|
 Illinois is definitely the Land of
Lincoln. Voters in the Illinois Top 200 project have selected
Abraham Lincoln as the top leader in state history, recognizing his
role in ending slavery and holding America together through the
Civil War.
He was followed by three other presidents with Illinois connections:
Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and Ulysses S. Grant. Social worker Jane
Addams, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, rounded out the top five
selections in online voting.
Lincoln came to Illinois as an uneducated but ambitious young man
trying to find his place in the world. He left it as a successful
lawyer and president-elect of the United States. He would never
return, except to be buried after his assassination.
“The four presidents with Illinois roots came from different walks
of life, faced different challenges and followed different political
philosophies. But all of them were important figures in American
history, and I’m glad to see them recognized by the people taking
part in the Illinois Top 200 project,” said Alan Lowe, executive
director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
He noted that the museum is now offering a special exhibit on these
four men, called “From Illinois to the White House: Lincoln, Grant,
Reagan, Obama.”
The Top 200 project lets Illinoisans vote every two weeks on the
state’s most inspiring leaders, greatest inventions, top businesses
and much more. By the state’s bicentennial on Dec. 3, voters will
have chosen 10 favorites in 20 different categories – the Illinois
Top 200.
Voting in the final category, unforgettable moments, is underway at
www.Illinois Top200.com.
Nominees include Lincoln’s funeral, the 2016 Cubs World Series
victory, Illinois voters rejecting slavery and the start of the
Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Here are the 10 top leaders chosen in online voting:
Abraham Lincoln – A successful lawyer in Springfield, Lincoln
rose to national prominence as a critic of slavery. As president, he
guided a divided America through the Civil War, issued the
Emancipation Proclamation and passed a constitutional amendment
ending slavery.
Ronald Reagan – The only president born in Illinois, Reagan
sought to cut spending, social services and taxes. He was a firm
opponent of the Soviets during the final years of the Cold War but
also negotiated arms control agreements with them.
Barack Obama – Taking office after a devastating economic
downturn, Obama oversaw initiatives to save financial institutions
and the auto industry. He passed a major expansion in access to
health care. He was the nation’s first African-American president.
Ulysses S. Grant – Grant moved to Illinois to start over
after a series of failures in life. When the Civil War broke out, he
organized Illinois troops, proved himself an excellent commander and
rose to oversee the entire Union army. He served two terms as
president.
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Jane Addams – Addams was a pioneering social
worker and advocate for women’s rights. She co-founded Chicago’s
Hull House and helped establish the ACLU. She was the first American
woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Black Hawk – The Sauk warrior fought American expansion into
Illinois territory in the War of 1812 and the brief “Black Hawk War”
of 1832. He was not a chief, but people followed him because of his
bravery and leadership skills. He produced America’s first
autobiography by a Native American.
Ida B. Wells – Born into slavery, Wells
devoted her life to fighting discrimination against
African-Americans and women. She helped call attention to the
nation’s epidemic of lynching and was a co-founder of the NAACP.
Adlai Stevenson II – As Illinois governor, Stevenson fought
crime and government corruption. He ran for president twice. He was
ambassador to the United Nations during the Cuban Missile Crisis in
1962.
Mother Jones – After losing her family and her business, Mary
Harris Jones became a union organizer. Her ability to motivate
workers led opponents to call her the “most dangerous woman in
America.”
Hillary Clinton – Clinton was the first woman nominated for
president by a major political party. Born in Chicago and raised in
Park Ridge, she also served as secretary of state, senator and first
lady.
The nominees who did not make the top 10 were three-time
presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan; Gov. Edward Coles, a
key opponent of slavery in Illinois; Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley;
Supreme Court Justice David Davis; Sen. Everett Dirksen; Sen.
Stephen Douglas; civil rights activist Jesse Jackson; John Jones,
the state’s first African-American officeholder; Chicago Mayor
Harold Washington; and suffragist and temperance advocate Frances
Willard.
The Illinois Top 200 is a joint initiative of the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library and Museum, The (Springfield) State
Journal-Register and the Illinois Bicentennial Commission.
The presidential library and museum uses a combination of rigorous
scholarship and high-tech showmanship to immerse visitors in
Lincoln’s life and times. For more information, visit
www.PresidentLincoln. illinois.gov.
ABOUT ILLINOIS BICENTENNIAL
On Dec. 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st state in the union. The
Illinois Bicentennial is a yearlong celebration of what has been
BORN, BUILT & GROWN in the state and a reminder of why we are #IllinoisProud.
Citizens are encouraged to participate in the celebration by
visiting www.illinois200 .com
and using the hashtag #IllinoisProud. Partners and event and project
managers planning activities in 2018 can apply to become an official
part of Illinois Bicentennial by visiting the PARTICIPATE page at
www.illinois 200.com.
[Christopher Wills
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum] |
