The first name on the list belongs to the Father of Our Nation and first president. As commander of the colonial troops during the Revolutionary War, Washington led the struggle against Great Britain with intelligent military strategy and unwavering leadership.

Quite possibly, his greatest contribution lies in his refusal to become a king or dictator, instead choosing to lay the foundations of a democratic republic.

Image: Priscilla Gyamfi

This icon of the civil rights movement used nonviolent resistance to combat racial discrimination. Through peaceful protest strategies, King led demonstrations, boycotts, and marches that helped transform the social landscape of America.

His "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963 in Washington, D.C. became a huge milestone in the struggle for equality and an inspiration for millions all over the world.

Image: Unseen Histories

A steady guide through challenging times, Franklin D. Roosevelt led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. Through his New Deal programs, he introduced revolutionary social and economic reforms, including the creation of social safety nets like Social Security.

His leadership during World War II helped establish the United States as a global power committed to supporting democracy.

Image: Jessica Tan

A relentless activist in the struggle for women’s suffrage, Susan B. Anthony organized campaigns, wrote extensively, and spoke passionately in support of gender equality. Although she did not live to see it passed, her efforts laid the groundwork for the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

Image: Giacomo Ferroni

Life as we know it would not be the same without his inventions. And, while the lightbulb would have been reason enough for him to be present on this list, Edison was responsible for numerous innovations—he held over 1,000 patents, including for the phonograph, motion picture camera, and electric power distribution systems—that helped change the course of history forever.

Image: Robert Wiedemann

Margaret Mead’s pioneering work in psychology and anthropology helped develop the understanding that children learn through imitation, particularly by observing their parents and community.

In addition to her academic contributions, she was a vocal advocate for women’s rights and greater sexual openness, influencing the cultural shifts that led to the sexual revolution of the 1960s.

Image: Stephen Andrews

Thank him for the popularization of the automobile and the introduction of the 40-hour, five-day workweek. America would not be the same without Henry Ford and his revolutionary industrial ideas, which transformed manufacturing and daily life.

Image: Dan Dennis

Women’s rights owe much to Betty Friedan, whose groundbreaking work challenged the limited roles assigned to women in mid-20th-century America. Her book The Feminine Mystique gave voice to the dissatisfaction of the American housewife and sparked a national conversation about the validity of traditional gender roles.

Image: Deniz Demirci

Largely considered as one of America’s greatest self-made men, Andrew Carnegie played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's industrial identity. His leadership in the steel industry helped propel the United States into a position of global economic dominance in the early 20th century.

Image: Denis Chick

Transportation would never have been the same without Orville and Wilbur Wright, brothers from Ohio, who changed the world forever by inventing powered flight on the shores of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Image: History in HD

That black rectangular device near you is the modern evolution of Alexander Graham Bell’s original invention, one that would change the way humans communicate in profoundly lasting ways.

Image: Pavan Trikutam

Walt Disney’s influence on the childhoods of generations of Americans is undisputed. He forever changed the world of entertainment for both children and adults through his iconic characters and innovative theme parks, which now exist all over the world.

Image: Travis Gergen