for finance, which allowed him to become a great businessman, becoming an influential abolitionist.

Answer 2

Benjamin Banneker: Mathematician and Astronomer and he saw astronomical patterns, which he made calculations and predictions. First American to gain distinction in science. 

Paul Cuffe: African American: ship captain and philanthropist He was famous for pioneering efforts to settle free African American in West Africa.