Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809, and that day was celebrated as a holiday for many years after his death, as he was one of the most important presidents in American history. The 16th president, he served during the Civil War, and used the presidency to lead the North into war against the South to keep the country together.

He was born in Kentucky, but grew up for a while in Indiana and ended up in Illinois. His childhood was famously without electricity, and he was often used as an example to schoolchildren, because he read prolifically in spite of having to do his reading by firelight most of the time. In his childhood he had to cut a lot of wood, but when he had the chance he would read and thus began a career of knowing and using words very well. His most famous speech was the Gettysburg Address. When the Civil War was over, he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at a theater. He had four sons, but only one lived to maturity.

___ 1. What happened during the Civil War?
a. the North fought the South
b. the US was invaded by another country
c. it was started on February 12
d. nobody was president

___ 2. Why did they tell school children about Lincoln?
a. he was an example of someone who cut a lot of wood
b. he was an example of someone who was killed in a theater
c. he was an example of someone who read a lot because he wanted to
d. he was an example of someone who was born in Kentucky

___ 3. What did John Wilkes Booth do?
a. he gave a famous speech
b. he owned a theater
c. he killed Lincoln
d. he had four sons

___ 4. Why did Lincoln always read by firelight?
a. because he could see better that way
b. becuase his family did not have electricity
c. because he was always behind in his school work
d. because he was a poor reader