It’s Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, and America is celebrating!
We remember Abraham Lincoln because:
- He overcame being poor and uneducated to become our country’s greatest President.
- As American’s 16th President, he fought to keep the nation from splitting apart. We are a strong country today, partly because of President Lincoln.
- He believed that all people are equal – just like the Declaration of Independence says. He always thought slavery was wrong and worked to make slavery illegal in the United States.
During this Bicentennial period, read a good biography of President Lincoln suggested on the Reading Lists, and then test your knowledge of Abraham Lincoln with the Honest Abe Quiz.
Get involved in your town’s celebrations of the Bicentennial – or be the one to suggest to your town leaders that they plan a celebration. Check out some ideas for Community Projects – or come up with your own.
You can also get your school named as a Lincoln Bicentennial School! Talk to your teacher about the School Recognition Program.
Projects/Contests:
- Delaware - The Delaware ALBC in partnership with the DE Higher Education Commission High School Essay Contest for students planning to attend college in 2009-10 academic year. Topic: "1860 Candidate Lincoln's Middle Path to Slavery: Too Little or Just Right." Recipients recognized at Lincoln Bicentennial Dinner - Feb. 10, 2009. For more information, click here. Contact.
- Idaho - High School Essay Contest - For more information, contact David Leroy, ALBC State Liaison.
- Illinois - Illinois Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Envelope Design Contest. Contact.
- Louisiana - LA ALBC essay contest for elementary and secondary students. For more information, contact.
- Massachusetts - Forbes House Museum Annual Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest.
- National - Looking for Your Lincoln Hero essay contest - Deadline.
- Oregon - State essay contest. For more information, visit or contact Mike Burton, ALBC State Liaison .
- Virginia - Essay and art contests for K-12 students. Contact Theodore DeLaney, ALBC State Liaison.
- Wisconsin - High school essay contest. Contact John Skilton, ALBC State Liaison.
- Winners - Queens Village Lincoln Bicentennial Essay Contest.
- Winners - Ohio State Competition, Lincoln Bicentennial Poster Contest.
Abe Lincoln Coloring Book:
These illustrations are created by Jared Frederick, a student at Penn State University and a board member of the Blair County, PA Historical Society (www.blairhistory.org). This group is hosting a two year exhibition entitled "Lincoln for All Ages." Please visit Jared's website at www.historymatters.biz to see more artwork.
