U.S. PRESIDENTS

It’s not often that everyone agrees on something, but that was the case when George Washington was chosen unanimously to be the first president of the United States. Though initially reluctant to accept, he worked for eight years to help establish a new nation. In the last 200 years, the job of the president has changed, as 40 other people have held the high post. To learn more about the presidents and their contributions, use the direct links on the Times Launch Point Web site: https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/

LEVEL 1

A Brief Biography of George Washington. “Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present” was the first of the Rules of Civility that George Washington learned as a child. Learn more about this person that George III, king of England, called “the greatest man alive.” https://www.mountvernon.org/education/biography/gwbio1.html

The Life of Abraham Lincoln. As a lawyer in Springfield, Ill., Abraham Lincoln kept important papers in his tall black hat. View a pictorial history about the man who guided this nation through the Civil War. https://www.nh.ultranet.com/~wendyh/lincoln/lincoln.htm

Grolier Online: The American Presidency. When he was 14, future President Andrew Jackson refused to clean the boots of a British officer during the Revolutionary War. Read fascinating stories about the presidents, learn more about the U.S. government and take an online quiz. https://www.grolier.com/presidents/nbk/nbk_toc.html

LEVEL 2

The Internet Public Library Presidents of the United States. A comprehensive collection of resources. Learn about each president’s achievements as well as some fun facts about their lives. https://www.ipl.org/ref/POTUS/

The Presidents of the United States. Elected president at the time of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt showed his readiness for the challenge in these words from his inaugural address: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” This site gives glimpses into the lives of the presidents and includes links to their inaugural addresses. https://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/glimpse/presidents/html/presidents.html

National Portrait Gallery Hall of Presidents. See the presidents through the eyes of some of America’s great artists. https://www.npg.si.edu/col/pres/index.htm

LEVEL 3

Grolier Online’s the American Presidency. “Hail to the Chief” is the music played to announce the president’s arrival. Sound clips of this music and various presidential speeches are just a few of this site’s extensive resources. https://www.grolier.com/presidents/preshome.html

Encarta: President of the United States. Who can run for president? And what are the duties of the highest office in the land? https://encarta.msn.com/find/concise/defaul

Presidential Libraries IDEA Network. A comprehensive site commemorating George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Features biographies, texts from their speeches and well-know quotations. https://sunsite.unc.edu/lia/president/

The American Experience: The Presidents “In 1790, the nation which had fought a revolution against taxation without representation discovered that some of its citizens weren’t much happier about taxation with representation,” observed President Lyndon Johnson. Compare what different presidents thought about key issues. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/amex/presidents/

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This week’s column was designed by Stan Woo-Sam and Anna Manring.

EXPLORER’S QUEST

The answer to this Internet quiz can be found in the sites at right.

QUESTION:

For what achievement did Theodore Roosevelt receive the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize?

Clue: See The Internet Public Library Presidents of the United States

Answer to last week’s Quest:

Whales have to be conscious to breathe, so they sleep by letting half of their brain nod off at a time.