the contributions of italians to america

The Contributions of Italians to The Contributions of Italians to America America

Christopher Christopher ColumbusColumbus

Christopher Christopher ColumbusColumbus

Landed in San Salvador in 1492.Landed in San Salvador in 1492. He is responsible for finding the He is responsible for finding the

Americas.Americas. We now celebrate a holiday in his We now celebrate a holiday in his

name on the second Monday of each name on the second Monday of each October.October.

It is in honor of his October 12It is in honor of his October 12thth discovery that eventually led to our discovery that eventually led to our country’s founding.country’s founding.

Giovanni Da Giovanni Da VerrazanoVerrazano


Born in Tuscany, Italy in 1485. Born in Tuscany, Italy in 1485. He was a Florentine Explorer sailing He was a Florentine Explorer sailing

under the French Flag.under the French Flag. He was the first European to sight He was the first European to sight

New York.New York. He set sail in January of 1524 with He set sail in January of 1524 with

two French Vessels.two French Vessels.


In March he arrived in Cape Fear In March he arrived in Cape Fear North Carolina.North Carolina.

He was the first to find New York Bay He was the first to find New York Bay and Block Island.and Block Island.

He didn’t get the credit that he He didn’t get the credit that he deserved. It was named after Henry deserved. It was named after Henry Hudson.Hudson.

85 years later in 1609 was when 85 years later in 1609 was when Hudson named it after himself.Hudson named it after himself.

William PacaWilliam Paca

William PacaWilliam Paca Born October 31, 1740Born October 31, 1740 Went to Philadelphia College. (Later Went to Philadelphia College. (Later

became U Penn.)became U Penn.) Provincial Legislature (1768-1774)Provincial Legislature (1768-1774) Continental Congress (1774-1779)Continental Congress (1774-1779) He signed the Declaration of He signed the Declaration of

Independence.Independence.

William PacaWilliam Paca In the Continental Congress, he In the Continental Congress, he

contributed to the Constitution.contributed to the Constitution. He proposed some twenty He proposed some twenty

amendments to it. amendments to it. 1789 he was appointed as a U.S. 1789 he was appointed as a U.S.

District Judge.District Judge. Held this position for 10 years until Held this position for 10 years until

his death in 1799.his death in 1799.

Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci

Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci Alexander Graham Bell?Alexander Graham Bell? He was the man credited with the He was the man credited with the

discovery of the telephone.discovery of the telephone. It should have been credited to It should have been credited to

Meucci.Meucci. Born near Florence in April 1808.Born near Florence in April 1808.

Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci He invented the telephone in 1849, He invented the telephone in 1849,

and filed his first patent caveat in and filed his first patent caveat in 1871.1871.

This set into motion a chain of This set into motion a chain of mysterious events.mysterious events.

These events weren’t so well These events weren’t so well documented though.documented though.

That is why not many people know That is why not many people know about it.about it.

Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci He discovered that he could hear his He discovered that he could hear his

friend talking through a piece of friend talking through a piece of copper wire running between them.copper wire running between them.

He spent ten years bringing his He spent ten years bringing his discovery to a practical stage.discovery to a practical stage.

He had a big problem with the He had a big problem with the English language though.English language though.

Financial trouble also plagued him.Financial trouble also plagued him.

Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci He was in a steamship accident, in which He was in a steamship accident, in which

he was severely burned.he was severely burned. His wife proceeded to sell his telephone His wife proceeded to sell his telephone

invention as well as other working invention as well as other working inventions for a price of SIX DOLLARS!inventions for a price of SIX DOLLARS!

After he was well he tried to get these After he was well he tried to get these things back. He was told they were sold to things back. He was told they were sold to “an unknown young man.”“an unknown young man.”

Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci He didn’t have the money for the He didn’t have the money for the

patent, so he kept renewing his patent, so he kept renewing his caveat.caveat.

He tried to show the potential of his He tried to show the potential of his invention to Western Union invention to Western Union Telegraph Co.Telegraph Co.

He was told that they had no time for He was told that they had no time for his invention.his invention.

Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci In 1876 Alexander Graham Bell filed In 1876 Alexander Graham Bell filed

his patent.his patent. Meucci had his lawyer protest the Meucci had his lawyer protest the

patent.patent. He was informed that his documents He was informed that his documents

regarding the talking telegraph had regarding the talking telegraph had been lost.been lost.

Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci Later investigations show that there Later investigations show that there

were illegal relations with the patent were illegal relations with the patent company and Bell’s company.company and Bell’s company.

It was revealed that Bell agreed to It was revealed that Bell agreed to pay Western Union 20 percent of his pay Western Union 20 percent of his profits.profits.

Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci He brought bell to court in 1886, but He brought bell to court in 1886, but

the case kept getting postponed, the case kept getting postponed, until his death in 1896. until his death in 1896.

The case was then dropped and that The case was then dropped and that was that.was that.

Charles J. Charles J. BonaparteBonaparte


Born in Baltimore, Maryland on June Born in Baltimore, Maryland on June 99thth 1851. 1851.

He received a law degree from He received a law degree from Harvard University.Harvard University.

After that he began his career in After that he began his career in jurisprudence.jurisprudence.

In 1908 President Roosevelt In 1908 President Roosevelt appointed him the 46appointed him the 46thth Attorney Attorney General of The United States.General of The United States.


He was in Charge of Trust Busting.He was in Charge of Trust Busting. He didn’t have a permanent He didn’t have a permanent

investigative staff.investigative staff. The justice department was limited The justice department was limited

to hiring only temporary to hiring only temporary investigators. Coming from the investigators. Coming from the Secret Service.Secret Service.


July 28July 28thth, 1908 Roosevelt made his , 1908 Roosevelt made his investigative force a permanent investigative force a permanent subdivision of the Department of subdivision of the Department of Justice. Justice.

In 1935 what began as a 23 man unit In 1935 what began as a 23 man unit under Bonaparte, was renamed the under Bonaparte, was renamed the Federal Bureau of investigation.Federal Bureau of investigation.

Riccardo Riccardo GiacconiGiacconi


The Physics Nobel Prize Winner in The Physics Nobel Prize Winner in 2002.2002.

A research professor in X-ray A research professor in X-ray astronomy research.astronomy research.

At this position he was the lead At this position he was the lead administrator of groups that build administrator of groups that build astronomical observatories.astronomical observatories.

the contributions of italians to america

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