{"id":22482,"date":"2023-04-13T04:39:25","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T08:39:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanspaces.state.gov\/?p=22482"},"modified":"2026-03-27T11:27:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T15:27:50","slug":"presidents-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanspaces.state.gov\/presidents-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Presidents Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PRESIDENTS’ DAY<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
PROGRAM <\/strong>TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This program toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to create a greater awareness of the role and history of the U.S. presidency.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 Lansdowne portrait of George Washington Painting by Gilbert Stuart<\/strong><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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LESSON PLANS<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Public Broadcasting Service<\/a> <\/strong>
This site contains 60-second videos of all past U.S. presidents, lesson plans on select presidents, activities, and resources on the powers of the U.S. presidency<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smithsonian Educational Resources<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>
This site contains several lesson plans for grades 3-12 about campaigning, inaugurations, presidential roles, and life in the White House.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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WHAT IS PRESIDENTS’ DAY?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Presidents\u2019 Day is an official, national holiday that is celebrated on the third Monday of February in the United States. The holiday originated in the 1880s to honor George Washington, the country\u2019s first president. Although originally celebrated on February 22 – George Washington\u2019s Birthday, in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday bill, which moved several federal holidays (including Presidents\u2019 Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day) to Mondays to give workers longer weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, Presidents\u2019 Day was also designated the holiday for honoring the country\u2019s sixteenth president Abraham Lincoln, and today is considered a holiday that honors all U.S. presidents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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RESOURCES<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Key Vocabulary<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

George Washington <\/strong>– commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and served two terms as the first U.S. President, from 1789-1797. As president, Washington realized that the new Constitution had to be made to work if democracy was to take root on American soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abraham Lincoln <\/strong>– 16th president of the United States and is regarded as an American hero for his role in preserving the Union by leading the north to victory in the American Civil War and for ending slavery in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liberty <\/strong>– The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presidential Powers <\/strong>– Gives authority to the President to propose legislation to Congress, submit the annual federal budget to Congress, sign or veto legislation passed by Congress, nominate executive branch officials and federal judges, serve as Commander in Chief of armed forces, negotiate treaties with other nations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ShareAmerica<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n