U.S. Presidents
Presidents have lead the country through wars, economic depressions, and monumental achievements. Some were assassinated, some died in office, some were impeached, and one resigned from office. The stories of their lives reflects 200 years of American history. This reading set on the presidents includes multiple grade levels and both fiction and nonfiction.
The granite faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln tower amidst southwestern South Dakota’s pine-covered mountains. Sometimes called the Shrine of Democracy, Mt. Rushmore National Monument is one of the most recognized monuments or memorials in the United States. The story behind this beloved monument is complicated…
By the President of the United States of America: A Proclamation. WHEREAS, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit: “That…
Abe leaned over the steamboat. “Not again. We’re caught on a sandbar. This happens too often.” Abe and his friend Sam watched as the crew unloaded the cargo, piece by piece. “Well, we might as well sit down. This will take a while,” said Sam. “Too bad we have to…
President Abraham Lincoln gave his most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, on November 19, 1863. At that time, the U.S. was in the middle of the Civil War. Lincoln gave the speech at the dedication of a cemetery for the soldiers who had died during the Battle of Gettysburg. ————————…
President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth and died on April 15, 1865 in Washington, D.C. The Civil War had ended just six days earlier when Confederate General Lee surrendered to Union General Grant. Walt Whitman wrote this elegy, or tribute poem, after Lincoln’s death. —————————– O Captain!…
On September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice University in Houston, Texas. His remarks are a continuation of a promise he made in 1961 to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade. The promise was kept when on July 20,…
In 1941, World War II was raging in Europe, but the U.S. had not entered the war. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese aircraft and naval ships attacked the U.S. military at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Over 2,400 people were killed, and the U.S. lost…
Mary rushed into her sister’s room. “Abigail! Abigail! Richard’s friend John Adams, our third cousin, wants to visit with you. He was at the outing we had last week and took a fancy to your intelligence.” Abigail spun around with a big smile. “Oh, yes. He has a wonderful sense…
John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as President on January 21, 1961. At age 43, he was the youngest person to be elected President and the first President to be born in the 20th century. Below is part of his inaugural speech. —————————– We dare not forget today that we are…
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was the 26th President of the United States. Part of a wealthy and political New York family, Roosevelt is best known for his courage in the Spanish-American War, his devotion to nature, and his establishment of the National Park Service. In this passage from his autobiography written…