Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th president of the United States. His election was among the reasons that led to the secession of the southern states and the start of the Civil War.

On Oct. 6, First Parish Church was packed for Jill Lepore’s talk on her new book, “We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution.”

Wilson, a native of Staunton, won the election in a landslide victory, securing 435 electoral votes. Meanwhile, the Republican incumbent, William Howard Taft, won eight electoral votes, and Theodore Roosevelt secured another 88 electoral votes as a third-party progressive candidate.

The Jefferson Memorial glows in soft golden light. Its marble columns rise from the edge of the Tidal Basin, their reflection rippling gently across the water. Inside, Jefferson stands surrounded by words that shaped the nation.

This winter’s Beijing Games marks the second time that the Chinese city has hosted the Olympics. They will also be the first city to have hosted both the Summer (2008) and Winter Olympics. Paris is set to takeover as host of the 2024 Summer Olympics.