HomeMy WebLinkAboutRead Aloud Book Gr. 3-Lesson 2Who is the leader of our country? If you said the President, you’re right. The
President is the most powerful person in our country. He or she has a very
important job.
Our country is a democracy. That means that the people vote to elect, or
choose, their leaders. The whole country votes to elect the President. After he
or she is elected, the President works with Congress to make the laws that help
keep our country safe.
Congress is a big group of men and women from different parts of the
country. These men and women are called representatives. People vote to elect
them, too. There are two parts of Congress. One part is called the Senate. The
other part is called the House of Representatives. Both parts of Congress work
with the President to make laws.
There are many different kinds of laws, or ordinances, in our country. Laws
are rules that tell people not to hurt each other or steal from each other. They
also tell workers to pay taxes. Certain laws even tell companies not to pollute.
Congress makes new laws. After Congress makes a new law, it goes to the
President. The President can say yes or no to the law. If the President says no,
then it probably will not become a law. Congress can also repeal laws, which
means they change their minds and decide to get rid of an old law.
Many people think they would make a good President, so they decide to
run for the offi ce. They use television and newspapers to offi cially announce
that they want to be President. Then they begin to campaign. They visit cities
and towns. They meet thousands of people and shake hands. They give lots
of interviews. They have debates, or discussions, with other candidates to
talk about the reasons for and against important issues. Sometimes they have
debates about how to solve problems with other countries. Other times they
have debates about how to solve domestic problems within our country.
On Election Day, the people go to the polls and vote. Their votes help decide who
will be the next President. The person who is chosen then lives in the White House
for the next four years.
If you were born in the United States, you can run for President once you are
thirty-fi ve years old. Do you think it is a job you would like to have?
COMPREHENSION What words help you understand how the President
leads the country? What kind of person do you think would make a
good President?
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Did you know that the United States fought against Great Britain in two major
wars? First, we fought to form our own country. This was the War of Independence.
It ended in 1783. Then, almost thirty years later, we fought a second time. This was
the War of 1812.
After the fi rst war, the United States formed its own government. People were
elected to run it. The city of Washington, D.C., was built to be the capital, and the
President’s home was built there. During the second war, British soldiers marched
straight toward Washington, D.C. They were going to attack our capital!
James Madison was President then. His wife, Dolley, was the First Lady. People
begged them to leave Washington, D.C. What if the British army reached the
President’s home? At fi rst, Dolley was steadfast in deciding not to leave. She was
an infl uential person. Dignifi ed and charming, she had welcomed many important
visitors to the President’s home. She wanted people to see that she was not afraid.
The British army came closer. Finally, Dolley agreed to leave. Most people had
already left Washington, D.C. Everyone knew that the British wanted to burn
everything down. Dolley knew that the President’s home had treasures that were
important to the people of the United States. So before she left, Dolley decided to
save as many of these treasures as she could.
Dolley found a wagon. She and her servants packed it with the treasures. She
wanted to save a painting of the noble President George Washington. The frame
could not be taken down from the wall, so she asked a servant to cut the painting
out of the frame. The painting joined other treasures in the wagon. All the treasures
were then taken to a safe place.
Valiant Dolley showed bravery by staying as long as she could. She and James
Madison left only a few hours before the British army entered the President’s home.
The British army ate all the food and broke all the furniture. Then they set fi re to the
house, just as they had set fi re to much of the rest of Washington, D.C.
The burning of Washington, D.C., was a huge loss to the American people,
but a quick-thinking and innovative First Lady gave them courage. Her effective
plan saved many of the treasures in the President’s home. These treasures are still
around today, and they are still important to the people of the United States.
COMPREHENSION Which words in this passage are about being a leader?
What does Dolley Madison do that shows she is a good leader?
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