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New York's Notable Figures
LLaura van der Mark
Upper Elementary
biography
English
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New York's Notable Figures

New York City has been home to many famous people who have made amazing contributions to the world. Let's take a look at a few of them.

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was born in the West Indies but came to New York to study. Hamilton was a brilliant thinker and writer. He served as the first Secretary of the Treasury, helping to set up the country's financial system. He lived in New York City and played a big part in shaping the city and the nation. Though his life was cut short in a duel, his impact on New York and America remains huge.

Emma Lazarus

Emma Lazarus was a poet who lived in New York City. She is best known for writing "The New Colossus," a poem inscribed on a bronze plaque at the Statue of Liberty. Her words, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free," welcomed immigrants to America. Lazarus used her writing to speak out for people who were treated unfairly. She was a strong voice for immigrants and those in need, and her poetry continues to inspire people today.

Babe Ruth

George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. was one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He played for the New York Yankees from 1920 to 1934. Babe Ruth was famous for hitting home runs. He helped the Yankees win many championships. People loved to watch him play. He was larger than life and became an American hero. Babe Ruth made baseball a popular sport and is still remembered as a legend.

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys is a singer, songwriter, and pianist from New York City. She grew up in Manhattan and went to a special school for music. Alicia Keys started writing songs when she was a teenager. She has won many awards for her music and is known for her beautiful voice and inspiring lyrics. She also works to help kids get a good education. Alicia Keys is a role model for young people around the world.

These are just a few of the many famous people who have called New York home. They have made important contributions to our country.

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Glossary
  • Founding Fathers: Important people who helped start the United States.
  • Immigrants: People who move to a new country to live.
  • Legend: Someone very famous and important.
  • Lyrics: The words of a song.
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