English - State Bar of Texas

Presented by the State Bar of TexasWelcome! I was the first. Vote for Me! brings to life the important firsts in UnitedStates and Texas history who are part of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills(TEKS) standards for Texas elementary students.This book enables students to explore 22 historical figures who have made noteworthycontributions to society, paving the way to today. After reading the stories,students can access materials at texasbar.com/iwasthefirst to vote for thehistoric first they believe is the most significant. A fictional school will be namedafter the historic first who receives the most votes.I was the first. Vote for Me! allows for lessons in civics education, citizenship,reading, voting, and math. To view animations of the historical figures and toaccess additional educational tools, go to texasbar.com/iwasthefirst.The State Bar of Texas thanks Charlene Randall, Kathy Aldridge, Jeanne Wray,Jerry Perry, and Tim Bryant — the outstanding educators whose tireless effortsmade this project a reality that will benefit Texas students for many years to come.In addition, thank you to the Texas Bar Foundation for its ongoing support for theState Bar of Texas and civics education, especially for I was the first. Vote for Me!

George WashingtonI’m George Washington andI was elected the first presidentof the United States. I neverever failed to do whatever mycountry needed me to do.I helped ourcountry becomean independentnation by leadingthe colonialarmy against theBritish duringthe AmericanRevolution.In 1776, I led ourtroops in a surpriseattack against ourenemy across the icyDelaware River.I believed that citizenshave a duty to serve theircountry, work hard, and betruthful. Vote for me!I was also president of theConstitutional Convention where ournation’s Constitution was written.1

Amelia EarhartI’m AmeliaEarhart and Iwas the firstwoman to flyalone across theAtlantic Ocean.During World War I,I volunteered for the RedCross and also helpedwounded soldiers as anurse’s aid in Canada.I set many aviation records,including being the first personto fly alone over both theAtlantic and Pacific oceans!In 1937, I attemptedto fly around the world.Unfortunately, no one everheard from my navigatoror me again.I believe womenmust try to do thingsas men have tried.When they fail, theirfailure must be but achallenge to others.Vote for me!2

Martin Luther King Jr.I’m Martin Luther King Jr.and I was the first Americancitizen in the 20th centuryto have a federal holidaydesignated in my name.I was a civil rights leader andhelped end legal segregation ofAfrican American citizens.In 1955, I organized amajor civil rights protest calledthe Montgomery Bus Boycott.At age 35, becauseI fought for equalityusing peaceful means,I became the youngestman to receive theNobel Peace Prize.I have a dream that my four little childrenwill one day live in a nation where they will notbe judged by the color of their skin but by thecontent of their character. Vote for me!3

Irma RangelI’m IrmaRangel and I wasthe first MexicanAmericanwoman electedto serve in theTexas House ofRepresentatives.I was a pioneer ofMexican American rightsand worked hard toimprove education andopportunities for menand women of all races.I was a teacher for 14years. I then earned a lawdegree in San Antonio, Texas,and opened a practice inKingsville, Texas.As a legislator, I servedmy South Texas district for 26years. I was the first and onlywoman to chair the MexicanAmerican Legislative Caucus.I believeeducation andhard work arevery important.Vote for me!4

Code TalkersI’m one of the Native Americansoldiers who served as a code talkerfor the United States Army. DuringWorld War I, the first code talkerswere Choctaw Indians from Oklahoma.Other code talkersduring World War Iincluded Cherokee,Comanche, Cheyenne,and soldiers fromdifferent Indian tribesall over America. Navajocode talkers servedduring World War II.We sent secretmessages in thebattlefield using codein our native language.No one could figureout what we weresaying, including theJapanese army.We wereable to create anunbreakable codethat confused ourenemy and helpedus win the war.Vote for me!The Code Talkers Recognition Act of2008 recognized every Native Americancode talker who served in the UnitedStates military during WWI and WWII.5

Benjamin FranklinI’m BenjaminFranklin and I wasthe first personin the Americasto invent thelightning rod.I was a scientist,inventor, printer, writer,and statesman.As the minister to France, I helped negotiatetreaties such as the famous Treaty of Paris,which ended the Revolutionary War betweenGreat Britain and the United States.Of all the founding fathers, I wasthe only one to have signed three ofthe major documents that helped usbecome an independent nation: theDeclaration of Independence, theTreaty of Paris, and the Constitution.I believe early tobed and early to risemakes a man healthy,wealthy, and wise.Vote for me!6

Barbara JordanI’m Barbara Jordan and Iwas the first African Americanelected to the Texas Senate.I receivedmy law degreefrom BostonUniversity. In1960, I startedworking asa lawyer inHouston, Texas.While helpingregister AfricanAmerican voters, Iwas inspired to runfor public office.I was the firstAfrican Americanwoman from the Southelected to the UnitedStates House ofRepresentatives.We believe in equalityfor all and privileges fornone. Vote for me!7

442nd Regimental Combat TeamI’m one ofthe soldiers whoserved in theUnited StatesArmy 442ndRegimentalCombat Team.Our unit wasthe first tobe composedentirely ofAmericansof Japaneseancestry.We fought for ourcountry in World War II eventhough our families weresubject to captivity and therewas prejudice against us.During World War II,we mainly fought in Italy,France, and Germany.Our motto was:“Go for broke.” Werisked it all to win it all.Vote for me!We were considered to be the mostdecorated infantry regiment in thehistory of the United States Army.8

César ChávezI’m César Chávez and I wasthe first person in Americanhistory to organize a successfulfarm workers union.As a laborleader and civilrights activist,I dedicated mylife to improvingworking conditions,treatment, andcompensation forfarm workers.After serving in the Navy, I returned toCalifornia to work in the fields. I led non-violentmarches, called for produce boycotts, and went onseveral hunger strikes in support of workers’ rights.The fight is neverabout grapes or lettuce. Itis always about the people.Vote for me!In 1962, Dolores Huerta and Ifounded the National Farm WorkersAssociation, which later became theUnited Farm Workers of America.9

Sam HoustonI’m SamHouston and Iwas the firstpresident ofthe Republic ofTexas.In 1832, I movedto Texas. I became ageneral in the TexasArmy and fought in thewar for independencefrom Mexico.At the Battle ofSan Jacinto, my forcesdefeated Mexican GeneralSanta Anna and his army.Later, when Texas becamea state, I served in Congressand became its first governor.The city ofHouston wasfounded andnamed after mein 1836. Votefor me!10

Eleanor RooseveltI’m Eleanor Rooseveltand I was the first FirstLady to openly expressmy opinions throughpress conferences, radiobroadcasts, and a dailynewspaper column.In 1905, I married Franklin D.Roosevelt, who was president of theUnited States from 1933 to 1945,longer than anyone else in history.As First Lady of the UnitedStates, I traveled to many places,speaking out in support of humanrights. I also visited U.S. soldiersoverseas during World War II.I was the firstchairperson of theUnited NationsHuman Rightscommission,and I helped writethe UniversalDeclaration ofHuman Rights.You must do the thingsyou think you cannot do.Vote for me!11

Thurgood MarshallI’m ThurgoodMarshall and Iwas our nation’sfirst AfricanAmericanSupreme Courtjustice.I was also a leader in thecivil rights movement andfought for new protectionsfor women, children,prisoners, and the homeless.I later became the chief counselfor the National Association for theAdvancement of Colored People andargued many civil rights casesbefore the Supreme Court.In 1954, I argued andwon a major case before theU.S. Supreme Court that ledto ending racial segregationin public schools.As a U.S.Supreme Courtjustice, I heardmany cases. Ialways favoredhuman and civilrights. Vote for me!12

Neil ArmstrongI’m Neil Armstrongand I was the first personto walk on the moon.I earned mypilot’s license whenI was 16 and laterbecame a pilotin the U.S. Navyduring the KoreanWar. During thatwar, I flew 78combat missionsand earned threemedals for courageand bravery.In 1962, I became a NASA astronaut.As the command pilot for Gemini 8, I was thefirst civilian astronaut to fly in space.I becamethe spacecraftcommander forApollo 11, the firstmission to land aman on the moon.That’s onesmall step for man,one giant leap formankind. Vote for me!13

Ruby BridgesI’m RubyBridges and Iwas one of thefirst AfricanAmerican childrento attend anall-white publicelementaryschool in theSouth. I was sixyears old.Federal marshalsescorted me to class toprotect me from angrypeople who did not want meto attend the school.The only person who agreedto teach me was Barbara Henry.I was the only student in herclass that entire year.In 2001, PresidentBill Clinton awarded thePresidential CitizensMedal to me for mybravery and courage.Don’t follow thepath. Go where thereis no path and start atrail. Vote for me!14

Wallace B. JeffersonI’m Wallace B. Jefferson andI was the first African Americanjustice, and later, chief justice ofthe Supreme Court of Texas.One of myancestors wasShedrick Willis,a slave whowas owned bya Waco, Texas,judge beforethe Civil War.In 1988, I earned my lawdegree from the University ofTexas School of Law.By the age of35, I had argued andwon two cases beforethe United StatesSupreme Court.If we educateourselves, we canbecome anythingwe want to be.Vote for me!15

John HancockI’m JohnHancock andas president ofthe ContinentalCongress, I wasthe first to signthe Declarationof Independencein July of 1776.As a wealthymerchant, I spoke outagainst unfair Britishtaxes on the colonists.In 1770, I demandedthe removal of Britishforces after the BostonMassacre, where Britishtroops killed five civilians.I became thefirst governor ofMassachusetts andserved through the end ofthe Revolutionary War.I was known formy patriotism, andI was dedicated tothe American causefor independence.Vote for me!16

Raúl A. González Jr.I’m Raúl A. González Jr.and I was the first MexicanAmerican to serve on the TexasSupreme Court and to beelected to a statewide office.I was rearedin the Rio GrandeValley of Texas,where I workedhard in the fieldswith my parents.They were migrantfarm workersfrom Mexico.In 1963, I graduated from theUniversity of Texas at Austin andlater earned a law degree at theUniversity of Houston.I was appointed tothe Texas Supreme Courtin 1984 and served as ajustice until 1998.At a young age, Ilearned the importance ofworking hard and gettingan education. Vote for me!17

Thomas JeffersonI’m ThomasJefferson andI was the firstauthor of theDeclaration ofIndependence in1776.I was also thefirst Secretary ofState when GeorgeWashington waspresident.I later became the thirdpresident of the UnitedStates and lived on aVirginia plantation where Ibuilt my home, Monticello.For 50 years, I served thiscountry in many roles — asa member of the ContinentalCongress, governor,Secretary of State, vicepresident, and president.I’m most proudof starting theUniversity of Virginia.Vote for me!18

Susan B. AnthonyI’m Susan B.Anthony and I was thefirst woman to havemy likeness appear onUnited States currency,the dollar coin. It wasin recognition of mydedication and hardwork in obtaining equalrights for women.Before theCivil War, I wasalso involved inthe anti-slaveryand temperancemovements.In 1852, I joinedthe women’s rightsmovement and gavespeeches across thecountry, traveling bywagon, stagecoach,carriage, and train.I alwayssaid failureis impossible.Vote for me!In 1920, 14 years after mydeath, the 19th Amendment to theU.S. Constitution was passed givingwomen the right to vote.19

Héctor P. GarcíaI’m Dr.Héctor P. Garcíaand I was thefirst MexicanAmerican toreceive thePresidentialMedal ofFreedom, thehighest civilianaward given bythe presidentof the UnitedStates.During World WarII, I served in the U.S.Army and was awardeda Bronze Star and 6Battle Stars.When the war was over, I settled inCorpus Christi, Texas, where I starteda private medical practice. I treated allpatients regardless of their ability to pay.In 1948, I founded theAmerican GI Forum to helpMexican Americans fightlegal and political battlesagainst discrimination.I believed in theAmerican dream andjustice for my people.Vote for me!20

Abraham LincolnI’m Abraham Lincoln and Iwas the first to issue an orderproclaiming all slaves in Confederateterritory would be forever free.In 1809, I wasborn in a log cabinin Kentucky. I lovedto read and beganstudying law when Iwas 21 years old.I became the 16thpresident of the UnitedStates in 1861. During mypresidency, the Union Armydefeated the ConfederateStates Army in the Civil War.Unfortunately,I was the firstpresident of theUnited States tobe assassinated. Iwas shot by JohnWilkes Booth atFord’s Theatre inWashington, D.C.People called meHonest Abe because Ibelieved that telling thetruth was important.Vote for me!21

Barack Obama Jr.I was elected to the IllinoisState Senate in 1996 andthe U.S. Senate in 2004.I’m Barack Obama Jr. and Iwas the first African Americanpresident of the United States.In 2008, I waselected president ofthe United States andreelected in 2012.In 2009, I was the fourthpresident of the United States toreceive the Nobel Peace Prize.America is madeup of people who giveus the courage to liftone another up, tokeep up the fight, towork and build uponall that is good in ournation. Vote for me!22

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HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAccess other civics education resources:texaslre.orgtexasbar.com/civicstyla.orgtexasbar.com/iwasthefirst