Moral and Civics

International Freedom fighters

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The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and democracy, located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It was a gift from the people of France to the United States, and has become one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. The idea for the statue was first proposed by a Frenchman named Édouard René de Laboulaye in 1865, as a way to celebrate the friendship between France and the United States, and to honor the centennial of American independence. French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was chosen to design the statue, which was to be a colossal neoclassical sculpture of a woman holding a torch in her right hand and a tablet inscribed with the date of the Declaration of Independence in her left. Construction of the statue began in France in 1875, with the help of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who later designed the Eiffel Tower. The statue was completed in 1884 and shipped to the United States, where it was reassembled on a pedestal on Liberty Island.The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886, in a ceremony attended by President Grover Cleveland and other dignitaries. The statue was an immediate success, and quickly became a symbol of hope and freedom for immigrants arriving in the United States.Over the years, The Statue of Liberty has undergone several renovations and restorations to ensure its preservation. In 1986, the statue underwent a major renovation for its centennial, which included the installation of a new torch and a complete overhaul of the statue’s structure.Today, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States, with millions of visitors each year. It continues to be a powerful symbol of freedom, democracy, and opportunity for people around the world.

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Hatuey was a Taíno cacique (chief) from the island of Hispaniola (now split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic). He was born in the early 16th century and became known as a fierce opponent of Spanish colonialism in the Caribbean.

In 1511, the Spanish began to establish their presence on Hispaniola, which had previously been inhabited by the Taíno people. Hatuey organized resistance against the Spanish and became a prominent figure in the Taíno rebellion. He is said to have traveled to Cuba to try to convince the indigenous people there to join the fight against the Spanish as well.

In February 1512, Hatuey was captured by the Spanish and sentenced to be burned at the stake. As he was tied to the stake, a Franciscan friar offered to baptize him so that he would go to heaven. Hatuey asked the friar if there were any Spanish people in heaven, and when the friar said yes, Hatuey refused the baptism, saying that he would rather go to hell than be with such people.

His execution was a significant event in the history of the Caribbean and has been remembered as an example of resistance against colonialism. In Cuba, Hatuey became a symbol of resistance against the Spanish, and there is a park and a monument in his honor in the city of Baracoa.

 

 

 

Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911–June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor
who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Before becoming
President, he served as the Governor of California from 1967 to 1975.
Born in Tampico, Illinois, Reagan grew up in Dixon, Illinois. He graduated from Eureka College
in 1932 and worked as a radio sports announcer before moving to California to pursue a
career in acting. He appeared in over 50 films, including “Knute Rockne, All American,” in which
he played Notre Dame football player George Gipp.
Reagan entered politics as a Democrat and served as the President of the Screen Actors Guild
from 1947 to 1952. He switched to the Republican Party in 1962 and gave a famous speech in
support of Barry Goldwater’s presidential campaign in 1964, which helped launch his own
political career.
As President, Reagan pursued a conservative agenda that focused on reducing the size and
scope of the federal government, cutting taxes, and strengthening the military. He is credited
with helping to end the Cold War through his tough stance on the Soviet Union and his support
for anti-communist movements around the world.
Reagan survived an assassination attempt in 1981 and was re-elected in a landslide victory in
1984. He retired from politics in 1989 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1994. He
died at his home in Los Angeles in 2004 at the age of 93.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He was born on February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Hardin County (now LaRue County), Kentucky. Lincoln grew up in a poor family and had limited formal education, but he was a voracious reader and largely self-taught.

Lincoln began his political career in the Illinois State Legislature and later served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1847 to 1849. He gained national prominence during the 1858 Illinois Senate campaign debates with his opponent, Stephen A. Douglas, where he articulated his opposition to the spread of slavery into new territories.

In 1860, Lincoln won the presidential election as the first Republican candidate, defeating three other candidates. His election led to the secession of Southern states, ultimately triggering the American Civil War. Lincoln faced the formidable task of preserving the Union and ending slavery.

During his presidency, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, declaring all slaves in Confederate-held territory free. He also delivered the Gettysburg Address in November 1863, a concise but powerful speech affirming the principles of equality and democracy.

Lincoln was re-elected in 1864 and worked towards the Reconstruction of the South after the Civil War. Unfortunately, his life was cut short when he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He died the following day, making him the first U.S. president to be assassinated.

Abraham Lincoln is remembered as one of the greatest American presidents, admired for his leadership during a tumultuous period in the nation’s history and his commitment to the ideals of freedom and equality.

 
 

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a key role in the American civil rights movement during the mid-20th century. Here’s a brief biography of his life:

  • Early Life: Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, into a family deeply rooted in the African American Baptist church. His father, Martin Luther King Sr., was a Baptist minister, and his mother, Alberta Williams King, was a schoolteacher. King was the middle child of three siblings.

  • Education: King excelled academically and skipped two grades in high school, entering Morehouse College in Atlanta at the age of 15. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1948. Subsequently, he attended Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, where he earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1951.

  • Civil Rights Activism: King became involved in the civil rights movement during the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. The boycott was sparked by Rosa Parks’s refusal to give up her bus seat to a white person. King emerged as a leader and spokesperson for the African American community in their nonviolent protest against racial segregation on public transportation.

  • Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC): In 1957, King, along with other civil rights leaders, founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The SCLC aimed to coordinate and support nonviolent direct action as a means of challenging segregation and injustice.

  • March on Washington: One of King’s most famous moments came on August 28, 1963, when he delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This event brought together around 250,000 demonstrators and played a crucial role in influencing public opinion and eventually leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

  • Nobel Peace Prize: In 1964, at the age of 35, Martin Luther King Jr. became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and discrimination through nonviolent means.

  • Assassination: Tragically, on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. His death was a devastating blow to the civil rights movement.

Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as a symbol of nonviolent activism, civil rights, and equality. His legacy continues to inspire people worldwide, and a national holiday in the United States, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is observed annually on the third Monday in January in his honor.

 

George H. W. Bush

George Herbert Walker Bush, often referred to as George H. W. Bush, was the 41st President of the United States, serving from 1989 to 1993. Here is a brief biography of his life:

  • Early Life and Family: George H. W. Bush was born on June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts. He came from a well-established and politically active family. His father, Prescott Bush, was a U.S. Senator from Connecticut. George H. W. Bush served as a naval aviator during World War II, flying combat missions in the Pacific.

  • Education: After the war, Bush attended Yale University and graduated in 1948 with a degree in economics. He then moved to Texas with his wife, Barbara Pierce, whom he had married in 1945. They eventually had six children, including future President George W. Bush and Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

  • Business and Political Career: Bush worked in the oil industry in Texas and became involved in Republican politics. He served as a U.S. Representative from Texas, Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during the 1970s.

  • Vice Presidency: In 1980, George H. W. Bush was selected as the running mate for Ronald Reagan, and he served as Vice President from 1981 to 1989. During his tenure, he played a key role in foreign policy, including the handling of the Iran-Contra Affair.

  • Presidency: Bush won the Republican nomination for President in 1988 and went on to win the general election against Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis. As President, Bush faced significant challenges, including the end of the Cold War, the reunification of Germany, and the Persian Gulf War in 1991, which aimed to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

  • Domestic Policy: Bush faced economic challenges during his presidency, including a recession. He famously promised, “Read my lips: no new taxes,” during his 1988 campaign, but he later had to compromise with Congress and raise taxes as part of a budget deal.

  • Post-Presidential Years: After his presidency, Bush returned to private life but remained active in various philanthropic efforts. His son, George W. Bush, would go on to become the 43rd President of the United States. George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, who defeated him in the 1992 election, formed a close friendship and collaborated on humanitarian initiatives.

  • Death: George H. W. Bush passed away on November 30, 2018, at the age of 94, just months after the death of his wife, Barbara. They were married for 73 years, making theirs one of the longest presidential marriages in U.S. history.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and democracy, located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It was a gift from the people of France to the United States, and has become one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. The idea for the statue was first proposed by a Frenchman named Édouard René de Laboulaye in 1865, as a way to celebrate the friendship between France and the United States, and to honor the centennial of American independence. French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was chosen to design the statue, which was to be a colossal neoclassical sculpture of a woman holding a torch in her right hand and a tablet inscribed with the date of the Declaration of Independence in her left. Construction of the statue began in France in 1875, with the help of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who later designed the Eiffel Tower. The statue was completed in 1884 and shipped to the United States, where it was reassembled on a pedestal on Liberty Island.The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886, in a ceremony attended by President Grover Cleveland and other dignitaries. The statue was an immediate success, and quickly became a symbol of hope and freedom for immigrants arriving in the United States.Over the years, The Statue of Liberty has undergone several renovations and restorations to ensure its preservation. In 1986, the statue underwent a major renovation for its centennial, which included the installation of a new torch and a complete overhaul of the statue’s structure.Today, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States, with millions of visitors each year. It continues to be a powerful symbol of freedom, democracy, and opportunity for people around the world.