PRESIDENTS DAY Remembering George Washington and Abraham Lincoln

PRESIDENT’S DAY Remembering George Washington and Abraham Lincoln

The Top TWO Presidents

The Symbols of the Presidency •

George Washington • FIRST President • Set the “standard” and rules for the presidency. • First to voluntarily surrender power

George Washington – Rebel? • Richest man in the colony of Virginia and in the top 5 richest in America. • Why would he choose to throw that all away by fighting the most powerful country on earth? (England)

George Washington – Commander of the Continental Army • Dealt with not enough ammunition, food, shelter, or money. • Dealt with defections. • After the war the Continental Congress – owed two years of pay to all the army.

Congress acts on the problem • DISBANDS the army. – After all, they aren’t “needed” anymore. – They’d “pay up in the future. ”

The Army’s Reaction? ? ? • Go to Philadelphia!

George Washington’s First Act of Giving Up Power • Convinced his officers not to start a rebellion. • Voluntarily gave up power. • Had NEVER been done in history! • Rule of Law – even if not a good one.

Washington as First President • Had to establish what the powers of the office would be. • Had to establish the “traditions” of being Mr. President. – “His Excellency”? – “His Temporary Majesty”? – Uniform or not?

George Washington’s SECOND act of voluntarily surrendering power • Giving up the presidency. – Walked away from power. – NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!

Abraham Lincoln’s Legacy w. BBuilt the Republican Party. w. FFreed the slaves. w. FFought the Civil War w. RReminded people that we were a country “by the people, of the people and for the people. ” w. KKept the Constitution intact.

Abraham Lincoln • One of the founders of the Republican Party – A “one issue” party in 1856 – end slavery. – Lincoln made the party mean more than just Abolition of Slavery. – Made it mean Federalism. – Made us think of our selves as Americans.

Abraham Lincoln • Freed people of color. • 15 Presidents before had not been able or willing to do that! – A couple presidents after didn’t like Lincoln’s actions, either! – 4 million men, women and children freed.

Any President’s nightmare: Civil War • Abraham Lincoln faced a nation at war. • Did not give in or give up. • Did not throw out the Constitution and become a dictator.

The Civil War • Worst war for the United States. • 700, 000 dead Americans between 1861 – 1865.

Lincoln’s Vision • Followed the Constitution the best he could. • Never removed the rebel states from the American flag. • Continued Washington DC as the capitol.

Lincoln’s Legacy • Never has a president faced the problems that Abraham Lincoln did. • He is the “Gold Standard” for all presidents since to measure themselves against.

President’s Day!