The History of Presidents Day, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln | Drive Thru History Special

Hi, I'm Dave Stotz from Drive Through History. Happy Presidents Day. President's Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February every year. It was originally celebrated as George Washington's birthday on February 22, but later included Abraham Lincoln's birthday on February 12. The official change to National President's Day began in the late 1960s, when the United States Congress proposed a measure known as the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This law included a provision to combine Washington and Lincoln's birthdays into a three-day weekend. In 1971, the Washington and Lincoln celebrations were finally moved. On a national holiday on the third Monday in February, while Washington and Lincoln remain the two most recognized American leaders, President's Day was expanded to recognize the lives and achievements of all American CEOs throughout

history

.

From George Washington to Joe Biden, we have had 46

presidents

of the United States. At least that's what the official list says. Technically, Grover Cleveland is counted twice because he served non-consecutive terms as our 22nd and 24th

presidents

, although others 12 presidents of the United States serve two terms, they serve them consecutively, so they are only counted once on the official list, that makes sense to me since this is an educational program. I thought we could go over the names of the presidents together easily enough, but hey, I don't need to sit here and talk about

history

. so I recruited my six-year-old friend James, who is also our producer's grandson, to lead us singing through the list.

washington

adams jefferson madison and monroe adams jackson van buren harrison tyler polk and taylor fillmore pierce buchanan and

lincoln

johnson Grant and hayes garfield Earth cleveland harrison cleveland mckinley roosevelt taft wilson harding coolidge hoover roosevelt truman eisenhower kennedy johnson nixon ford carter reagan bush and clinton bush obama trump so with all due respect to the current administration that song came out of memory impressively the way it was recorded before the outcome of the most recent election so don't take it personally the state of the union is strong President's Day in the United States actually dates back to the 1800s after the death of President George Washington in 1799.

His birthday, February 22, became an annual day of remembrance in the United States around the time George Washington was considered the figure most important in American history. Events such as the centennial of his birth in 1832 and the beginning of the construction of the Washington Monuments in 1848 were the cause of national celebrations, so let's travel to Virginia and explore the life and legacy of our first president. If you are going to go through the history of one of the bravest heroic and selfless statesmen from the time of our nation's founding, then I imagine you could go for something like this, a 1980 H1 Hummer comes complete with an interior and an exterior you have the little swirl you just get the little circular inlet it has one of these I think they're the fluid union valves one of my favorite features one of these cool headlights with the shiny things you can do your squats in case you get kidnapped and someone has stolen the vehicle you're trying to get back in get your handles over here to get back in and hit it no tow hitch is complete without two extra tow hitches oh man look at these big old beefy tires love these things Let's declare some independence with this bad boy George Washington was born in the English colony of Virginia on February 22, 1732.

He lived on a tobacco plantation with his father, mother, and five siblings The Birthplace National Monument by George Washington in Westmoreland County, Virginia, was built in 1896 to honor the place where George Washington's father died when he was only 11 years old, so George spent a lot of time with his half-brother Lawrence at their Mount Vernon estate overlooking the Potomac River. It was here that George learned. the ins and outs of agriculture, ranching and cultured society in 1751 lawrence

washington

contracted tuberculosis in the hope that a change in climate would help him recover he traveled to the island of barbados lawrence brought his half-brother

george

to barbados, who then had 17 year old

george

washington contracted a case of smallpox, recovered and therefore had immunity.

It turns out that this would be providential since George remained healthy during the Revolutionary War, where it is estimated that more soldiers were lost to smallpox than he died in battle. Lawrence in 1752 and his property at Mount Vernon was later inherited by George Washington, making him one of the youngest and largest landowners in Virginia. Today, Mount Vernon is beautifully preserved with a landscaped mansion and working farm. It is also the burial place of George, his wife Martha, and 20 other members of the Washington family in 1753. George Washington. He began what would become a long and illustrious military career, beginning as a British colonel in the French and Indian War, where in 1755 he miraculously survived the Battle of Monongahela.

George Washington later wrote for the almighty dispensations of Providence. I have been protected beyond all. probability or human expectation because I had four bullets through my coats and two horses shot from under me, but I escaped unharmed although death swept my companions everywhere four years later, George Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis, a widow of 26 years old and mother of two children. His sons continued a life of juggling farming here in Mount Vernon and George was called up to serve in the army in 1775 after the Battle of Bunker Hill. George Washington was named top general of the Continental Army.

He wrote to Martha, my dear. It has been determined in Congress that the entire army raised for the defense of the American cause will be placed under my care and that it is necessary that I proceed immediately to Boston to take command. You can believe me when I assure you in the future. In the most solemn manner, far from seeking this appointment, I have made every effort in my power to avoid it, but as it has been a kind of fate that has thrown me into this service, I hope that my commitment is designed to respond to some good Therefore, I will trust in that providence which has hitherto preserved me and been generous to me, not doubting that I will return safely to you in the fall, one year later, on July 2, 1776, General Washington issued general orders to his troops, now is the time. is at hand, which must probably determine whether Americans will be free men or slaves, whether they will have any property to call their own, whether their homes and farms will be looted and destroyed and they themselves will be consigned to a state of misery of the that no one will be able to leave. human efforts will save them the fate of millions of unborn people will now depend under God on the courage and conduct of this army our cruel and implacable enemy leaves us no choice but to brave resistance or the most abject submission, therefore we must decide to conquer or die.

This is Valley Forge National Historical Park, where General George Washington and the Continental Army camped during the winter of 1777-1778. Few places in America honor the spirit of patriotism, sacrifice faith, and resolve more than Valley Forge. This is the United States National Memorial Arch that commemorates. The arrival of General Washington and the Continental Army at Valley Forge was designed to be a simplified version of the Arch of Titus in Rome that marked the capture of Jerusalem by Emperor Titus in 70 AD. In classical tradition this memorial arch is an honorable tribute to General Washington and the brave army he led.

It was here on December 19, 1777 that 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and children marched into Valley Forge and began building what was essentially the fourth largest city in the United States at the time completed with 1,500 log cabins and two miles of fortified barriers Valley Forge was a naturally defensible plateau where the Continental Army recovered and resupplied while winter weather and impassable roads halted the war with the British for six long months here at Valley Forge, the Continental Army under Washington. The leadership emerged as a united and disciplined fighting force, however there was an enormous cost: hunger, disease and lack of supplies wreaked havoc, while there was never a battle at Valley Forge.

Almost 2,000 people died here in just one winter. Valley Forge got its name from iron. Forge built in the 1740s along nearby Valley Creek, however, Valley Forge took on a double meaning after the ordeal of six months of suffering and sacrifice helped forge the first American army. This place transformed a collection of disparate soldiers from all walks of life into a unified fight. force capable of defeating the British and winning American independence during the remaining five years of the war regarding Valley Forge, Thomas Payne said to tell the future world that in the depths of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, the city and the country, alarmed by a common danger, came out to confront and reject it.

This is Washington's headquarters, also known as the home of Isaac Potts. It now housed General Washington and some of his military commanders during the Valley Forge encampment of 1777-1778 and near the headquarters stands this impressive statue George Washington after surviving the terrible winter here at Valley Forge and witnessing his collection of patriots untrained became a faithful and disciplined fighting force george washington wrote of the distinguished character of patriots it should be our greatest glory to praise the most distinguished character of christian for me Valley Forge celebrates the ability of ordinary citizens to unite by faith and overcome adversity during extraordinary times.

An incredible reminder for Americans today as we move forward during our own extraordinary times after the long winter in Valley Forge. George Washington came to lead. a professional army and defeat the British on September 3, 1783 the treaty of paris was signed between great britain and the united states making peace between the two nations and formally ending the american revolution a new nation was born this is the chapel Washington Memorial was built in 1903 as a tribute to George Washington and his brave service to our country, it currently serves as a chapel for visitors to Valley Forage and home to the region's Episcopal parish.

That bell tower houses the bell of justice. A replica of the Liberty Bell. Philadelphia, the Justice Bell traveled the country between 1915 and 1920 as part of the historic campaign to gain the right for women to vote in the United States. Speaking of the Liberty Bell and historic campaigns, it's time to hit the road again and visit the city of Philadelphia for the next chapter. in the life of george washington, but for this road trip i'm going to change out my revolutionary war suit for something a little more founding father, this is philadelphia, the largest city in pennsylvania, it was founded by william penn in 1682 and passed To be instrumental during the American Revolution as a meeting place for the founding fathers, this is where they signed the declaration of independence in 1776 and the constitution in 1787.

Philadelphia is rich in history, including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell And of course, the iconic rock steps here at the Philadelphia Museum of Art where Italian stallion Rocky Balboa completed his triumphant morning run. I mean, how hard can it be? It's just steps, right? I mean, what did he have that I don't? Can we act as a double here? everything is going well and what visit to Philadelphia is complete without this. What is this city known for cheesesteaks? So I'll have the Philadelphia style cheesesteak, just the standard cheesesteak and, yeah, I guess I'll go when the articles of confederation proved inadequate for the new nation, George.

Washington agreed to preside over the constitutional convention here in Philadelphia in 1787. After much hard work, the United States had a constitution in 1789. George Washington was unanimously elected the first president of the United States. From 1790 to 1800, the city of Philadelphia was the capital. Of our new nation, this was the location of George Washington's home, where he led the executive branch, met with members of Congress, and entertained foreign dignitaries. Now the business of government occurred there, a block away, at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, since George Washington, it turns out, was the only United States president who never lived in Washington, DC.

The president's house was destroyed in 1832. This memorial structure was built on its archaeological ruins in2010 as part of an effort to honor national freedom and racial equality as soon as possible. See here the original foundations are still visible In July 1790, the United States Congress passed the Residency Act requiring the permanent capital of the United States to be located along the Potomac River. George Washington personally oversaw the construction of the 10-square-mile federal district. which later became known as washington d.c. Washington was closely involved in the project, including the construction of the Capitol and the new president's mansion now known as the White House.

George Washington was elected president of the United States twice and on both occasions the vote was unanimous during his two terms Washington played an essential role in shaping the presidency of the United States by respecting the checks and balances of constitutional leadership and rejecting the characteristics of the British monarchy and authoritarian government when he was offered a third term, he rejected it even though the original constitution set no limits on how many times a person could be elected president george washington decided not to attempt a third term it was not about power but about duty and two terms were enough for him or any president to announce his decision not to seek a third term as president, george washington gave his famous farewell speech from here in philadelphia on september 17, 1796 in which he warned americans against the painful effects of sectionalist political parties within the country and entanglements with foreign alliances outside the country.

The farewell address was published in newspapers across the country and became a mainstay in libraries, schools, and government offices. Probably Washington's most important warning was this of all the provisions. and the habits that lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports, the man who worked to subvert these great pillars of human happiness would claim the tribute of patriotism in vain. George Washington knew that the long-term success of the United States depended on the Christian practices and moral virtues of its citizens. If these indispensable supports were ever eliminated, the constitutional republic would be at risk on February 19, 1862, in the midst of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling on the United States to celebrate Washington's birthday.

Lincoln's quote recommended that the people of the United States gather in their usual places of assembly for public solemnities on February 22 to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the father of this country by having his immortal farewell address read to them. Since 1896, the United States Senate has commemorated Washington's birthday with an annual reading of his farewell address by a selected senator. At the end of the reading, all 7,641 words long, the senator writes his thoughts on the continuing significance of Washington's speech on a

special

leatherette. bound book stored in the federal archives, I maintain that the ideals and warnings embodied in George Washington's farewell address are more important today than ever in the history of our great nation, which is why George Washington retired here to Mount Vernon and returned to cultivate his property in At the age of 67, he caught a cold working in these fields after riding a horse for several hours in the snow.

The next morning, he developed acute laryngitis and the doctors were called and his response was to bleed him profusely four times, a process of cutting off his arm to leave it. To wash away the bad blood, they also made him gargle with a mixture of molasses vinegar and butter; despite his best efforts, doctors were unable to save him. George Washington died here at his Mount Vernon estate on December 14, 1799, according to tradition, his last words were father of mercy, take me to yourself, it's okay, so I came here to the grave of george and martha washington here in Mount Vernon and on the wall is engraved "I am the resurrection in life," says the Lord: "He who believes in me, even though he is dead, will still do so." He lives and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die John 11 25 26. there is the gospel of Jesus Christ engraved on the tombstone of our country's first president while our Christian roots continue to disappear from the history books it is more important than never come to our historic sites and witness these powerful reminders ourselves talking about historic sites while visiting Mount Vernon, the incredible team there gave me unique access to the Washington library.

I was impressed by the remarkable history they safeguard there, such as that of George Washington. family bible and his original presidential portrait here is a snapshot of that

special

day in virginia mount vernon is open to the public every day of the year the tradition of allowing the public to view the property is a 200 year old tradition started by washington himself who wrote in 1794 I have no objection to any sober or orderly person satisfying his curiosity by seeing the buildings and gardens around Mount Vernon. Then there is the Washington Presidential Library, an incredible resource for academic students and anyone interested in George Washington's colonial America and the revolutionary and founding eras.

On top of that, it's one of the most beautiful and peaceful libraries I've ever been to. I must admit that the seriousness of the library was deeply impressed upon me when six exquisite busts of the founding fathers stood tall, it was as if the spirits of George Washington Benjamin Franklin John Adams Alexander Hamilton Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were all looking down on me. , this is not a library where you want to stick your gum under the table but then came the piece, the resistance, such a special item only the curator of the library was allowed to handle it so now we are here in the library room. main reading at the Washington Library on the grounds of Mount Vernon and I have been given exclusive access to an item that I can only believe will be priceless: this is the The Washington Family Bible inside the cover says Mary Washington, her mother, so this is the Washington family Bible, so it looks like some fragments were found and they were able to put them together and fill in a little bit of the gaps that they should have.

It took a lot of work to see Washington's own handwriting in the Bible, the one he read and used, it was something I won't forget, and of course, in the presence of something so historically significant, I always find a way to ask the important questions. Would this bible be worth it? We haven't had her at uh, you know, an old roadshow. No, this will not be on sale, so the Washington Library was also kind enough to give me access to this special room. This is easily the most famous portrait recognized of our nation's first president. This is the portrait of George Washington painted by Rembrandt Peel.

What's unique about this one is that this is the original. Major General Henry Lee delivered a eulogy for our nation's first president. In it he hit George Washington. a title that stood for over 220 years first in war first in peace first in the hearts of his countrymen what an incredible record what an incredible statesman what an incredible legacy and if you are going to end the story of George Washington and his legacy in somewhere what better place to do it than washington dc much of our nation's capital echoes the legacy of george washington and the constitutional republic that he was instrumental in founding buildings streets statues works of art documents inscriptions memorials and monuments i will tell the story of our first president and his special role in establishing our unique country and when it comes to monuments, george washington definitely has one of the most visible and iconic here in washington dc, as far back as 1783 the congress of the The United States decided that a statue honoring George Washington, the great Revolutionary War general, should be placed near the site of the new Congress building, wherever it would be after Washington became president and it was determined that the new federal capital would be would build here in Washington DC.

Architect Pierre León Fonte left a place for the statue of Washington at the western end of what would be called the national mall, Robert Mills had the winning idea about the shape of the monument, since it was supposed to have no parallel in the world . Mills was reminiscent of the ancient Egyptians, who were world famous for their enormous monuments. An obelisk is a conical column that in ancient Egyptian mythology represented the place from which the world was created, it symbolized the sun and the cycle of rebirth. Obelisks were erected to honor the pharaohs and their gods, so it was thought to be a fitting choice for the father of our country.

Construction began more than 50 years ago. Years later, on July 4, 1848, representatives of the private Washington National Monument Society laid the monument's cornerstone, a 24,500-pound block of pure white marble, but funds ran out and construction stopped after six years, as you can see in that line. A decade later, at the time of the Civil War, Mark Twain wrote that it is an eyesore to the people; should be torn down or rebuilt and finally completed in 1876, on the centennial of American independence, the grant of our eighteenth president, Ulysses, authorized the construction of The Washington Monument was completed made of approximately 36,000 blocks of marble and granite stacked at 555 feet in the air.

It was the tallest structure in the world at the time of its completion in December 1884. It remains the tallest structure in Washington DC to this day. and up there, towering over everything in our nation's capital, is a metal cornerstone engraved in Latin that reads laos dale, the translation, praise God, the Washington Monument is the famous obelisk that watches over our nation's capital. nation, rises at one end of the reflecting pool. and in the center of the mall, now at the other end of the reflecting pool, is another monument to another great president. I thought this was a perfectly good segue into our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, by the way, here's an interesting nugget for President's Day, although the date because President's Day floats around each year, it never coincides with President's actual birthday. no american president george washington

abraham

lincoln

william henry harrison and ronald reagan were born in February, but their birthdays come too early or too late to overlap with President's Day, so now you know, well, we're headed to the American Midwest in the next leg of our president's day trip.

This is Springfield, the capital of Illinois. It was settled in the early 19th century by fur trappers and traders who were pioneers to the West according to local history. The first cabin was built here. in 1820 by john kelly the name springfield was later suggested by mary his wife after spring creek that ran through their property springfield's most famous resident was

abraham

lincoln who lived here between 1837 and 1861 when he went to washington dc as president of the united states hey a little taller than i expected, this is the abraham lincoln presidential library and museum in springfield, documenting the life of our 16th president of the us and the course of the american civil war.

Combining the traditional scholarship of a presidential library with an impressive interactive museum experience, presidential libraries consistently rank among the most visited in the United States. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a one-room log cabin. at Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky, about two years later his family moved to The Knob. Creek Farm, just a few miles away today, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park covers both his birthplace and his childhood. Abraham Lincoln's parents were poor, hardworking pioneers who tried to make their way in the new territories of the United States at the age of seven.

His family moved to 168 acres on the western border of Indiana, where he lived a simple life in the country, working long days and reading by firelight at night. Lincoln was a self-educated young man. His education at home focused on books like Shakespeare and the Bible. These were the formative years that established honest goals, values, character and work ethic. In 1830, Lincoln's family moved to southern Illinois and Lincoln got a job on a riverboat. Transporting goods up and down the Mississippi River, he later worked as a merchant and postmaster before becoming interested in local politics. In 1834 he was elected to the Illinois state legislature.

Lincoln was a pretty smart guy. He taught himself law and passed the bar exam in 1836. He then moved here to Springfield a year later to establish himself as a lawyer and begin. an honest family abe was anickname that lincoln came to embrace with pride, he believed in his own integrity and worked hard to maintain his reputation as an honest politician and lawyer, something that is not always easy to find in those fields, let's get out for a bit and walk around the city of springfield to see where abraham lincoln put down his roots this is the lincoln family home where abe his wife mary todd and their four children robert edward willy and tad spent 17 years this is the only home lincoln ever had around lincoln la house is a historic four-block area that has been preserved to look like it did in the 1860s.

It's a snapshot in time that makes you feel like you're back in the old Lincoln neighborhood, its law offices where abraham lincoln joined the new republican party in 1856 and ran for the united states senate the republican platform was quite simple: build the united states on the cities and commerce instead of plantations and agriculture and two opposed the expansion of slavery to the new American territories in June 1856 Lincoln gave his now famous house divided speech here, in front of the old state capitol building, in that speech lincoln quoted the bible to illustrate that the quote the united states cannot permanently endure half slavery and half free he was referring to the gospels when jesus said that every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined every city and home divided against himself he will not stand matthew 12 25 lincoln later faced stephen douglas, a leading Democrat in Congress, in a series of famous debates Douglas argued that the voters of each territory, rather than the federal government, had the right to decide whether their territory had to be slave or free.

Lincoln argued against all slavery, calling it a violation of the most basic principles of the Declaration of Independence. Although Abraham Lincoln lost the Senate election, his well-reasoned stand against slavery put him on the national map just four years later. he chose lincoln as his candidate for president of the united states and as fate would have it he won honest abe abe so you are I'm going to give me the straight story on anything you ask, okay okay let's see about that area 51. What's there , the Apollo moon landings, real or fake? Is there a bowling alley in the basement of the White House?

And who put it there? Are you? He is friendly. tacky, not very presidential, the world is flat, round or donut, give me your opinion, who is the best president of the United States? I'm thinking of Rutherford B Hayes. Everyone knows that you know, half the kids at school think you're like the second president of the United States. They had no idea that you were the six teeth whose decision to put you on a dime, I mean, come on, kind of an insult, right? The election of an antislavery northerner as president of the United States brought many southerners to the brink.

When Abraham Lincoln took office in March 1861, seven southern states had already seceded from the union and formed the Confederate States of America. Soon four more states joined the confederacy, but Lincoln promised to preserve the union even if it faced war. Let's return to the Lincoln Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, to continue our story about the American Civil War. began on april 12, 1861 when lincoln sent a fleet of union ships to supply fort sumter a federal army in south carolina the confederates fired cannons at the union fleet and the fort of the united states, which was Viewed as a declaration of war, hopes of a quick Union victory were shattered when they were defeated by Confederate troops at the Battle of Bull Run a couple of months later.

As a result, Lincoln called out half a million Union troops and Both sides prepared for a long and brutal war. The Confederate leader was Jefferson Davis, a seasoned military hero and former Secretary of War Lincoln had little military experience, but he surprised many when he proved to be an inspirational leader and strategist on the battlefield in the fall of 1862. Abraham Lincoln issued his emancipation proclamation that changed the legal status under federal law of more than 3.5 million African Americans in the Confederate states from slave to free that meant that as soon as a slave escaped the control of the confederacy, either by running north across Union lines or through the advance of Union troops southward, that person was permanently free.

Lincoln also supported the passage of a constitutional amendment. ban slavery outright, which was passed as the 13th Amendment just after Lincoln's death in 1865. As such, preserving the United States and ending slavery would be Abraham Lincoln's greatest legacy, but we're making some progress, Let's go back to the history of the American Civil War. and take a quick excursion to gettysburg pennsylvania washington dc was in panic 72,000 confederate troops were just 60 miles away near gettysburg pennsylvania the mounting casualties of the war were causing lincoln's popularity to fall, so if confederate general robert e lee could win a quick victory here at gettysburg he could pressure lincoln to establish a truce, but this confederate window of opportunity was rapidly closing as union general ulysses s grant was about to capture vicksburg on the mississippi river, which would split the confederacy and free thousands of union troops to Fight Lee here in the east, this is Gettysburg National Military Park, where the Battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863, after two days of intense Fighting with ammunition depleted, Lee ordered a direct Confederate attack, but one of his generals disobeyed the order and delayed the advance.

As a result, more than 12,000 Confederate soldiers marched across a mile of open countryside without artillery cover directly toward the Union defenses at Cemetery Ridge. It became known as Pickett's Charge. Ultimately, the Confederates were

drive

n back and the Union army won the crucial Battle of Gettysburg. horrifically there were over 50,000 American casualties in just three days it was a turning point in the civil war the next day vicksburg surrendered to general grant giving the union army control of the mississippi river the confederacy was fleeing twelve days after the battle of gettysburg abraham lincoln proclaimed a day of prayer to acknowledge and confess the presence of the almighty father in the power of his hand equally in these triumphs and in these pains four months later, on november 19, 1863, lincoln returned to these fields sacred battle lines and delivered his now famous Gettysburg Address forty-seven years ago our fathers brought to this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal we are now engaged in a great civil war that test whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can endure for a long time we find ourselves on a great battlefield of that war we have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives to that that nation could live is entirely appropriate and appropriate that we should do this but in a broader sense we cannot dedicate it we cannot consecrate it we cannot sanctify this ground the brave men living and dead who fought here have consecrated it far beyond our poor power of adding or subtracting the world will little notice or remember for long what we say here but it will never be able to forget what they did here it is for us the living rather to dedicate ourselves here to the unfinished work that they who fought here have advanced so nobly until now it is rather for us to be here dedicated to the We have a great task before us: that from these honored dead we take greater devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.

Let us here highly resolve that these dead have not died in vain. May this nation under God have a new one. birth of liberty and that government of the people by the people and for the people will not perish from the earth in 1864 abraham lincoln was re-elected president in his second inaugural address in march 1865 lincoln emphasized the need to rebuild the south and rebuild the union With malice toward none with charity for all, shortly thereafter, on April 9, Confederate General Lee surrendered to Union General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia, effectively ending the war that had lasted more than four brutal years. coast of more than six hundred thousand Americans.

Live two days later, Lincoln gave a speech on the White House lawn again emphasizing the need for reconciliation and reconstruction in the southern states. Sadly, less than a week later, Abraham Lincoln was shot by actor and Confederate activist John Wilkes Booth during a late-night performance at Ford's Theater. in washington dc lincoln never regained consciousness and died the next morning, on april 15, 1865. let's return once again to springfield illinois to complete our story lincoln's assassination made him a national hero on april 21, 1865 a train carrying his casket left washington dc for the return trip here to his hometown of springfield along the way lincoln's funeral train passed through 180 cities and seven states so that thousands upon thousands of americans could pay their respects to Your fallen President Lincoln arrived here at Oak Ridge Cemetery and was buried in this mausoleum on May 4, 1865.

He was later moved to his formal tomb and memorial there today this section of the cemetery is known as Lincoln's Tomb in state historic site abraham lincoln proved to be one of the most important presidents in american history his emancipation proclamation paved the way for the abolition of slavery, while his gettysburg speech is one of the most significant in history of the United States, in the end his assassination made him a martyr, an enduring symbol of the causes of freedom, equality and the preservation of our great republic, the lives and legacies of Washington and Lincoln are truly special chapters in history American in summary, without our first president George Washington we would not have a constitutional republic and without our sixteenth president Abraham Lincoln our republic would have ceased to exist powerful truths to reflect on the day of this president in America