George Washington
Who was George Washington?
George Washington was the first president of the United States. (1789-1797). He led the colonists to victory over the British in the American Revolution. In the American Revolution, Washington led the colonists to victory in the final battle of Yorktown. After he was elected, he served two terms. Meaning, he was president for 8 years.
Why was he a key figure for Freedom and Equality?
He was a key figure for freedom because he was an important army general and helped the Colonists gain freedom from Britain. On Christmas Eve 1776, he crossed the Delaware River, which was a key leadership role.
George Washington was the first president of the United States. (1789-1797). He led the colonists to victory over the British in the American Revolution. In the American Revolution, Washington led the colonists to victory in the final battle of Yorktown. After he was elected, he served two terms. Meaning, he was president for 8 years.
Why was he a key figure for Freedom and Equality?
He was a key figure for freedom because he was an important army general and helped the Colonists gain freedom from Britain. On Christmas Eve 1776, he crossed the Delaware River, which was a key leadership role.
Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Gilbert_Stuart_Williamstown_Portrait_of_George_Washington.jpg
Abraham Lincoln
Who was Abraham Lincoln?
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. In 1846, he won election into the United Stated House of Representatives. After leaving the House of Representatives because of unpopularity, Lincoln joined the new Republican Party that was largely against slavery. In 1858, he was reelected into the Senate. After his election, he began campaigning against slavery. He stated, “this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free.” He was addressing how the North disliked slavery, while the South approved of slavery. When Lincoln was elected president (1860), the South seceded from the North because of his views on slavery. Because of this disagreement, the Civil War began in 1861. The Civil War was a fight that took place between the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy). This conflict lasted until 1864, when the confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered. On March 4, 1865, Lincoln addressed the need to reconstruct the South and rebuild the Union: “With malice toward none; with charity for all.” in his second inaugural address. However, some people were not happy that the Union had won and Lincoln had been elected again. On April 14th, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot and killed Lincoln in his presidential box in Ford's Theatre.
Why was he a key figure for Freedom and Equality?
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. In 1846, he won election into the United Stated House of Representatives. After leaving the House of Representatives because of unpopularity, Lincoln joined the new Republican Party that was largely against slavery. In 1858, he was reelected into the Senate. After his election, he began campaigning against slavery. He stated, “this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free.” He was addressing how the North disliked slavery, while the South approved of slavery. When Lincoln was elected president (1860), the South seceded from the North because of his views on slavery. Because of this disagreement, the Civil War began in 1861. The Civil War was a fight that took place between the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy). This conflict lasted until 1864, when the confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered. On March 4, 1865, Lincoln addressed the need to reconstruct the South and rebuild the Union: “With malice toward none; with charity for all.” in his second inaugural address. However, some people were not happy that the Union had won and Lincoln had been elected again. On April 14th, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot and killed Lincoln in his presidential box in Ford's Theatre.
Why was he a key figure for Freedom and Equality?
- Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This freed all of the slaves in the Confederacy but left those in states loyal to the Union in bondage.
- Foreshadowing the the 13th Amendment, which completely abolished slavery
- During the Reconstruction period after the Civil War, he held nothing against the South and helped rebuild the Southern and the Northern economy.
Image: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMeRApXNV58/URxOnmMH9AI/AAAAAAAAD1o/DHcSwunJTPc/s1600/Abraham-Lincoln.jpg
Rosa Parks
Who was Rosa Parks?
She was a Civil Rights activist who is best known for her Montgomery Bus Boycott. During the 1950's Montgomery, Alabama was a segregated city. White people and African Americans had to use different restaurants, bathrooms, elevators, churches, and drinking fountains. In public transportation, such as busses, African Americans had to sit in the back of the bus because the front was reserved for Whites only. On December 1, 1955, Rosa made a famous stand against the segregated system of busses. While she was sitting the the African American section of the bus, the bus driver asked her to stand up to give her seat to a White man. When she refused, the bus driver called the police on her. She was later arrested. Rosa was charged with breaking a segregation law and had to pay a fine. However, once again, she refused. Rosa Parks paved the way for the continuation of protesting the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Eventually, Martin Luther King Jr. got involved and helped lead the boycott. After 381 days, the Supreme Court finally ruled that segregation laws in Alabama were unconstitutional, thanks to Rosa Park's stand against the system.
Why was she a key figure in Freedom and Equality?
She was a Civil Rights activist who is best known for her Montgomery Bus Boycott. During the 1950's Montgomery, Alabama was a segregated city. White people and African Americans had to use different restaurants, bathrooms, elevators, churches, and drinking fountains. In public transportation, such as busses, African Americans had to sit in the back of the bus because the front was reserved for Whites only. On December 1, 1955, Rosa made a famous stand against the segregated system of busses. While she was sitting the the African American section of the bus, the bus driver asked her to stand up to give her seat to a White man. When she refused, the bus driver called the police on her. She was later arrested. Rosa was charged with breaking a segregation law and had to pay a fine. However, once again, she refused. Rosa Parks paved the way for the continuation of protesting the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Eventually, Martin Luther King Jr. got involved and helped lead the boycott. After 381 days, the Supreme Court finally ruled that segregation laws in Alabama were unconstitutional, thanks to Rosa Park's stand against the system.
Why was she a key figure in Freedom and Equality?
- Started the Montgomery Bus Boycott
- Fought for Equal Rights of African Americans in a peaceful way
Image: http://a1.files.biography.com/image/upload/c_fill,dpr_1.0,g_face,h_300,q_80,w_300/MTE1ODA0OTcxNzQ5Mzc3NTQ5.jpg