George Washington Carver Facts for Kids
- George Washington Carver Invented over 300 uses for peanuts.
- George Washington Carver was born in Missouri on the Moses Carver plantation in 1864.
- His Parents were slaves
- When George was 12 years old, he left home to attend an African American school.
- There was only one teacher, with 75 children in a small classroom.
- While other children played during recess, George studied.
- He studied at home before and after he did his chores.
- When he was 30 years old, he was accepted into a college in Iowa. He later transferred to Iowa State Agricultural College where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science in 1894.
- In 1896 He received a Master’s of Science Degree in 1896.
- Carver started studying diseases which were attacking the farmers’ crops.
- Most farmers in the deep south were only growing cotton. The soil started to suffer and crops weren’t as healthy.
- Carver urged the farmers to grow peanuts and sweet potatoes as he found they would restore the soil.
- Crops of cotton were very profitable and farmers were worried that they would not make as much money growing peanuts and sweet potatoes.
- To help the farmers he started researching and discovering ways to use peanuts and sweet potatoes.
- Carver discovered over 300 products that can be made with peanuts Some include: flour, ink, dyes, plastics, wood stains, soap, cosmetics and peanut butter.
- From sweet potatoes, he made 118 products some include flour, candy, vinegar, rubber and postage stamp glue.
- He made 75 products from pecans and even made a building material for walls from cotton stalks.
- George Washington Carver died in 1943. He received many awards and honors on his agricultural contributions in history.