Sequoyah

Sequoyah (c. 1770–1843), named in English George Gist or George Guess, is a Cherokee silversmith.

In 1821, he completes his independent creation of a Cherokee syllabary, making reading and writing in Cherokee possible.

This is the only time in recorded history that a member of a non-literate people independently creates an effective writing system.

After seeing its worth, the people of the Cherokee Nation rapidly begin to use his syllabary and officially adopt it in 1825.

Their literacy rate quickly surpasses that of surrounding European-American settlers.

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