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How Did George Washington Carver Influence Agriculture

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One of the most influential and popular names in agriculture is George Washington Carver. He was a prominent American scientist, botanist, educator, and furthermore, an inventor of the 19th century. He dedicated his life to research and inventing solution in agriculture for poor farmers. Carver was best known for devising the many used for peanuts in everyday life. His success revolved around three important crop species; cow peas, sweet potatoes, and peanuts. In addition to his successes, he was a champion of crop rotation as well as agricultural education. Despite the fact he was raised in an era that included slavery, was predominated white, and faced racism, he was able to overcome these adversities. George Washington Carver became …show more content…

In his letter he asked for Carver to join his team to teach the students how to plow, plant, and harvest. He stated that he could not offer a position, money, or fame but instead a hard task of bringing people up from segregation, poverty, and waste. After his masters, he accepted a position as head of the agricultural department at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Washington told Carver that his department was on paper and his laboratory was in his head. Although Carver only expected to stayed three or four years, he stayed at Tuskegee for 20 years where he accomplished many horticultural achievements. This opportunity was the answer to the one grand ideal Carver had in life, to give education that he had acquired back to people. He taught the students at this institute that success did not require expensive or elaborate equipment. In fact the only piece of equipment in the laboratory was the microscope Carver was give at Iowa State College. The school was founded on the ideal that anything the school needed could be made or thought by the …show more content…

He had no known family, but for three days after his death thousands of people from all around the country came to see him and give their respects. He opened the eyes of many individuals to the racial injustice as well as continued serving as a mentor to black students until the day he died. After his passing, the Carver Museum at Tuskegee gave him merit to 287 peanut by-products (in-text), which included, but not limited to, food and beverages, cosmetics, and medicinal preparations. He was also credited to his work with sweet potatoes that totaled 159 commodities. Most of the by-products were more fanciful than practical for none were commercially successful. Regardless of the success of his inventions, he was successful in his impact and significance to agriculture. He was one of the few African-Americans of his time to become a important figure in science. He was an inspiration to other African-Americans and the poor that it did not take wealth to become an important figure. In the era of segregation, he was the kind of individual that people found strength and optimism

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