Have you ever heard of a president who was also a great wrestler? Well, let me introduce you to Abraham Lincoln! He was so good at wrestling that he’s even honored at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. You might also recognize him from the penny and the five-dollar bill. Today, let’s learn more about this amazing man who was the 16th president of the United States.
Let’s hop into our imaginary time machine and travel back to 1809. Abraham Lincoln was born in a small log cabin in Kentucky on February 12, 1809. His parents couldn’t read or write, and he didn’t get to go to school much. But that didn’t stop him! Lincoln loved reading and taught himself by borrowing books. Sadly, when he was just nine years old, his mother passed away. Later, his father remarried, and the family moved to Illinois, where his dad worked as a carpenter and farmer.
As a young man, Lincoln worked in different jobs like being a storekeeper, surveyor, and postmaster. By the time he was 25, he was elected to the local government in Springfield, Illinois. While there, he studied law and became a lawyer. People called him “Honest Abe” because he was so trustworthy in his work.
Lincoln married Mary Todd, and they had four children. He served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives but didn’t win when he tried to become a senator. However, his strong belief against slavery helped him become a presidential candidate, and he was elected president in 1861.
When Lincoln became president, the Civil War began in 1861. The war was between the northern and southern states, mainly over the issue of slavery. Lincoln wanted to stop slavery from spreading to new states. This led to 11 southern states leaving the Union to form the Confederate States of America. The war lasted four years.
In 1863, Lincoln gave a famous speech called the Gettysburg Address. He also signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all enslaved people were free. Later, he helped create the 13th Amendment, which made slavery illegal in the United States.
Lincoln was re-elected in 1864, and the Civil War ended in April 1865. Sadly, just a week after the war ended, Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth and died on April 15, 1865. He was the first U.S. president to be assassinated, and the nation mourned his loss. But his legacy of freedom and equality lives on.
Great job, young historians! Abraham Lincoln achieved many important things during his time as president, and his actions still inspire us today. Next time you see a penny or visit the Lincoln Memorial, remember all the amazing things you’ve learned about him. Maybe one day, you can stand up for what’s right, just like Honest Abe did!
Hope you enjoyed learning with us! Visit us at learnbrite.org for more fun and educational resources. Thank you!
Wrestling Challenge: Abraham Lincoln was known for his wrestling skills. Try a safe and fun wrestling match with a friend or family member using pillows or soft cushions. Remember, it’s all about having fun and being safe! Afterward, discuss how wrestling might have helped Lincoln develop qualities like determination and resilience.
Time Travel Journal: Imagine you have a time machine and can visit Abraham Lincoln during his early life. Write a short journal entry about what you see and learn. What questions would you ask Lincoln about his childhood and how he taught himself to read? Share your journal entry with your class or family.
Lincoln’s Leadership Qualities: Abraham Lincoln was known for his leadership during the Civil War. Think about what makes a good leader. Create a poster that shows the qualities you think are important for a leader to have. Use drawings, words, or magazine cutouts to illustrate your ideas. Display your poster in your classroom or at home.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Who is Abraham Lincoln? Can you guess which president of the United States was a great wrestler? He was so great, in fact, that he is honored at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Here is one more hint: his face is on the penny and the five-dollar bill. Any guesses? That is right, it is Abraham Lincoln! Today, we are going to learn more about the 16th president of the United States, President Abraham Lincoln.
Let’s jump in our pretend time machine and go all the way back to the year 1809. Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin in Kentucky on February 12, 1809. Both of his parents could not read or write, and he was rarely able to go to school, so he learned things himself by reading books that he could borrow. When Lincoln was nine years old, his mother died. Later, his father remarried and moved the family to the state of Illinois, where he could work as a carpenter and farmer.
In his youth, Lincoln worked as a storekeeper, surveyor, and postmaster. By the age of 25, he was elected to the local government in Springfield, Illinois. While there, Lincoln studied the law and began working as a lawyer. Here is an interesting fact: after Lincoln became a lawyer, he earned one of his famous nicknames, “Honest Abe,” because of the trustworthy way that he ran his law practice.
He married Mary Todd, and they had four children together. Lincoln served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives but failed to be elected to the Senate two different times. However, his opposition to the practice of slavery helped him win the presidential nomination two years after his second Senate loss.
Want to know something unique about the 1860 presidential race? It was actually a four-way race, meaning that there were four main candidates running for president. Lincoln got more votes than any of the others and took office as president of the United States in 1861.
1861 also marked the beginning of the Civil War, which Lincoln tried his best to prevent because of the tension between the northern states and the southern states over whether to continue the practice of slavery. Lincoln allowed it to continue legally in the South while outlawing it everywhere else, including in future states that may join the Union later on. Southern leaders disagreed with this plan, and so 11 southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. The war between the northern and southern states lasted for four years.
In 1863, Lincoln gave one of his most famous speeches, the Gettysburg Address. He also signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which called for the end of slavery and declared all enslaved people to be free in the eyes of the law. Later, Lincoln crafted the 13th Amendment, which officially abolished slavery and made it illegal in the United States.
Lincoln had another famous nickname. Any guesses as to what it might be? It was “The Great Emancipator.” Emancipate means to free—pretty cool, huh? President Lincoln was re-elected to a second presidential term in 1864, and the Civil War ended less than a year later on April 9, 1865. Just about a week after people celebrated the end of the Civil War, tragedy struck. President Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth, a man who was supportive of the Confederate cause. Lincoln died the morning of April 15, 1865, becoming the first U.S. president to be assassinated. The nation mourned the death of such a great man, but thankfully his legacy lives on even today.
Here are a couple more interesting facts about President Abraham Lincoln: he was taller than any other president, standing six feet four inches tall. Sometimes, Honest Abe would keep important papers under the tall black hats he liked to wear so he would not lose them. At the White House, the Lincoln family would eat dinner with their pet cats seated at the table.
Wow! We have traveled back in time and learned a lot of cool facts about the tallest president ever. Let’s see what you remember:
1. One of Lincoln’s most famous speeches is called the ________ Address. (Gettysburg)
2. Name one of President Lincoln’s famous nicknames. (Honest Abe or The Great Emancipator)
3. Which war happened while Lincoln was president? (The Civil War)
4. True or false: The 13th Amendment made slavery illegal in the United States. (True)
Nice work, historians! Abraham Lincoln accomplished many things during his short time as president of the United States, which is why he is so respected today. The things that he supported are still important today. The next time you pick up a penny or visit the Lincoln Memorial, you can remember all of the interesting things you have learned about the 16th president of the United States. Maybe someday you can stand up for what is right, just like Honest Abe.
Hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learnbrite.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers. Thank you!
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