Presidents Day Honoring U.S

Embassy of the United States of America U.S. HOLIDAYS Presidents Day Honoring U.S. Presidents Washington and Lincoln The Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota features representations of U.S. presidents. From the left, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. © AP Images Washington’s Birthday is a U.S. fed- on the Virginia frontier and then face of incredible hardships. The eral holiday celebrated on the third became a major in the Virginia British surrendered at Yorktown, Monday of February in honor of militia. After serving heroically Virginia, in 1781. In 1976, the U.S. George Washington, the first presi- during the French and Indian dent of the United States. Increas- War, he returned to his family’s ingly, the holiday has become an Virginia home, Mount Vernon, The American artist Gilbert Stuart painted George Washington in 1796. © AP Images occasion to celebrate the birthdays and became a successful planter. of both President George Washing- In 1775, when the American ton and President Abraham Lin- War for Independence broke coln. Many Americans call the out between the colonies and holiday Presidents Day. Great Britain, Washington was unanimously selected by the George Washington Continental Congress as com- eorge Washington was mander in chief of the Continental born on February 22, Army. His small band of soldiers G1732, on his father’s faced a well-equipped, profes- tobacco plantation in Colonial sional army, but he led his often Virginia. He worked as a surveyor ragged forces to victory in the Presidents Day Congress posthumously promoted Washington to the rank of six-star general, assuring that he would forever outrank all other members of the military. Washington enjoyed nearly univer- sal respect, not least for spurning all offers of political power at the moment of his military triumph. He instead chose to return to pri- vate life at Mount Vernon. In 1787 he presided over the writing of the U.S. Constitution, and once it was ratified, he became the unanimous choice to be the first president of the United States. He served two four-year terms, from 1789 to 1797. At the end of his second term, A large seated sculpture of Abraham Lincoln and its surrounding building were completed in 1922 to honor the 16th Washington was the most popular president. © AP Images/Lawrence Jackson figure in America and could have continued as president, but he was necessary to ensure the end Washington’s Birthday. The first relinquished power, thereby set- of slavery, and he supported pas- president is also honored with ting a precedent for his successors. sage of the 13th Amendment to the many statues around the coun- Abraham Lincoln Constitution, which was adopted try and the 555-foot-high (169- in December 1865. Lincoln was meter) Washington Monument in Abraham Lincoln was born on shot to death by a Confederate sym- the nation’s capital, Washington. February 12, 1809, and became pathizer on April 9, 1865, five days Likenesses of both Washington America’s 16th president in 1860. after the Confederacy surrendered. and Lincoln are carved in stone on As president he guided his coun- Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, try through a great constitutional, Honoring Both Presidents along with Presidents Thomas military and moral crisis — the Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt. February 22 was celebrated as a hol- American Civil War (1861–1865) iday by 19th-century Americans. The holiday is also a tribute to the — after 11 of 15 Southern slave- At least a dozen states officially general who created the first mili- holding states seceded from celebrate the third Monday in tary badge of merit for the common the United States to form the February as “Washington and soldier. Revived on Washington’s Confederate States of America. Lincoln’s Birthday,” and another 200th birthday in 1932, the His Emancipation Proclamation, dozen states call it “Presidents Purple Heart medal (which bears issued on January 1, 1863, out- Day.” In 1971, Congress fixed Washington’s image) is awarded lawed slavery in the Confederate Washington’s Birthday and several to soldiers who are injured in states still in rebellion. The proc- other holidays on Mondays to cre- battle. As with Memorial Day lamation changed the war from a ate long holiday weekends. and Veterans Day, Washington’s conflict over states’ rights to a war Birthday offers another opportu- whose aims included the destruc- As much as both Washington nity for the United States to honor tion of slavery. Lincoln believed and Lincoln are revered, the fed- its veterans. that a constitutional amendment eral holiday officially remains UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE February 2012 BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION PROGRAMS.

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