Name: Date: Presidents Day Packet Dear Mr. President By Readworks In 1860, 11-year-old Grace Bedell saw a picture of Abraham Lincoln and didn't like the way he looked. Grace wrote Lincoln a letter: "If you will let your whiskers grow...you would look so much better, for your face is thin." Lincoln took Grace's advice. He grew a beard. CHUNK Not every president takes a child's letter to heart, as Lincoln did. Below are just a few of the thousands of letters kids have sent U.S. presidents over the years. These and other letters have been on display in November at the National Archives and Records Administration, in Washington, D.C. Don't Draft My Dad In 1943, at the height of World War II (1939-1945), 10-year-old Carolyn Weatherhogg wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt: "I am sending in a suggestion, that is draft fathers alphabetically." The government at the time was drafting, or ordering, people to serve in the military. Carolyn hoped that because her father's last name began with W, he wouldn't be drafted for a long time, according to her proposal. There was no return address on the letter, and no one knows what happened to Carolyn's father. Roosevelt did not reply. Rock 'n' Roll Haircut In the 1950s, Elvis Presley, a young singer from Memphis, Tennessee, rocked the music world. In 1957, the U.S. government had other plans for Presley--it drafted him into the U.S. Army. That decision did not sit well with many of his fans. For example, three girls in Montana did not want the Army to give Presley the standard Army buzz haircut. They wrote a letter to President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961) hoping to stop the Army from cutting Presley's hair and sideburns: "We think [it's] bad enough to send Elvis Presley in the Army, but if you cut his sideburns off we will just die!" An army barber eventually gave Presley the military-issue crew cut. Disaster Relief When Ronald Reagan was president (1981-1988), he believed that the government should not solve all of the nation's problems. But that didn't stop seventh grader Andy Smith of Irmo, South Carolina, from asking Reagan for "federal funds to hire a crew to clean up my room." "Today my mother declared my bedroom a disaster area," Andy wrote. "I am prepared to provide the initial funds if you will [provide] matching funds for this project." In response, Reagan noted that Andy's mother was probably "fully justified" in declaring the youngster's room a disaster area. But "this administration [believes that government] has done many things that could better be done by volunteers...you are in an excellent position to launch another volunteer program to go along with the more than 3,000 already underway in our nation." Andy never got the cash.
1. President Reagan answered Andy Smith s letter comically, because A. Andy Smith s letter was not funny. B. the funny answer was related to Reagan s philosophy about government. C. Andy wanted an autograph from Reagan. D. all of the above. 2. Carolyn Weatherhogg suggested a way to decide the order of the draft because A. she wanted to be drafted. B. she was asked for an opinion on how to order the draft. C. she had a last name that started with W. D. she didn t want her brother drafted. 3. The most notable difference between Grace Bedell s and Andy Smith s letters is that A. Grace s was serious, while Andy s was comical. B. Grace s asked a favor, while Andy s gave advice. C. Grace s mentioned a beard, while Andy s mentioned sideburns. D. Grace s was about her brother, while Andy s was about his mom. 4. In the sentence, Not every president takes a child s letter to heart, to heart means to: A. hold close. B. argue with. C. take seriously. D. put on a Valentine s Day card. 5. Make an inference: Why do you suppose children write letters to U.S. Presidents? 6. If you were going to send a letter to President Obama what would you write about?
U.S. Presidents: John Quincy Adams By Readworks John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States. He was the first president to be the son of a previous president. The second, George W. Bush, was elected in 2001. In many respects, Adams was like his father, John Adams. He wasn t afraid to take a stand on issues even if they were unpopular. Adams s outspokenness cost him popularity. Like his father, he only served one term as president. He was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Adams spent much of his childhood in Europe while his father served as an ambassador to several countries. Young Adams got a unique education in politics and diplomacy overseas. But he longed for his homeland. He returned to America and got a law degree from Harvard University. He then entered the political arena. He served in the United States Senate and was appointed Secretary of State by President James Monroe. Adams helped develop the Monroe Doctrine. He also helped end the War of 1812. One of John Quincy Adams biggest achievements was his defense of a group of African slaves. The slaves had been illegally captured in western Africa. In 1839, Spanish slave traders brought them to Cuba on a slave ship called La Amistad. They were brutally chained by their hands and necks to the ship s wall. One of the slaves, Joseph Cinque, broke free. He used a nail to break his chains. Cinque then freed the other slaves and led a rebellion against the ship s crew. The ship s captain, the cook, and two Africans were killed. The slaves were later arrested in the United States for the killings. CHUNK ambassador the top person sent by a government to represent it to another country appointed named to an office or position rebellion fight or struggle against the people in charge of John Quincy Adams was one of the first congressmen to oppose slavery. He strongly defended Cinque and the African rebels in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. He argued that every human being had the right to be free. The rebels were found not guilty and returned to their homes in Africa. Several years later, President Abraham Lincoln would use some of Adams arguments to make his own case against slavery in the Emancipation Proclamation. Adams died on Feb. 23, 1848. Adams is buried near his childhood home in Quincy, Massachusetts. 1. What argument did John Quincy Adams provide in favor of the slaves on La Amistad? A. Every person has a right to be free. B. They were brought to the north, where slavery was illegal. C. The owner of the ship did not pay taxes. D. Adams hated the ship owner.
2. What do John Quincy Adams and George W. Bush have in common? A. They both helped develop the Monroe Doctrine. B. They both received law degrees from Harvard University. C. They were both Presidents and the sons of former Presidents. D. They were both raised in Europe while their fathers were ambassadors. 3. Based on the passage, one can conclude that A. John Quincy Adams advised Lincoln on his anti-slavery policies. B. John Quincy Adams was a better lawyer than he was a President. C. John Quincy Adams resented being compared to his father throughout his presidency. D. John Quincy Adams was unafraid to support unpopular ideas. 4. Read the following sentences: Young Adams got a unique education in politics and diplomacy overseas. But he longed for his homeland. He returned to America and got a law degree from Harvard University. The phrase longed for most nearly means A. lived B. disliked C. missed D. avoided 5. Another good title for this passage would be A. The Presidency of John Quincy Adams. B. John Quincy Adams Fight Against Slavery. C. John Quincy Adams Political Life. D. La Amistad 6. Where did John Quincy Adams grow up and why? 7. Why do you think Adams defense of the slaves on La Amistad is considered one of his greatest achievements?
U.S. Presidents: Andrew Jackson By Readworks Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States. He was also the first president to be born in a log cabin. He grew up on the frontier of the Carolinas. His parents were a poor farm couple from Northern Ireland. Jackson s father died before he was born. His mother died several years later, leaving Jackson an orphan at the age of 14. Despite Jackson s difficult childhood, he eventually moved to Tennessee and became a lawyer and landowner. Jackson was nicknamed Old Hickory because of his toughness. He became famous for his skill as a general in the War of 1812. But his resilience was apparent years earlier when he served his country during the Revolutionary War. Thirteen-year old Jackson and his younger brother were captured by the British. When a British commander ordered Jackson to scrub his boots, he refused. He argued he had rights as a prisoner of war. The commander got angry and lashed out with his sword. Jackson tried to protect himself with his arms. Jackson s hand was cut to the bone, and he suffered a gash to the head. CHUNK resilience the power to recover Soon after, Jackson and his brother were forced to march 40 miles to a military prison. Both of them contracted smallpox in prison. Jackson survived, but his brother was not so fortunate. Eventually, Jackson s mother arranged for his freedom. Tragically, she died soon after. I felt utterly alone, Jackson said years later about losing his family. Jackson stayed active in the military until he reached the age of 54. Although he was not interested, his friends nominated3 him for president. He served as president from 1829 to 1837. Jackson became known as a champion of the people. He was a founder of the Democratic Party. He also supported efforts to give workers more rights. Jackson s policies are often remembered for helping with the rise of the common man. 1. Andrew Jackson was the first U.S. president to be born where? A. in a hospital B. in a log cabin C. in a brick house D. in a large mansion 2. Which of the following events happened first? A Jackson and his brother were captured by British soldiers. B Jackson and his brother marched 40 miles. C Jackson and his brother contracted smallpox. D Jackson refused to scrub the British commander s boots.
3. Andrew Jackson had a difficult childhood. What evidence from the passage supports this conclusion? A. Jackson grew up on the frontier of the Carolinas. B. Jackson s parents were from Northern Ireland. C. Jackson was born in a log cabin. D. Jackson became an orphan when he was a teen. 4. What effect did Jackson s childhood experiences have on him? A. He became angry. B. He became tough. C. He became shy. D. He became lazy. 5. What is this passage mostly about? A. military prisons during the Revolutionary War B. how Jackson founded the Democratic Party C. Andrew Jackson s life and presidency D. Andrew Jackson s long military career 6. Read the following sentences: Both of them contracted smallpox in prison. Jackson survived, but his brother was not so fortunate. As used in this sentence, what does contracted mean? A. became ill with a disease B. became cured of a disease C. learned about a subject D. fought an enemy 7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. not being interested in politics, Jackson was nominated for office. A. Ultimately B. Despite C. Therefore D. Since 8. Why was Jackson nicknamed Old Hickory?
9. What happened after Andrew Jackson and his brother were captured by the British during the Revolutionary War? 10. How did Andrew Jackson show resilience and toughness throughout his life? Support your answer with two examples from the passage. Directions: Choose one of the three passages above and summarize using complete sentences. Who: What: When: Where: Why: How: Summary: Jefferson Academy Summary Checklist Was I succinct? (brief) I only included major details Was I focused? (on topic) Did I address the topic only? Did I include only relevant details? Did I include only the 5 W s + H when applicable Was I accurate? (correct) Did I use textual evidence? Did I demonstrate my understanding of the text?