https://learningenglish.voanews.com/z/979 Learn English as you read and listen to our American history series. The programs are written at the intermediate and upper-beginner level and are read one-third slower than regular VOA English. Download free texts, MP3s and PDFs. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US-LEARN/img/logo.png https://learningenglish.voanews.com/z/979 en 2026 - VOA 60 Fri, 21 Aug 2026 15:04:24 +0000 Pangea CMS – VOA Memorial Day is a national holiday observed in the United States on the last Monday in May. It is a day when Americans honor the men and women who have died fighting in America’s wars. For most Americans, it also marks the unofficial start of summer. It is a popular weekend for vacationing. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americans-observe-memorial-day-/7107476.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americans-observe-memorial-day-/7107476.html Sun, 26 May 2024 22:00:58 +0000 Arts & CultureLessons of the DayU.S. History The third Monday of February is known as Presidents’ Day in the United States. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/presidents-day-in-the-us/7484267.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/presidents-day-in-the-us/7484267.html Sun, 18 Feb 2024 21:59:00 +0000 U.S. HistoryLessons of the Day https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/7485986.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/7485986.html Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:02:24 +0000 U.S. History VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. Today we are talking about George Washington. He was the first president of the United States. He served from 1789 to 1797. But he had many other accomplishments, too. He owned thousands of hectares of land in his home state of Virginia. He was a famous general, who led the American colonists to freedom from British rule. And he presided over the convention that created the U.S. Constitution. For Washington, that was enough. He said he wanted to retire from public service and return home. But the country’s new electors had other ideas. They wanted him to move to New York and invent the American presidency. Washington accepted the job as his duty. Washington as president Washington was sworn in as president in 1789. At the time, a truly united states was still just an idea. Americans were unconnected groups. They came from different countries, had different religions, and spoke different languages. For example, a quarter of the people in the state of Pennsylvania spoke only German. Doug Bradburn is the founding director of the Washington Library at Mount Vernon. He says when Washington took office, the country was “fragile.” “The chances that it would even survive were probably very, very slim.” Bradburn explains that Washington had to establish social and political unity. But the Constitution did not say how the president could do that. So, Bradburn says, George Washington invented the job for all future presidents. He established a group of advisors — called the cabinet—as well as the nation’s official money. He appointed a six-member Supreme Court. And he created the Department of Foreign Affairs, now called the State Department. However, Washington said it was the president’s responsibility to set foreign policy. Historian Doug Bradburn explains that Washington established the president not just as a figurehead, but as a decision maker. But he always used the Constitution as his guide. “He wasn’t just trying to establish an office and then figure out a way to justify it, he was trying to work with his Constitution.” Washington as a young man George Washington was born in 1732 in the colony of Virginia. His father died when George was 11 years old. As a boy, he learned reading, writing and math. Then he worked as a land surveyor in western Virginia. Historian Joseph Ellis points out that Washington did not have a formal education. Instead of going to college, Ellis says, Washington went to war. He fought against the French and Indians as a British Army officer. That experience informed Washington’s world view. Ellis describes the first president as “a realist.” At the same time, Washington was a “very passionate man” with “extremely strong emotions.” He was known to get angry, but he showed his temper to only a few people. Washington not only acted like a great leader – he looked like one. George Washington stood about 1.9 meters tall. That was a head taller than the average man of his time. He was very strong, and very graceful. He was known as one of the best horseback riders and best dancers in Virginia. But he had a problem: bad teeth. Unlike his wife, Martha, who was known for her lovely smile, George Washington began losing his teeth in his twenties. When he was sworn in as president, he had only one tooth left. Washington as a myth Washington remains an important figure in the American imagination. Even today people tell stories about him. One popular story, that he had wooden teeth, is not true. But he did wear dentures. They were made, in part, from hippopotamus ivory. And he did not chop down a cherry tree as a child and then admit it by saying, “I cannot tell a lie.” In fact, historian Joseph Ellis says George Washington “lied many times.” But it is true that as Washington became more famous, his reputation grew. People thought of him as a man who always did the right thing. Joseph Ellis says even Washington understood people would look at his writings and judge him. “Washington went from being a man to a monument. He was aware of the fact that he had a role to play and that all emerging nations need mythical heroes.” Washington became very protective of his personal thoughts. His wife burned most of their letters. Yet we know a little bit about George Washington’s thoughts from other writing. One of his regrets, he said, was that he had not done something to end slavery. Like many plantation owners, Washington was a slave holder. More than 300 enslaved people lived on his property. By the end of his life, Washington opposed slavery. He left a will ordering his survivors to free his slaves after his wife’s death. Washington’s will became relevant sooner than he might have liked. Three years after he finished his second term as president, Washington fell ill. He had been outside riding his horse on a cold, wet day. When he came home, he complained of a sore throat. Over the next two days, his condition became worse. On December 14, 1799, he died in his bed, surrounded by his wife, enslaved maids, and friends. He was 67. Washington’s legacy Historian Joseph Ellis says one of the best things about George Washington was his ability to give up power. At the end of the Revolutionary War, General Washington returned his sword. And at the end of his administration, President Washington simply returned home. “You could trust Washington with power because he was so conspicuously willing to give it up.” Doug Bradburn says Washington was the right man at the right time. Bradburn, like many historians, calls George Washington the “indispensable man.” In other words, Washington was essential to the American experiment in self-government. He made ideas about American freedom real, and he showed that even the president would operate under the rule of law. I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.   See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each video and choose the best answer. ​________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   accomplishment – n. something done or achieved successfully figurehead – n. a person who is called the head of something but who has no real power surveyor – n. a person whose job is to measure and examine an area of land temper – n. the tendency of someone to become angry graceful – adj. moving in a smooth and attractive way denture(s) – n. a set of artificial teeth will – n. a legal document in which a person states who should receive his or her possessions after he or she dies conspicuously – adv. very easy to see or notice indispensable – adj. extremely important and necessary https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-washington/3714877.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-washington/3714877.html Fri, 09 Feb 2024 00:59:57 +0000 America's PresidentsU.S. History Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American civil rights leader. He was killed in 1968 at the age of 39. The United States remembers and honors him with a holiday on the third Monday in January https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/martin-luther-king-jr-us-civil-rights-leader/4204012.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/martin-luther-king-jr-us-civil-rights-leader/4204012.html Sun, 14 Jan 2024 22:03:00 +0000 U.S. HistoryLessons of the Day Today we are talking about Joe Biden. He took office in 2021, becoming America’s 46th President. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/joe-biden-oldest/7436052.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/joe-biden-oldest/7436052.html Sat, 13 Jan 2024 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Today we are talking about Donald Trump, the 45th U.S. president. He was elected in 2016. Because his presidency is so new, this program will not discuss his time in office. Instead, it will discuss his early life. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-donald-trump/4188923.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-donald-trump/4188923.html Sat, 06 Jan 2024 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Obama is the United States’ first African-American president. His father was a black man from Kenya; his mother was a white American from the Midwestern state of Kansas. For many Americans, Obama’s presidency was an important symbol in a country that permitted black people to be enslaved. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-barack-obama/4181145.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-barack-obama/4181145.html Sat, 30 Dec 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Today we are talking about George Walker Bush. He took office in 2001 as the 43rd president. Bush will surely be remembered for facing one of the biggest challenges to any president: the attacks against the U.S. on September 11, 2001. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-george-w-bush/4172344.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-george-w-bush/4172344.html Sat, 23 Dec 2023 21:55:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Clinton took office in 1993, and was re-elected in 1996. In many ways, historians consider his time in office a success. The economy expanded, and the country was largely at peace. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-bill-clinton/4162320.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-bill-clinton/4162320.html Sat, 16 Dec 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Before he became president in 1989, Bush had a lot of experience in government. He spent four years in the United States House of Representatives, worked as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and led the Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA. Then, for eight years, he was vice president. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-george-hw-bush/4151649.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-george-hw-bush/4151649.html Sat, 09 Dec 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Today we are talking about Ronald Reagan. He was president for two terms, and served from 1981 to 1989. Before that, he was the governor of California, worked as an actor and led a labor union. As president, Reagan is credited for changing the direction of the country. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-ronald-reagan/4141828.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-ronald-reagan/4141828.html Sat, 02 Dec 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Carter was elected president in 1976. Until he campaigned for the office, few Americans knew who he was. But Carter said his lack of experience with the federal government made him the best candidate. After witnessing years of problems in the White House, many voters appeared to agree with him. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-jimmy-carter/4130227.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-jimmy-carter/4130227.html Sat, 25 Nov 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Many historians have described Ford as a good man facing a difficult situation. He tried to fix a troubled economy, end United States' involvement in Vietnam, and show people that the U.S. government could continue to operate after a crisis. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-gerald-ford/4118078.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-gerald-ford/4118078.html Sat, 18 Nov 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Nixon is well-known to many Americans for one reason: he was the only president to resign from the position. Facing possible legal action by Congress, Nixon left office early in his second term. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-richard-nixon/4107568.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-richard-nixon/4107568.html Sat, 11 Nov 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Many Americans recognize Johnson from a photograph of his swearing-in on November 22, 1963. Kennedy had just been shot during a visit to Dallas, Texas. After doctors announced that Kennedy had died, Johnson took the oath of office as president. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-lyndon-johnson/4095890.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-lyndon-johnson/4095890.html Sat, 04 Nov 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History When he took office in 1961, Kennedy was 43 years old. He was the youngest elected president in United States history. Kennedy was also the first Catholic to be elected U.S. president. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-john-kennedy/4085635.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-john-kennedy/4085635.html Sat, 28 Oct 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History ​Eisenhower was famous before he became president of the United States. He was a general in World War II, and led the Allied invasion of Europe. As president, Eisenhower became known for his efforts to keep peace. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-dwight-eisenhower/4076083.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-dwight-eisenhower/4076083.html Sat, 21 Oct 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Truman took office after Franklin Roosevelt died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage. Roosevelt had been president for 12 years. But Truman was new to the position of vice president. Two other men had earlier served in the office under Roosevelt. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-harry-truman/4067702.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-harry-truman/4067702.html Sat, 14 Oct 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Today we continue with part two of the life and presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-franklin-roosevelt-part-2/4056474.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-franklin-roosevelt-part-2/4056474.html Sat, 07 Oct 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History