Page 130 - SST Class 05

honest, so he was called Honest Abe . One day, in his childhood, he
cut down many plants. When his father grew angry, Abraham came
forward and said that he had done this, so honest he was. Due to
poverty, he could not go to school, but he wanted to study, so he
learnt by his personal effort. He helped his father in his farming
work and utilised his free time in teaching himself. He borrowed Abraham Lincoln
books from people. Later, he also worked as a labourer, a boatman and a storekeeper.

Lincoln studied the law and became a lawyer. He then entered politics and was elected
to the Illinois State Legislature in 1834. As he rose in popularity, he became the
President of the United States.

Lincoln wanted to help the slaves who were sold and bought like animals. They were
forced to work for long hours under very inhuman conditions. These slaves were
Negroes who were enslaved by the Whites. Abraham Lincoln believed that slavery
was a blot on humanity. When he tried to abolish slavery, some states opposed his

decision. It led to a civil war between northern and southern states.
It was after a great effort that slavery was abolished in America in 1864; with this, this

discrimination came to an end. Riding on the wave of his popularity, Lincoln became
the President again in 1865. However, he did not live long after this. On 14 April, 1865,
He was shot when he was watching a play. He died the next day. He is remembered
for his great deeds even today.

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 AD - 1968 AD)
Some people think that the people with a dark skin are inferior.
Martin Luther King Jr. suffered with this kind of discrimination, so

he raised his voice against it. He was born in 1929 in Atlanta (United
States). He was a black American. The Whites discriminated against
the Blacks; they did not allow them many rights. The Blacks were
not allowed to use common water taps, or sit in the buses until all
Martin Luther King Jr.
the Whites were seated. They were made to live in isolated colonies
which had no facilities. They could not enter many places which were exclusively
reserved for the Whites; these places included restaurants, parks, schools or some

roads even.
Martin Luther King raised his voice against this type of discrimination. He united the
Blacks, and asked them to raise their voice in a non-violent manner. At his call, the
people did not use bus services for a year. The government was pressurised by this

and finally discrimination in transport, education and other public places was stopped.
For his service to humanity, Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in

1964. He was unfortunately assassinated in 1968.

130 Contemporary Social Science-5