~The American Revolutionary War was fought from the years 1775-1781.` The American colonists declared their independence from the British empire on July 4, 1776.` Even though there had been some fighting before this date, the Declaration of Independence marked the official start of the war.` General George Washington (who had dentures made of wood) was the commander of the colonial forces.` He led the colonial army to victory over the British and became the first president of the United States of America.` He is known as the "father" of our country.`
~Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States of America.` He served as president from 1860-1865.` He was president of the Union during the American Civil War.` This war began in 1861 when the southern states attempted to secede from the Union.` Jefferson Davis became the first and only president of these southern "confederate" states.` Davis and the people of the south felt that their economy, lifestyle and basic philosophy of life differed from the north so greatly that the Union had to be dissolved.` Lincoln felt that the Union had to be preserved at all costs including war.` The Civil War featured many bloody battles such as: Bull Run, Antietam and Gettysburg.` In 1863 (in the middle of the Civil War) Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which outlawed slavery.` The north finally won the war in 1865, ending the bloodiest conflict in American history.`
~In April of 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.` Lincoln was watching a play at Ford's Theater when he was shot by Booth.` Lincoln became the first U.S. president to be killed while holding office.` Due to Lincoln's death vice-president Andrew Johnson became president.`
