ABRAHAM LINCOLN

VOCABULARY

Do you know these words?

NOUNS AND ADJECTIVES

poor

fireplace

lawyer

slaves

free

president

continent

terrible

war
ACTION WORDS

win/won

plan/planned

lose/lost

shoot/shot

save/saved
ABRAHAM LINCOLN

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

Complete the sentences with words from your vocabulary list.

1. Lincoln’s family had very little money. They were .

2. Lincoln said it was wrong to own another person. It was wrong to buy
.
3. Lincoln had no candles to read at night, so he studied by the
in his log cabin.
4. There was a terrible between the North and the South.
5. Lincoln said that slaves must be emancipated. They must be .
6. Lincoln became the leader of his country. He was the 16th
of the United States.
7. The South lost the war; the North the war.
8. John Wilkes Booth President Lincoln in the Ford
Theater.
9. Lincoln the United States from being divided in two
countries.

Use these words to write sentences about Lincoln.

Lincoln/ slaves/ to free

John Wilkes Booth/ to shoot/ Lincoln/ Ford Theater

PRESIDENTS’ DAY

History

George Washington was known as the “Father of His Country”. He was born in Virginia.

Washington helped shape the beginning of the United States in three ways. First, he
was the commander in chief of the Continental Army that won independence for the 13 British
colonies from Great Britain in the Revolutionary War. In 1787, he was the president of the
Constitutional Convention that wrote the United States Constitution. And, he was the first
elected president of the United States. He was the only president to be elected unanimously.
He served two terms and died in 1799 in his home at Mount Vernon. He was 67 years old.
Lincoln was born on February 12th, 1809, in a log cabin in Kentucky. He was elected
President of the United States. He was elected the 16th President of the United States. It is said
that, if he had not lived, the United States might be two countries today, instead of one.
Lincoln was president during a difficult period of American history. Just before he started his
presidency, eleven southern states broke away from the United States and started their own
country. They called it the Confederate States of America. The country was divided in a civil
war. President Lincoln was able to end the conflict and unite the country.

He did not believe in slavery. His famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, expresses his
beliefs. He signed the Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves in 1863.

Sadly, President Lincoln was shot to death by an actor whose name was John Wilkes
Booth. He thought he was helping the South. Many many people were saddened by Lincoln’s
death.

What have you learned?

CIRCLE THE WORD THAT BEST COMPLETES THE SENTENCE.

1. George Washington (chopped down/ planted) a cherry tree when he was

young.
2. President Lincoln was able to (separate/ unite) a nation divided by slavery.
3. Lincoln didn’t believe in (democracy/ slavery).
4. Washington was a leader who helped win the (Civil War/ Revolutionary
War).
5. The Civil War was a tragic (holiday/ conflict) during Lincoln’s presidency.
6. Washington was the only U.S. president to be elected (independently/
unanimously).
7. Lincoln was born in a (large house/ log cabin).
 8. President Lincoln was killed by an (actor/ soldier) from the South.
9. The Gettysburg Address is a famous speech given by (Lincoln/ Washington).
10. George Washington helped to write the (Gettysburg address/ the U.S.
Constitution).

CUSTOMS

In February, the United States honors two great American

presidents: Abraham Lincoln, on February 12th and George Washington,
on February 22nd . These two days are combined into one legal holiday
on the third Monday in February, called Presidents’ Day.
Both presidents have been honored in different ways. George
Washington is the only president to have a state named after him. The
nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. also has his name. There are cities,
towns, streets, schools, hospitals, bridges, and parks named after both
presidents. Both have famous memorials in Washington, D.C. Their
portraits also appear on postage stamps, bills, and coins. Washington’s
house in Mount Vernon and Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Illinois, have
been made into museums.
Cherry pie is a traditional food for Washington’s Birthday because
of a popular legend. It is said that as a boy Washington chopped down
his father’s cherry tree. When asked by his father, he admitted to his
wrongdoing and said “I cannot tell a lie.”
CUSTOMS: Check for understanding.

Fill in the missing words. Share your answers with your partner.

In February, the United States honors two great American

presidents: Abraham Lincoln, on February and George
Washington, on February . These two days are combined into
one legal holiday on the third Monday in February, called Presidents’ Day.
Both presidents have been honored in different ways.
is the only president to have a state named
after him. The nation’s capital, , also has
his name. There are cities, towns, streets, schools, hospitals, bridges, and
parks named after both presidents. Both have famous memorials in
Washington, D.C. Their portraits also appear on postage ,
, and coins. Washington’s house in Mount Vernon and
Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Illinois, have been made into .
pie is a traditional food for Washington’s Birthday
because of a popular legend. It is said that as a boy Washington
down his father’s cherry tree. When asked by his father, he
admitted to his wrongdoing and said “I cannot tell a lie.”