Leave Lincoln alone

Throughout history, the presidents of America have helped change and mold our country since it’s declaration of independence from Great Britain on July 4th 1776.

A major part of every country in the world is it’s economy and it’s currency. In America we have bills made of paper ranging from one to one hundred in worth. America also has coin currency as well, from the penny to the silver dollar. Each piece of money has a president’s head on it. The dollar bill, for example, has the face of George Washington. Washington was the first real president of the United States.

The note of currency which I feel is most important, yet has the smallest value, is the penny which is worth 1/100 of a dollar. The president’s face which appears here is Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln penny was first made in 1909 to celebrate his 100th birthday and it was the first American coin to have a president’s face on it. Although some people first criticized the idea of putting Lincoln on such a low monetary value coin, the argument that was most heard was the that Lincoln was the common person’s president in his time and therefore, a perfect choice for the common person’s money.

Lincoln is most well known in history as leading the northern states to victory after the secession of the southern states in 1860 and 1861, known today as the Civil War or The War Between the States. He was responsible from making slavery an issue in his famous speech known as the Gettysburg Address which he made on November 19th 1863.

Lincoln led the United States with bravery and courage in the two terms he was president. His assassination in 1865 was met with anger and sadness throughout the entire country. It is my firm belief and opinion that no president in our modern era had the same grace, heart, and love of country more than Lincoln himself, therefore he should stay and forever remain on our most commonly used coin, the cent.