Presidents’ Day
Note: Underlined words have definitions at the end of this article provided by The Basic Newbury House Dictionary. Definitions with an asterisk (*) are supplied by the author, Bill Perry.
Presidents’ Day was created by combining the birthdays of two American presidents: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. It began when Americans first celebrated Washington’s birthday, February 22nd. Later Lincoln’s birthday, February 12th, was added because of his accomplishments. Since both birthdays are in February, leaders in the government chose to honor both men on the third Monday in February. This day always comes between the two presidents’ birthdays.
Washington is called “The Father of his country” and is famous around the world. He was born in 1732 in Pope’s Creek, VA, the oldest son of Augustine and Mary Washington. His father died when George was only 11. He wanted to join the British Navy but his mother would not let him. Then he worked for a man who measured land. The knowledge he gained would be helpful later in battle. In 1753 he helped the British army as a scout in the French and Indian War. After a successful time in the military, he entered politics in 1759. People chose him to be a leader in Virginia. Earlier that year he married Martha Custis, a rich widow who had two children, John and “Patsy.” They had no children of their own.
At that time Great Britain had many colonies all over the world. But the American colonies were larger and different from the other British colonies. The number of people moving to America was growing quickly. Cities were becoming large, and trade with Britain was increasing. However, disagreements between the American colonies and Great Britain had also been growing for some time. Britain found it more and more difficult to control the American colonies.
By 1769, Washington was leading Virginia in its disagreements against England. After two meetings in 1774-1775, a group of American colony leaders, called the Continental Congress [see Independence Day], chose him to be the leader of the colonial military on July 3, 1775. Washington lost more battles than he won, but his army surrounded and captured the British soldiers at Yorktown, VA on September 28, 1781. The Americans had won the war and their freedom! During the war soldiers told stories of Washington’s concern for them and his faith in God. Some soldiers saw him on his knees, alone in the woods, praying for his soldiers’ safety and success in the war. This made him more famous. Most people loved him.
After the war Washington wanted to return to his beautiful home, Mount Vernon. It was a large piece of land with five farms. He grew many crops there, including wheat and fruit trees. Washington was an excellent farmer, but his countrymen had other ideas for the general.
In 1787 they chose him to be Virginia’s leader for the meeting that would make a new government. This meeting was called the Constitutional Convention [see Independence Day] because they created the government by writing the US Constitution. Then the people voted for Washington to become the first President of the United States. He began his first four-year term as president on April 30, 1789. It was a peaceful four years. The people chose him again to another term in 1792. His second term was more difficult. Some people disagreed with a few of his ideas. He decided not to serve a third term. His last speech in 1797, called a “Farewell Address,” became an important part of America’s policy toward other countries for over a hundred years. After being home again for less than three years, Washington became sick. Doctors could not save him, and he died December 14, 1799.
People everywhere loved Washington for his honesty, his faith in God, and his care for others. One friend described him as being “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” People all across the country were very sad for months after he died. They wanted to make his birthday a national holiday. Washington, DC and the Washington Monument are named for him. He appears on the one-dollar bill and 25 cent quarter.
No one thought Abraham Lincoln would become a great person. Called “Honest Abe,” he was born in 1809 in Kentucky within ten years of Washington’s death. His father Thomas never studied in a school, but he was a very good carpenter. Abraham’s mother Nancy died when he was only 9 years old. This made him very sad. The next year his father married Sarah Bush Johnston. Abraham liked her, and she continued to teach him the Bible. Abraham loved to read any book he could get. Many nights he read by candlelight, the only light in his family’s dark log cabin.
Kentucky was a state where families could own slaves. Because his family’s church taught against slavery, they would not own slaves. They moved to Indiana, a state where slavery was against the law. States in the north, like Indiana, were called “free” states, because everyone was free and no one was a slave. Southern states were called “slave” states [see Martin Luther King Day].
In 1828 he took his first trip, traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. Two years later he moved to Illinois, and in 1831 settled near Springfield. The next year he tried to be elected for the state government, but not enough people voted for him. He won the next election in 1834 and worked in the government until 1841. During that time he became a lawyer and married Mary Todd on November 4, 1842. They had four sons.
In 1847 he served one 4-year term in the US House of Representatives. In 1856 he joined the new Republican Party because it was strongly against slavery. He debated Stephen Douglas seven times for the US Senate election in 1858. Lincoln’s beliefs, clear thinking and powerful speaking showed many people around the country that he had great leadership skills. Lincoln won the debates but lost the election.
The Republican Party chose Lincoln for the 1860 election for President. They believed Lincoln understood the problems of slavery better than anyone. In the election he received the most votes among several men. Democrats divided their votes between two men — one from the north against slavery and one from the south who was for slavery. This division helped Lincoln win. He became the nation’s sixteenth president. People in the south believed Lincoln and the “anti-slavery” Republicans’ victory ended any hopes of keeping slavery there. When he began his term in March 1861, the Southern states already had separated themselves from the Union. Five weeks later the Civil War began. It would be the worst time in American history. More men would die in this war – about 500,000 – than any other US war. People in the North and South had angry feelings toward each other for years. War began in South Carolina on April 12, 1861. Eighteen months later, on September 24, 1862 Lincoln showed great courage when he freed the slaves. The war continued and was fought in many places around the country. One terrible battle was fought in Gettysburg, PA. At the cemetery Lincoln gave a famous speech called the “Gettysburg Address.” In this very short speech he told people his ideas about the war and his goals for the country. It is considered one of the best political speeches ever written. Lincoln said the saddest time in his life was when he saw all the dead soldiers at Gettysburg. He told a pastor at that time that he became a Christian after he visited Gettysburg. He said he needed God’s help to continue leading the country.
Lincoln had many generals to lead the northern army. He chose Ulysses S. Grant in 1864 to be his top general. The Southern generals were much better military leaders. However, the South did not have enough supplies for their army like the North had. Many victories by the North helped Lincoln win election as president again. He wanted to rebuild the country in his second term. Finally the Southern Commanding General, Robert E. Lee, surrendered on April 9, 1865. The war was over.
Five days later Lincoln and his wife went to a theater in Washington, DC to watch a play, Our American Cousin. He wanted to rest and celebrate the end of the war. John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor at that time, was angry at Lincoln for freeing the slaves. He went to the theater and found Lincoln’s military guard drunk and asleep. Booth stepped past him and went upstairs where the president sat. He shot Lincoln in the back of his head with a small handgun. It was Good Friday, the weekend of the Easter celebration [see Easter]. People carried the president to the building across the street where doctors worked on him. Lincoln died the next morning at 7:22 AM. Booth was later caught and killed for shooting the president.
A train carried Lincoln’s body from Washington across the country. Those who loved him called him “Father Abraham.” He was buried in Springfield, IL on May 4th. Although the war was over, in many ways Lincoln became the last soldier to die. Abraham Lincoln was a special man during a difficult time. More than anything else, his clear thinking and faith in God kept the United States together. In his speech that began his second term as president, he said he wanted bad feelings “toward none” and “[love] for all.” He lived his own life that way. Lincoln appears on the 5-dollar bill and the one-cent penny. The Lincoln Memorial stands in the nation’s capital to honor him.
Presidents’ Day is a national holiday that honors Washington and Lincoln. Both of them are famous for their wisdom, strength and faith in God. Their actions show how much they believed God and the Bible, which they both read. They became examples of leadership for the rest of the country. This is why many people think these two men are the two greatest American presidents. Most celebrations of Presidents’ Day will have historic themes. American flags, parades and speeches are common, as well as picnics and other activities.
Vocabulary
carpenter (noun) – a person who earns a living by making and building things with wood.
colony (noun) – a group of people who have moved to another area, but are still governed by their home country.
debated (verb) – argued, presented differing views on a question.
Easter (noun) – the Christian religious holiday celebrating Jesus Christ’s return to life. election (noun) – an event when people vote.
*Good Friday (noun) – the Friday before Easter when Jesus Christ died on a wooden cross.
Lincoln Memorial (noun) – a building in Washington, DC that honors Abraham Lincoln.
scout (noun) – a person sent out to collect information.
term (noun) – a time period, such as in elected office or education.
*union (noun) – the name used by Northerners to describe the United States.
Washington Monument (noun) – a building in Washington, DC that honors George Washington.
©Bill Perry. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author.
