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Presidents of the United States
The War of 1812
 A Palace for the President — The Story of the White House, Part 1

A Palace for the President — The Story of the White House, Part 1
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 3 to 5
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   2.83

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    stairway, leading, freedom, nation, several, capital, heat, lived, palace, course, empty, center, plaster, laundry, building, important
     content words:    United States, Pierre L'Enfant, George Washington, But Americans, James Hoban, Abigail Adams, East Room, Thomas Jefferson, Dolley Madison, President Madison

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A Palace for the President — The Story of the White House, Part 1
By Toni Lee Robinson 		  
1     The United States had won its freedom from Britain. A new nation was born! Now it was time to care for the baby nation. Leaders were chosen to guide the country. Where would they do their work?
 
2     The new leaders made plans for a capital. This was a special city. It would be the nation's headquarters. The country's leaders would meet there. In this city, they would do the work of leading the country. A man named Pierre L'Enfant drew up plans for the city.
 
3     The president would need a place in the city to live. The country's first president was George Washington. He chose a place in the capital for the President's house. L'Enfant sketched the house on his plan. He drew a very big, fancy house! He called it "the President's palace."
 
4     Mr. L'Enfant was from France. His country had a king as its leader. Kings, of course, live in palaces. L'Enfant thought the leader of America would live in a palace. But Americans didn't want a king. U.S. leaders didn't think the president should live in a palace.
 
5     The leaders had a contest. Who had the best idea for the President's house? They invited people to send in drawings. Many people sent in their sketches. U.S. leaders chose the drawing they liked best. It was done by a man named James Hoban.

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