tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69572351317423292822024-03-05T15:11:43.744-08:00shayworldUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-48633368107714595722010-06-18T09:47:00.000-07:002010-06-18T09:47:22.177-07:00Bradley completes US fightback<div style="margin-top: 0px;">USA fought back from two goals down to earn a battling 2-2 draw with Slovenia and keep their FIFA World Cup™ hopes alive in an exciting Group C clash at Ellis Park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKK766R39cUSxumacOWDE_oPHFHxG94x4P0O89heT6IqxK_Uzi5_R8I7_t_wnDU6_6jzxHpZdtIcSVooLqL0OuIPw28L7T9ky4XN9FtmLq_r-kaNFEHCQOM8ro_dIXkGebHzxc3c5RY98/s1600/1249569_full-lnd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKK766R39cUSxumacOWDE_oPHFHxG94x4P0O89heT6IqxK_Uzi5_R8I7_t_wnDU6_6jzxHpZdtIcSVooLqL0OuIPw28L7T9ky4XN9FtmLq_r-kaNFEHCQOM8ro_dIXkGebHzxc3c5RY98/s320/1249569_full-lnd.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">Matjaz Kek's men looked on course for a second straight win in the section when they took a 2-0 lead into the break through Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic but the Americans hit back as Landon Donovan narrowed the deficit before Michael Bradley equalised eight minutes from time. The result left Slovenia top of Group C with four points ahead of England's meeting with Algeria later in the day, and ensured the Americans remain undefeated with two draws ahead of their third game against the Algerians.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">An exciting contest opened with Birsa blasting Slovenia into an early lead. There were just 13 minutes on the clock when the midfielder collected the ball some 25 yards from goal and left Tim Howard rooted to the spot with an expertly-guided strike to the goalkeeper's left. Bradley's men sought a response and came close when midfielder Francisco Torres fired in an inswinging free-kick from out wide that drew a fingertip save from Samir Handanovic. Donovan then looked set to tap in Clint Dempsey's low cross only for defender Miso Brecko to get a decisive touch to clear the ball.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">Slovenia looked to be in dreamland in the 42nd minute when Ljubijankic doubled their lead. Milivoje Novakovic played a defence-splitting pass through to Ljubijankic who, with the Americans appealing in vain for offside, slipped the ball coolly past Howard. Yet Donovan threw the Americans a lifeline three minutes after the restart when Bostjan Cesar failed to deal with a ball down the right touchline, allowing the LA Galaxy man a free run into the box. Cutting in from the right, Donovan lashed a superb shot high above Handanovic at the near post.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">With the Slovenia defence struggling to cope with the power and aerial strength of the imposing Jozy Altidore, Bradley's men kept the pressure on and the coach's son grabbed the US the point their efforts deserved – a father-and-son first in the FIFA World Cup. Altidore nodded a high ball down into the path of the onrushing Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder and he fired emphatically into the roof of the net. The Americans might even have won the game only for referee Koman Coulibaly to rule out a goal from Maurice Edu, who volleyed home Donovan's free-kick from the right. There was still time for Novakovic to threaten with a header at the other end but his effort was held comfortably by Howard.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-58790998427441526232010-06-17T05:13:00.000-07:002010-06-17T05:13:04.458-07:00THE NATURE'S WILD LIFE STADIUMIt may have been freezing elsewhere in the country, but when Honduras and Chile met each other head-on at Mbombela stadium’s World Cup opener on Wednesday, it was in glorious sunshine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79veQRx-JSFvpQEt_uoZ9y2rlBoMyR8VloLJZYJdzWJcEaKpjytBX_fsZGGQh_MZRR5aNixlRDqUI7BrmoIcWj8LlLk2_-V5EheniaPpZtUhHB1BJhAidxDCsytYYknfsvC9rHfpJCQU/s1600/1247891_FULL-LND.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79veQRx-JSFvpQEt_uoZ9y2rlBoMyR8VloLJZYJdzWJcEaKpjytBX_fsZGGQh_MZRR5aNixlRDqUI7BrmoIcWj8LlLk2_-V5EheniaPpZtUhHB1BJhAidxDCsytYYknfsvC9rHfpJCQU/s400/1247891_FULL-LND.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="margin-top: 0px;">Mpumalanga province, of which host city Nelspruit is the administrative capital, is home to a spectacular array of scenic attractions. Of these, the Kruger National Park, with its two million hectares of unspoilt African bushveld, is undoubtedly the best-known.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">It was with this in mind that Cape Town-based chief architect Mike Bell tackled the brief to design a stadium for the province. He wanted to reflect the area’s important connection to the Kruger Park, and came up with 18 giraffe supports as a signature feature. Facing outward, they patiently guard the surrounding rocky outcrops.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">Inside, the liberal use of bright colours was inspired by the province’s native Ndebele tribe’s way of decorating their homes, and zebra-striped seats complete the wildlife theme.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">It has been met with rave reviews. As the predominantly Chilean-favouring crowd started streaming in, visitors were enthusiastically photographing each other against the backdrop of the giraffes.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">Matias Vergara, a Chilean student, commented on the stadium’s setting. “I like the nature and hills around it,” he said. “You don’t feel like you’re anywhere near a city.”</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">Others liked the ease of access and the abundance of ablution facilities, but mostly appreciated the stadium’s quirkiness. “It’s just such a bright and breezy space,” remarked a visitor from Gauteng. “You can’t help but feel happy.”</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">“We’re very proud of our stadium,” commented Mike Bruwer, a Nelspruit resident. “It’s a bit like us - not too serious.”</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-59951909838418010802010-06-16T06:47:00.000-07:002010-06-16T06:52:48.969-07:00Who is Spain's most important player?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzgjJLkXMxuZvoVi9QQGRMpMrPBXTihGvKIJrHx6njPAvQ8ff5j47r0-qJrCCER035SSAUmIvmaEUtUn_Pd62a3DAcSiWBTcYjUX7p9NnzrrWYovyWXzDh92IMLSmuEv5n_8M2MW5tYw/s1600/1231118_FULL-LND.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzgjJLkXMxuZvoVi9QQGRMpMrPBXTihGvKIJrHx6njPAvQ8ff5j47r0-qJrCCER035SSAUmIvmaEUtUn_Pd62a3DAcSiWBTcYjUX7p9NnzrrWYovyWXzDh92IMLSmuEv5n_8M2MW5tYw/s400/1231118_FULL-LND.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Spain will begin the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ as the favourites for gold. It’s hardly surprising, given that Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, Xavi, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Fernando Torres are all considered among the best players in their respective positions in the sport.<br />
who is really your spanish most important Player. your thought and comment are always welcome.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-45282397168316931502010-06-13T06:52:00.000-07:002010-06-13T06:52:57.498-07:00DID YOU KNOW ?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Oj0eK_RKUI_3QRBcBE0YnSir6xE-bSUvjOuwGumpuCWmR1nEp8DjHtUfEFCbuWsR2h1jUSsDAZdMD45qgfEBrRq8pszJEurOKBkd6E08aJpoFjTrfuOSye5l9NAUXc5Tg1pLrJW_5r8/s1600/1240345_FULL-LND.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Oj0eK_RKUI_3QRBcBE0YnSir6xE-bSUvjOuwGumpuCWmR1nEp8DjHtUfEFCbuWsR2h1jUSsDAZdMD45qgfEBrRq8pszJEurOKBkd6E08aJpoFjTrfuOSye5l9NAUXc5Tg1pLrJW_5r8/s320/1240345_FULL-LND.jpg" /></a></div><strong>Past meetings</strong> <br />
In a twist of fate often seen in the competition, Maradona faces Nigeria in his first match as a coach in the FIFA World Cup, almost 16 years to the day since his last match as an Argentina player against the very same team.<br />
<strong>Did you know?</strong> <br />
England suffered one of the most surprising defeats in FIFA World Cup history in 1950, when, in their maiden campaign, they succumbed 1-0 to USA, with Joe Gaetjens grabbing the now legendary winner. The story goes that many newspaper editors back in England, unwilling to believe the news they had just been delivered, and fearing a typographical error, took the decision not to cover the match in their early editions. One English publication even went so far as to announce a 10-1 victory for the overwhelming pre-match favourites.<br />
<strong>Trivia</strong> <br />
Tickets are hard to come by for the much-anticipated game between England and USA at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. In fact, with a capacity of 38,646, it represents the smallest of the tournament's ten different venues, dwarfed by the 84,490 seats available at Johannesburg's Soccer City Stadium.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-65214723294149768312010-06-12T05:44:00.000-07:002010-06-12T06:03:36.192-07:00England-USA preview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK-FHikQjdjRVJYJfQN3pANSV1n4X0iqmOn5M3P9U6UAthc98qQAhsy0AkH8pZ3UyNin4gd06kwykUE3EuIfKmLJ1aRZxxWWq0pzB6ZyBGoLBRFKNW6CgEroRPQlcoH4GawxAhUv54u0/s1600/1166555_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK-FHikQjdjRVJYJfQN3pANSV1n4X0iqmOn5M3P9U6UAthc98qQAhsy0AkH8pZ3UyNin4gd06kwykUE3EuIfKmLJ1aRZxxWWq0pzB6ZyBGoLBRFKNW6CgEroRPQlcoH4GawxAhUv54u0/s320/1166555_large.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The opening game in Group C brings together two countries, England and USA, with a history of close relations and comradeship off the field but very little in the way of history on it. Except for one startling exception: the 1950 FIFA World Cup clash in Belo Horizonte which the Americans, seen as a 'ragtag' outfit back home, took a battering ram to convention and upset their fancied opponents 1-0. With Slovenia and Algeria also in the group at South Africa 2010, the Rustenburg game could be pivotal in the fight for qualifying places.<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: both;"><b>The match</b><br />
<b> </b><i>England-USA, Group C, Rustenburg (Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace), Saturday 12 June, 20.30 (local time)</i> </div><div style="clear: both;">Under their new coach Fabio Capello, England put together a near-perfect qualifying campaign, winning nine of their ten games and scoring 34 goals - six more than Spain, the next best - to top Europe's goal chart with Wayne Rooney joint second in the individual scoring roster. </div><div style="clear: both;">The US were also demonstrating efficiency, losing just twice in the final six-team Hexagonal phase of North, Central America and Caribbean Zone, finishing a point ahead of second-placed Mexico. A year ago their stock, and that of coach Bob Bradley, rose considerably with their performances at FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 where USA ousted favourites Spain in the semi-finals before going down to a narrow 3-2 final defeat to Brazil.</div><div style="clear: both;">England haven't impressed in the run-up to South Africa, beating Mexico none-too-convincingly and then only overcoming Japan via two own-goals. Capello, who lost skipper Rio Ferdinand for the entire tournament after sustaining a knee injury in their first training session in Rustenburg, was also unhappy with the first-half performance in a practice match against the Platinum Stars. He is likely to install Ledley King, who has his own fitness worries, alongside John Terry in the heart of the defence while Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips might earn surprise starting roles to augment Wayne Rooney's attacking thrust. </div><div style="clear: both;">The Americans have scored victories over Australia and Turkey but went down 4-2 to Turkey. They are likely to stick with the tried and trusted formula that saw them reach the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup with midfielder Michael Bradley, son of the coach, warning their opponents to expect a physical approach.</div><a href="http://shay4yours.bloginuity.hop.clickbank.net/"><img alt="" border="0" height="60" src="http://www.bloginuity.com/images/banner2.jpg" width="468" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both;"><b>Players to watch</b><i> </i><br />
<i>Jozy Altidore vs John Terry</i> </div><div style="clear: both;">Altidore has made giant strides with the national team, impressing in qualifying and becoming the youngest ever hat-trick hero in US history. He will prove a powerful opponent for Terry, England's former skipper, who's star has fallen during a difficult second half to last season. With his regular England partner, Ferdinand, absent, it will be down to Terry to keep the US heavy-hitters at bay. </div><div style="clear: both;"><b>The stat</b><b>3</b> -<br />
Half of USA's six wins in 25 FIFA World Cup encounters were achieved against European opposition. As well as that famous 1950 victory over England they also beat Belgium 3-0 in 1930 and Portugal 3-2 in 2002. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bHp0gjD1dbHtoG5fOqqlTtlMK4qnnxTvpzoC-C6WgyUrCarttZdgoudXBi9ZbMsDQ0_F5KGj6zKm0ESOfhp2XiKSY0zRc29q8iB773PrZQW2ru-oZuIvTvO1ssY9SY5NVaPbwtryMnU/s1600/USA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bHp0gjD1dbHtoG5fOqqlTtlMK4qnnxTvpzoC-C6WgyUrCarttZdgoudXBi9ZbMsDQ0_F5KGj6zKm0ESOfhp2XiKSY0zRc29q8iB773PrZQW2ru-oZuIvTvO1ssY9SY5NVaPbwtryMnU/s320/USA.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOylvMJ0ZrTnDlnt24nCxB5uRMaU-aZnhf4ej1EFSWDdEGasHtSdklAuGnzRh8wj5MB8-93l20qfmVABTTtfn72kMA3pguCuBtSbXDxbnllljMTw_QcEFQYWWLjBswLPog9xM8tE94ghI/s1600/ENG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOylvMJ0ZrTnDlnt24nCxB5uRMaU-aZnhf4ej1EFSWDdEGasHtSdklAuGnzRh8wj5MB8-93l20qfmVABTTtfn72kMA3pguCuBtSbXDxbnllljMTw_QcEFQYWWLjBswLPog9xM8tE94ghI/s320/ENG.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both;"><b>What they said</b><br />
"The big difference is that we've got a fit Wayne Rooney in this squad. And the squad is quite experienced. Obviously we're missing Rio but this squad is balanced. I think this is a lot of guys' last chance, considering their age at this World Cup," <b>Joe Cole, England midfielder.</b> </div><div style="clear: both;">"If we give up too many wide free-kicks and direct free-kicks, we will probably get punished for it. It's important we're solid in defence and not leave guys open one-on-one," <b>Tim Howard, USA goalkeeper.</b> </div><div style="clear: both;"><b>Voice of the fans</b> "Let's not forget the underdog in the World Cup 2002: USA 3-2 Portugal. Portugal were the semi-finalists in the Euro 2000. This match against the English squad could be a very good match or a blow out," <b>FIFA.com user <i>dmuma55</i>.</b> </div><div style="clear: both;"><b>The question </b>England often carry a 'fancied' tag into a FIFA World Cup only to depart disappointingly on a penalty shoot-out. Will 2010 be the year when they finally make amends? </div><div style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><a href="http://paydotcom.net/?affiliate=707330" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="60" src="http://www.paydotcom.com/images/paydot-468x60b.gif" width="468" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-78080401146524342822010-06-11T07:47:00.000-07:002010-06-11T07:47:05.201-07:00FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 UPDATEAfter all the has come I've been updating you on the tips and advices on travel to SA for FIFA World Cup 2010 tournament i hope you are now enjoying your trip since you arrival at SA. After years of preparations, discussion and waiting, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is finally here and for hundreds of eager ticket holders, the opportunity to be first through the gate at Soccer City this morning was a magical moment. and now<br />
<br />
<div id="frmEmail"> </div><div id="frmBookmarks"> </div><script>
var newsTitleString = "The waiting is over";
</script><h1>The waiting is over</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo7KAp4Jj-YAGjb575HEYcdk39kMDNFSJ4yIrU-o35cQb_SBhvua3-onAZ0UltkOOmoaKefFoyY3aq9oSRUtdqlxSVUcwSXXTJJi8A_FLGvEjdU4PYLTMSlgIz-WIhMoSvDS4igy1AYA/s1600/1239954_FULL-LND.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo7KAp4Jj-YAGjb575HEYcdk39kMDNFSJ4yIrU-o35cQb_SBhvua3-onAZ0UltkOOmoaKefFoyY3aq9oSRUtdqlxSVUcwSXXTJJi8A_FLGvEjdU4PYLTMSlgIz-WIhMoSvDS4igy1AYA/s320/1239954_FULL-LND.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">The prize of first through the gate was eventually won by Hope Zindi, who was followed closely by her family.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">“We are all so excited. We woke up at 5am just to make sure we would get here in time but we only left at 7 because we were singing and dancing at home. We were all so lucky as I got these tickets for my family at the last minute,” said Zindi who, along with her family, is certainly feeling the World Cup spirit. “The World Cup is inside us. We are eating, sleeping and feeling it”.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">And while Zindi managed to claim first prize, there were many more right behind her.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">“I am so happy – look around, South Africa is united,” said Fikile Zulu.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://shay4yours.bloginuity.hop.clickbank.net/"><img alt="" border="0" height="60" src="http://www.bloginuity.com/images/banner2.jpg" width="468" /></a><br />
“I was involved in the construction of the stadium but it is so fantastic to be able to walk through the gates as one of the first fans. I really have no words. What is happening in South Africa today is unbelievable,” said William Mnguni who worked for one of the construction companies that built Soccer City stadium.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">Some of the eager fans were surprised at how many people came to the stadium so early in the morning. “I got my ticket last year already. It is really amazing. I thought I would be here early but there are already so many people coming into the stadium. This is going to be a hell of a day, I can’t wait,” said Martin Oosthuizen.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">It was not just South Africans that were eagerly waiting for the 10am opening, there were a number of Mexican fans keen to get to their seat well in time for the opening ceremony and match.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;">“We all flew in last Monday and it is excellent to be one of the first through the gate. This World Cup in South Africa will be brilliant. The atmosphere here is unbelievable,” said David Vargas.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><a href="http://paydotcom.net/?affiliate=707330" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="60" src="http://www.paydotcom.com/images/paydot-468x60b.gif" width="468" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-43164758287145823142010-06-08T05:38:00.000-07:002010-06-09T06:44:39.126-07:00TRAVEL TIPS TO SOUTH AFRICA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-FNzI2WSayoTcSb26QFyFc141sniD56_TU2eH4S5ZPbPThBWLbWVoafOtdy6F1Up6vcu3jPmFHImzzDXosO-uRhou8xv2n0MCqepyRbqgRconE61QFL6F5FqJo2go0oyFj-kXLg6-GM/s1600/2781-7382-0-0_1728372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-FNzI2WSayoTcSb26QFyFc141sniD56_TU2eH4S5ZPbPThBWLbWVoafOtdy6F1Up6vcu3jPmFHImzzDXosO-uRhou8xv2n0MCqepyRbqgRconE61QFL6F5FqJo2go0oyFj-kXLg6-GM/s200/2781-7382-0-0_1728372.jpg" width="200" /></a>Everybody loves football, in fact football is one the games that bring people of different background together regardless of their race, colour, ethnic, and ability. football knows no boundary when it comes to it fans. so as this year's FIFA world cup is hosted by S.A. it's my pleasure presents you with today's topic:<br />
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<a href="http://shay4yours.bloginuity.hop.clickbank.net/"><img alt="" border="0" height="60" src="http://www.bloginuity.com/images/banner2.jpg" width="468" /></a><br />
<br />
<h1 class="art">Fans & Tourists with disabilities</h1><i></i><br />
<div style="float: right; padding: 5px;"><script type="text/javascript">
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</script> </div>Does South Africa cater for tourists with disabilities? South Africa is definitely a bit of a curate's egg in this respect – good in parts.<br />
Government has introduced legislation on this, so progress is being made. And many game reserves and places of interest have specially adapted accommodation and wheelchair-friendly facilities and walks. Many short trails also have Braille interpretation plaques.<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.eco-access.org/" target="_blank">Eco-access</a> has an enormous database of accessible destinations.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.flamingotours.co.za/" target="_blank">Flamingo Tours</a> specializes in tours for people with disabilities.</li>
</ul>You would be amazed what some wheelchair-dependent people have done in South Africa – abseiled off Table Mountain; dared the highest bungy jump in the world at Bloukrans Bridge; tubed the awesome Storms River Gorge; hiked most of the Outeniqua Trail (this was a hard one); flown a microlight; and learned to scuba dive.<br />
The sky's the limit. Oh yes, and skydived. (This was not all done by the same person!)<br />
<a href="http://paydotcom.net/?affiliate=707330" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="60" src="http://www.paydotcom.com/images/paydot-468x60b.gif" width="468" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-89103747376338313312010-06-06T08:12:00.000-07:002010-06-06T08:12:01.111-07:00TRAVEL TIPS TO SOUTH AFRICAhello there, it's less than a week to the start of the world's biggest game, and it's my pleasure to keep informing you the tips about SA, so that you can have a best vacation. our last blog is about health because we all know how important our health is, and I hope you keep that in mind and feel free to ask me every question about your travel or post a comment about any suggestion you may add to this. it's very important if i had a feed back from you, because that will let me understand your concern and what you need to get a best vacation. and today we turn straight to<br />
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<h1 class="art">Phoning to and from South Africa</h1><em></em><br />
<div style="float: right; padding: 5px;"> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --> <script type="text/javascript">
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</script> <!-- AddThis Button END --> </div><ul><li><a href="http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/telecoms.htm#into">Phoning into South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/telecoms.htm#outof">Phoning out of South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/telecoms.htm#around">Phoning around South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/telecoms.htm#08">08 numbers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/telecoms.htm#directories">South Africa phone directories</a></li>
</ul>South Africa has a well-developed communications infrastructure, with extensive landline phone networks and four mobile phone service providers - Cell C, MTN, Vodacom and Virgin Mobile - with far-reaching coverage.<br />
Landline services are operated by Telkom SA Ltd, with a second operator, Neotel, currently in the process of setting up shop. Telkom public telephones use coins, phonecards or Worldcall. Phonecards and Worldcall can be purchased at most retail stores, petrol stations, post offices and airports.<br />
You can rent mobile phones - we call them cellphones - from the airport on arrival. You should find an internet café in even the smallest towns, and the postal service works, offering the usual letter and parcel services as well as securemail, freight and courier services. <br />
<a href="" name="into"><h4>PHONING INTO SOUTH AFRICA</h4></a> If you're dialling a number in South Africa, it must be preceded by:<br />
<ul><li><b>+27</b>, South Africa's international country code (the + sign represents the international access code for the country you're calling from); and either:</li>
<ul><li>The area code of the city or town in South Africa you're calling (leaving out the first zero), if you're calling a landline; or</li>
<li>The cellular/mobile network code (leaving out the first zero), if you're calling a cellular/mobile network.</li>
</ul></ul>So, for example, to phone South African Airways' call centre from abroad, you'd dial +27 11 978 5313 (Johannesburg's area code is 011 - phoning from abroad, you leave out the zero). <br />
<div class="art-box"> <b>What's the time in South Africa?</b><br />
Go to <a href="http://www.google.com/" target="_blank">Google</a> and search "time south africa". </div>If it were a mobile number, you might start dialling +27 82 ... (082 is the code for one of our main mobile networks - phoning from abroad, you leave out the zero).<br />
<b>Dialling codes in South Africa</b><br />
The area codes of some of South Africa's major cities are: Bloemfontein 051, Cape Town 021, Durban 031, East London 043, Johannesburg 011, Pretoria 012, and Port Elizabeth 041. For the rest, consult Telkom's <a href="http://www.telkom.co.za/common/contactus/SA_dialing_Code.html" target="_blank">Dialling codes in South Africa</a>.<br />
<a href="" name="outof"><h4>PHONING OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA</h4></a> To make an international call from South Africa, dial 00, followed by the country code of the country you wish to call, followed by the relevant area code (if there is one), followed by the phone number. <br />
<b>What's my country's dialling code?</b><br />
One of the quickest ways to find out is to dial Telkom's 24-hour international customer care centre - <b>10903</b> - and ask. The service is free. Alternatively, go to <a href="http://www.google.com/" target="_blank">Google</a> and type in "dialling code [your country]".<br />
<b>Operator-assisted dialling</b><br />
Telkom's international call centre - 10903 - offers 24-hour assistance to anyone wanting to make international calls or send faxes, along with general international directory information.<br />
<div class="art-box"> <b>What's the time back home?</b><br />
Go to <a href="http://www.google.com/" target="_blank">Google</a> and search "time [name of your home country]". </div><b>Home Direct</b><br />
Telkom's Home Direct service allows you to call an operator in your home country free of charge, either to place a call on your "phone home" account, if you have one, or to arrange a reverse-charge call. Telkom's Phone Book lists all available country-specific Home Direct numbers in its international dialling code list. Alternatively, phone Telkom's international customer care centre at 10903.<br />
<b>Public phones for tourists</b><br />
Telkom has placed public telephones at major tourist sites across South Africa. Coin-operated phones are blue, while cardphones are green, and both are user-friendly and compatible with hearing aid devices. They offer a reliable connection, high quality of speech, and are affordable.<br />
<b>Phonecards and Worldcall</b><br />
Telkom's <a href="http://www.telkom.co.za/athome/services/phonecards/index.html" target="_blank">Phonecards</a> and <a href="http://www.telkom.co.za/attheoffice/services/internationalservices/worldcall/index.html" target="_blank">Worldcall</a> are available at major outlets where the Telkom logo is displayed.<br />
<a href="" name="around"><h4>PHONING AROUND SOUTH AFRICA</h4></a> If you're in South Africa and phoning a landline - whether you're phoning from a landline or a mobile phone - the number must be preceded by the area code (including the first zero) for the city or town you're phoning.<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.telkom.co.za/common/contactus/SA_dialing_Code.html" target="_blank">Telkom: Dialling codes in South Africa</a></li>
</ul>If, on the other hand, you're phoning to a mobile number, you never use an area code, only the appropriate mobile network code.<br />
<a href="" name="08"><h4>08 NUMBERS</h4></a> Many businesses and organisations have special landline numbers beginning with an 08 code - 0800, 0860, 0861, and so on. (But not 082, 083 or 084, which belong to the mobile networks.) These are, in effect, national numbers - area codes are dispensed with, and callers dial the same number regardless of where they are. Note that these lines can only be accessed from within South Africa.<br />
<ul><li>080 numbers (usually 0800) - no charge to the caller.</li>
<li>0860 numbers - the caller does not pay for any long-distance portion of the call.</li>
<li>0861 numbers - the caller is charged a flat rate for the call.</li>
</ul><a href="" name="directories"><h4>SOUTH AFRICA PHONE DIRECTORIES</h4></a> For landline numbers in South Africa, Consult Telkom's phone directories. The print versions are published and millions of copies distributed free of charge every year - you'll find them in airports, hotels, offices, homes and public phone booths just about everywhere. The online versions are at:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://phonebook.yellowpages.co.za/" target="_blank">Phone Book</a> (White Pages) - residential Telkom subscribers.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.yellowpages.co.za/" target="_blank">Yellow Pages</a> - businesses, services and products.</li>
</ul>Alternatively, dial Telkom's telephonic directories:<br />
<ul><li>International - 10903</li>
<li>Directory Services (Phone Book) - 1023</li>
<li>Talking Yellow Pages - 10118</li>
<li>Mobile Yellow Pages - SMS what you're looking for and where (eg "flowers cape town") to 34310. </li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-89643885083216037092010-06-03T04:50:00.000-07:002010-06-03T05:06:37.367-07:00TRAVEL TIPS TO SOUTH AFRICAthe last time we talked about staying out of trouble because it's very important if you have the safest and the most enjoyable vacation ever and as you know staying out of troubles is not the only way of getting best vacation. staying healthy is also important so today's topic is about HEALTH.<br />
<h1 class="art">Health tips for travellers ...</h1>Nothing can spoil a holiday more than feeling off-colour, and nothing can dull the pleasure of your holiday memories more than getting ill far from home. There are a number of health issues that you should be aware of, particularly if you're from the northern hemisphere.<br />
However, while there are risks anywhere, South Africa has a relatively salubrious climate and our levels of water treatment, hygiene and such make it a pretty safe destination.<br />
<br />
<h4>Inoculations</h4>If you're an adult, you won't need any inoculations unless you're travelling from a yellow-fever endemic area (the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America), in which case you will need certification to prove your inoculation status when you arrive in South Africa.<br />
It is recommended that you have the required inoculations four to six weeks before you travel to South Africa (a yellow fever inoculation certificate only becomes valid 10 days after inoculation - after which it remains valid for 10 years).<br />
Hepatitis B inoculations are recommended for children up to the age of 12 who have not completed the series of injections as infants. Booster doses for tetanus and measles can also be administered.<br />
<h4>Medical facilities</h4>Medical facilities in cities and larger towns are world-class, but you will find that in rural areas the clinics and hospitals deal with primary health needs, and therefore do not offer the range of medical care that the large metropolitan hospitals do. Trained medical caregivers are deployed round the country, so help is never far away.<br />
<h4>The sun</h4>We have a warm sunny climate and sunscreen and a hat are recommended whenever you are out of doors during the day, particularly between 10:00 and 16:00, regardless of whether there is cloud cover or not.<br />
Even if you have a dark complexion, you can still get sunburned if you are from a cooler climate and have not had much exposure to the sun. Sunglasses are also recommended wear, as the glare of the African sun can be strong.<br />
<h4>Can I drink the water?</h4>High-quality tap (faucet) water is available almost everywhere in South Africa, treated so as to be free of harmful micro-organisms, and in any area other than informal or shack settlements, is both palatable and safe to drink straight from the tap.<br />
In some areas, the water is mineral-rich, and you may experience a bit of gastric distress for a day or two until you get used to it. Bottled mineral water, both sparkling and still, is readily available in most places.<br />
Drinking water straight from rivers and streams could put you at risk of waterborne diseases - especially downstream of human settlements. The water in mountain streams, however, is usually pure and wonderful.<br />
In the Cape, particularly, the water contains humic acid, which stains it the colour of diluted Coca-Cola - this is absolutely harmless, and the water is wonderful. You may also find this colouring in tap water in some areas. It's fine - it just looks a bit weird in the bath. <br />
<h4>Do I need to take malaria tablets?</h4>Many of the main tourist areas are malaria-free, so you need not worry at all. However, the Kruger National Park, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal do pose a malaria risk in the summer months.<br />
Many local people and some travellers do not take malaria prophylaxis, but most health professionals recommend you do. Consult your doctor or a specialist travel clinic for the latest advice concerning malaria prophylaxis, as it changes regularly.<br />
Whether you take oral prophylaxis or not, always use mosquito repellent, wear long pants, closed shoes and light long-sleeved shirts at night, and sleep under a mosquito net in endemic areas (the anopheles mosquito, which carries malaria, operates almost exclusively after dark). It is advisable to avoid malarial areas if you are pregnant.<br />
<h4>HIV/Aids</h4>As in other countries, always take precautions when having sex. South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world.<br />
<h4>Other health issues</h4>Bilharzia can be a problem in some of the east-flowing rivers, but it is easily detected and treated if it is caught early. Perhaps it would be a good idea to have a routine test a month or two after you get home - just to reassure yourself.<br />
Ticks generally come out in the early spring and may carry tickbite fever, which is easily treated. You should also be aware of hepatitis, for which you can be inoculated.<br />
<h1 class="art"><br />
</h1>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-62138317817608547182010-06-01T03:27:00.000-07:002010-06-01T03:27:57.707-07:00TRAVEL TIPS TO SOUTH AFRICAas I am still feeding you more tips to have a successful vacation ever, the last post was about banking and finance in SA, but as the Crime statistics are astronomical, with the added leavening of a widespread taste for gratuitous violence that sees many otherwise reasonably benign crimes lapse into extreme and unnecessary bloodshed and loss of life. it is my pleasure to give some details for staying out of trouble. and that landed as direct to today's Topic:<br />
<br />
<h1 class="art"> Tips for staying out of trouble...</h1><em></em><br />
<div style="float: right; padding: 5px;"> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --> <script type="text/javascript">
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</script> <!-- AddThis Button END --> </div>Crime, like anywhere else in the world, can be a problem, but you really need not do much more than take all the usual sensible precautions. Know where you're going before you set off, particularly at night, watch your possessions, don't walk alone in dodgy areas, lock your doors at night. Much like anywhere else.<br />
And, like anywhere else in the world, there are some areas of major cities which are more dodgy than others. It is easy to avoid these and still have a good time.<br />
When walking through areas that are considered risky, avoid wearing visible jewellery or carrying cameras and bags over your shoulder. Keep cellphones (mobile phones) and wallets tucked away where no one can see them. Check beforehand that the areas you plan to visit are safe by asking hotel staff or police. It is not advisable to use local commuter and metro trains as attacks on foreigners have occurred.<br />
Other sensible advice is not to hitchhike or accept or carry items for strangers. Our airport security is quite strict so, to avoid delays in checking in, remove all sharp objects (even nail files and hairclips) from your hand luggage.<br />
<h4>Carjackings</h4>Those who choose to drive private cars, either borrowed or hired, should be aware that car hijackings do occur, although precautions can be taken to avoid this.<br />
Drivers should always be on the alert when they come to a halt at traffic lights or stop streets, as well as when they are arriving at or leaving premises. Doors should be locked at all times, and while the temptation is to keep windows open in sunny weather, they should be kept closed. Plan your travel route beforehand. Make sure that you do not leave valuables in clear view of people on the side of the road.<br />
Articles such as cellular phones and handbags left on seats are favoured targets of smash'n'grab thieves.<br />
When parking at night choose well-lit or security-patrolled parking areas. Street security guards will usually ask whether they can watch over your car and in return should be paid a small fee – anything from two rand upwards.<br />
<h4>ATMs and con artists</h4>Watch out for con artists. A favoured target is the automated teller machine (ATM).<br />
Under no circumstances allow a stranger to assist you in your transactions. Should your card become stuck in the ATM, enter your PIN three times whereupon the machine will retain your card. You can then approach the bank to release it, or call the helpline number that can usually be found at ATMs for assistance.<br />
Beware, too, of confidence tricksters who try and persuade you to invest in their schemes, requiring you to disclose confidential banking details.<br />
<h4>Stay out of jail!</h4>And, while on the subject of crime, do bear in mind that committing a criminal offence in any foreign country is always more of a problem than doing so at home.<br />
You're probably not planning to, but there are a few actions which could land you in one of our not-too-luxurious jails. These include smuggling, bilking, and trading in, or using, recreational drugs – with the exception of tobacco and alcohol.<br />
Poaching is probably far from your mind but, just in case you're tempted to "harvest" a rhino horn as a souvenir, remember our game scouts are armed.<br />
<h4>Lost passports</h4>Should you lose your passport, report the loss as soon as possible to your country's embassy or consulate, and to the local police.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-72686317302929122362010-05-30T04:27:00.000-07:002010-05-30T05:31:22.985-07:00TRAVEL TIPS TO SOUTH AFRICA<script type="text/javascript"><!--
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as you know the FIFA world cup is still a few days from now and it's my pleasure to feed you you with some tips on your journey to SA. my last blog tells you things that you shouldn't leave home with out them, I hope you will keep that in mind because it's very important for your journey. and as we all know that money is everything especially when it comes to something like this, that takes us to our next tip:<br />
<h1 class="art">Banks and foreign exchange in SA</h1><i></i><br />
<div style="float: right; padding: 5px;"><script type="text/javascript">
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</script> </div>With a favourable exchange rate for many international currencies, you'll find South Africa a very inexpensive destination. And an easy one – our financial institutions are world-class, with no shortage of banks, bureaux de change and automatic tellers.<br />
<h4>Rands and cents</h4>South Africa's unit of currency is the rand, which is divided into 100 cents. Coins come in denominations of <b>5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2</b> and <b>R5</b>, and notes in denominations of <b>R10, R20, R50, R100</b> and <b>R200</b>.<br />
<h4>How far will my money go?</h4>A long, long way. With a favourable exchange rate for the major international currencies, you'll find South Africa a very inexpensive destination.<br />
<ul><li>For the latest exchange rates, copy and paste this link to your address bar: <span style="color: blue;">http://www.reservebank.co.za/</span></li>
</ul><h4>Banking made easy</h4>You'll also find South Africa an easy destination. From the moment you step off the plane you'll start seeing banks, bureaux de change and automatic tellers all over.<br />
The banks are generally open from 9am to 3.30pm Mondays through Fridays, and 8.30am to 11am on Saturdays, but those at the airports adjust their hours to accommodate international flights.<br />
The major banks have branches as well as automated teller machines (ATMs) in most large towns – and all over the cities. International banks (see the "foreign exchange services" links below) have branches in the major cities. Thomas Cook (represented by Rennies Travel) and American Express foreign exchange offices are also available in the major cities.<br />
<h4>Credit cards and cash</h4>All major credit cards can be used in South Africa, with American Express and Diners Club enjoying less universal acceptance than MasterCard and Visa. In some small towns, you may find you'll need to use cash.<br />
When it comes to paying for fuel, you may also have to pay cash. Our filling stations can now take credit card payments – regulations allowing them to do so came into effect in July 2009. However, many filling stations (or garages, as we call them) may take a while to adjust, or may choose not to. Look out for the "cash only" notices.<br />
Many locals have special fuel credit cards, known as <b>garage</b> or <b>petrol cards</b>, for use only at filling stations. These will still be accepted.<br />
Road tolls, on the major routes between cities, can be paid using MasterCard or Visa.<br />
<h4>LINKS</h4><b>Credit cards and related services</b><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.americanexpress.co.za/" target="_blank">American Express South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dinersclub.co.za/" target="_blank">Diners Club South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mastercard.com/za/" target="_blank">MasterCard South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.visacemea.com/wv/pay_later.jsp?cnty=za" target="_blank">Visa South Africa</a></li>
</ul><b>South Africa's 'big four' banks</b><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.absa.co.za/" target="_blank">Absa Bank</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fnb.co.za/" target="_blank">First National Bank</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nedbank.co.za/" target="_blank">Nedbank</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.standard.co.za/" target="_blank">Standard Bank</a></li>
</ul><b>Foreign exchange services</b><br />
These and other financial services are offered by SA's "big four" banks as well as the credit card firms listed above. Other foreign exchange dealers in South Africa include the following:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.abnamro.com.tr/corporates/docs/country/southafrica.jsp" target="_blank">ABN AMRO South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bankofbaroda.com/africa.asp" target="_blank">Bank of Baroda</a> (SA branch)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bank-of-china.com/en/index.html" target="_blank">Bank of China</a> (SA branch)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bot.com.tw/English/default.htm" target="_blank">Bank of Taiwan</a> (SA branch)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.barclays.com/africa/south_africa/index.html" target="_blank">Barclays Bank South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bidvestbank.co.za/TravelForeignExchange.aspx" target="_blank">Bidvest Bank/Rennies Foreign Exchange</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.calyon.com/" target="_blank">Calyon Corporate Bank</a> (SA branch)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ccbjhb.com/ccbjhb.html" target="_blank">China Construction Bank Johannesburg</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.citibank.com/southafrica/" target="_blank">Citibank South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www2.commerzbank.com/konzern/niederlassungen/land/index.cfm?language=eng&land_id=45&land_id_repres=45&ndl_id=32&repres=false" target="_blank">Commerzbank</a> (SA branch)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.db.com/southafrica/" target="_blank">Deutsche Bank</a> (SA branch)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.hbzbank.co.za./" target="_blank">HBZ Bank South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hsbc.co.za/" target="_blank">HSBC South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.investec.com/SouthAfrica/" target="_blank">Investec South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jpmorganchase.com/" target="_blank">JPMorgan Chase</a> (SA branch)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.mcy.co.za/" target="_blank">Master Currency</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.meegbank.co.za/" target="_blank">Meeg Bank</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mercantile.co.za/" target="_blank">Mercantile Bank</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sgcib.com/country_focus.rha?c=country_focus%7Bunid=3CAB12A2BBF1628FC125671C0036B5A2%7D" target="_blank">Société Générale</a>(SA branch) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.bankofathens.co.za/" target="_blank">South African Bank of Athens</a></li>
<li><a href="http://ww2.standardchartered.co.za/" target="_blank">Standard Chartered Bank South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.statebank.co.za/" target="_blank">State Bank of India, South Africa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.towerfx.co.za/" target="_blank">Tower Foreign Exchange</a></li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<h1 class="art"><br />
</h1>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-7074031631008722192010-05-28T08:49:00.000-07:002010-05-28T08:49:06.144-07:00TRAVEL TIPS TO SOUTH AFRICAYesterday I posted a blog about 10 things you need to know about South Africa. and today i wanted to set new blog about the tips you need to know before you travel to SA and while you're in SA. as we all know the FIFA World cup is approaching, so for the Soccer fans around the globe who are in prepairation to go and witness the greatest show on earth, here is the very important things you need to know and do before, and when you're in SA. so let start with prepairation.<br />
<br />
<h1 class="art"> Don't leave home without ...</h1><em></em><br />
<div style="float: right; padding: 5px;"> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --> <script type="text/javascript">
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</script> <!-- AddThis Button END --> </div>There are two ways of organizing a holiday. The first is to decide on the spur of the moment to head off, and do just that. It's a valid option, but you will probably have to maintain that frame of mind or you might start getting irritated at the things you forgot to organize and pack.<br />
The more usual way is to plan ahead a bit, thus ensuring that you won't have any unpleasant surprises. Check your passport isn't about to expire, check whether you'll need visas, organize traveler's cheques well in advance, organize travel insurance and medical insurance. Check your flight details and don't forget to confirm them – including onward connections and returns. Don't forget to order special meals on flights, or children's meals, if necessary.<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<h4>What to pack</h4>Pack a while ahead. Most of the time you'll be most comfortable in light, summer-weight clothes but do pack a warm jacket, socks, good shoes and a rain jacket. Pack sunscreen – lots of it – and a hat and sunglasses. Make sure you have at least one cool shirt with a collar for sun protection. Stock up on insect repellent and, if you'll be in a malaria area, ensure you have a cool, long-sleeved shirt and cool long pants for evenings. Bring good walking shoes.<br />
Always pack a bandanna or cotton scarf and a sarong, kanga, pareo, kikoi – whatever you want to call it. These two garments are probably the most useful and versatile items in the world. If you're spending time watching game, you should try to wear reasonably neutral colours but, really, you don't have to look like an extra on the set of <i>Out of Africa.</i> You don't need formal clothes, but you will need something pretty smart for exclusive hotels and the Blue Train.<br />
<h4>Drugs/medication</h4>If you are dependent on any drugs – or medication, as we say – bring a supply and a spare prescription. (We call our drugstores "pharmacies".)<br />
<h4>Important documents</h4>Make two copies of all your important documents, like passports. Take one with you, in a different bag to the original, and leave one at home with a responsible, easily reachable person. Try to memorise all your important numbers - passport numbers, credit card numbers, etc. If you lose your bag, this could be an enormous help.<br />
<h4>Can I use my hairdryer?</h4>Electricity is generally 220/230 volts, 15 amps, and is supplied through either 15-amp three-prong or 5-amp two-prong plugs, in both cases with round pins. If you're bringing anything electrical, bring an adapter – or you could buy one here. Generally, the 110V video chargers work safely on the 220V supply. Television is on the PAL system.<br />
<h4>Spectacles, contact lenses</h4>Bring spare spectacles, and/or a copy of your prescription. If you wear contact lenses, consider using disposables for a short holiday, especially if you're planning to river raft, dive or such. Also bring spectacles, as the dry dusty environment of some game farms may irritate your eyes.<br />
If you've forgotten anything – don't panic. This is not the back of beyond, and you can buy whatever you need – probably at a good price.<br />
And pack a camera – you'll want to save your wonderful memories. You can buy film anywhere, and camera batteries in any city.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-50328993791443349472010-05-27T05:13:00.000-07:002010-05-27T05:16:22.911-07:0010 Things You Need To Know About South Africa<img alt="Beat Crime" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2213" height="257" src="http://www.southafricalogue.com/files/2009/04/beat-crime.jpg" width="308" />If you are planning a trip to South Africa for the <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/travel-tips/fifa-world-cup-soccer-south-africa-2010.html">Fifa 2010 World Cup Tournament</a>, or for any reason at all, here are a few tips to help you navigate through this vast and beautiful country.<br />
<h2><b>1. Crime:</b> Caution pays better dividends than denial… </h2>There is no getting around the fact that South Africa is a dangerous country. Crime statistics are astronomical, with the added leavening of a widespread taste for gratuitous violence that sees many otherwise reasonably benign crimes lapse into extreme and unnecessary bloodshed and loss of life.<br />
Why this is so has consumed endless debate among sociologists and civic leaders, but the fact remains that it <i>is</i> so, and for a visitor to this fair land <i>caution pays a better dividend than denial</i>, so here are a few pointers:<br />
<blockquote><i>South Africa has a deceptively ‘Developed World’ appearance that lulls a visitor into believing he/she is in the developed world. In Africa such conspicuous wealth floats on a deep pool of corresponding poverty, so don’t be fooled, and take nothing at face value. </i><br />
<i>Take note of the razor wire and iron gates at your backpackers lodge or hotel, and recognize that such lavish security is not there for no reason at all.</i><br />
<i>If you travel with a group stick together, and follow the advice of your tour leader or hotel proprietor when navigating local conditions. Try not to travel independently if you can help it, and stay away from any city center after dark, and try and stay away from city centers the rest of the time too, they are rarely the most pleasant parts of town.</i><br />
<i>Don’t put yourself at unnecessary risk. Don’t pull up on the side of the road for a nap, drive or walk into any high density residential area, and try not to be out on the roads after dark</i><br />
<i>The best advice of all would be to book a trip if you intend to travel and do not leave it until the last minute and wing it on your own.</i><br />
<i>Your instincts of survival and self preservation should turned up to the maximum at all times in South Africa!</i><br />
<a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/travel-tips/crime-in-south-africa-know-the-score.html"><br />
</a></blockquote><h2><b>2. Culture:</b> The Rainbow Nation is alive and well in South Africa…</h2><img alt="SA Culture" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2224" height="314" src="http://www.southafricalogue.com/files/2009/04/sa-culture.jpg" width="308" />South Africa is the Rainbow Nation, and the cultural diversity you will encounter everywhere you go can only amaze you. South Africans also have a history of race division, however, and although they seem on the surface to enjoy a highly developed sense of inter-race humor, it pays as a rule to keep clear of any searching debates about race and race politics.<br />
The upside of the South African race diversity is the cultural wonderland that invites a curious visitor into many culinary and sensory adventures. Consider the many diverse restaurant, cafes and bars for example, and just one regional example is Cape Dutch cuisine, that aromatic synthesis of East Indian and colonial mixes seems to have emerged strongly in South Africa, and particularly in hotspots the Cape and Durban. <br />
Cape Dutch food and wine is widely available all over the region, and melds together the influences of early Dutch settlers with a plethora of Indian and Malay. Then there is Indian itself, with such local variants an the Durban Masala, a fiery version of the original that is a must for curry buffs. Look out for samoosas, known in local parlance as <i>dri-hookie-coolie-cookie</i>. Dutch/Afrikaans borrows liberally from this culture, as it does from all sub-cultures in South Africa. Afrikaans cuisine is focused often on the ubiquitous <i>braai</i>, a local barbecue tradition, and on one-pot fire-cooked meals called potjies, and then of course the cinnamon and cumin laced delicacies of the Cape-Colored community.<br />
<a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/travel-tips/south-african-music.html">Music</a> and dance is also very much a feature of South African culture. Here again a range of social influences have fused to throw up a variety of different sights and sounds, characterized…well…by variety. If World Music of a pan-African texture is what you will be looking for, you will find it in many forms, but also you will find a developed and highly sophisticated jazz culture, variants of hip-hop, lashings of mainstream homegrown rock and punk, and the deeply traditional and sentimental <i>Boer Musiek</i> that caters to the fading white middle classes.<br />
A range of <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/features/music/from-the-kaapse-klopse-to-the-field-of-dreams-sa-music-culture.html">music and arts festivals</a> are held annually throughout South Africa, and an unfortunate visitor indeed will be he or she who finds nothing to suit their tastes.<br />
South Africa is very well covered by guide books, local history and one or two Nobel literary laureates that collectively offer an almost unlimited choice of <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/travel-tips/south-african-literature.html">reading material</a> to introduce you to South Africa. <br />
<h2>3. South Africa has more to see than any other African country…</h2>Most of the main travel destinations in Africa sport a handful of attractions, usually defined by idyllic tropical beaches and wildlife parks, and of course South Africa has these in abundance, but it has so much more besides. From east to west, from north to south, the possibilities are endless.<br />
<blockquote><i><b>The Cape</b> is famous for temperate landscapes, traditional Europeanesuqe <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/travel-tips/the-bo-kaap-a-show-piece-of-cape-town-culture.html">architecture</a> and <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/the-wine-route">wine and cuisine</a>, but look out for the vibrant nightlife and plethora of cultural venues in <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/cape-town">Cape Town</a>, <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/travel-tips/gansbaai-south-africas-shark-alley.html">Shark Diving </a>in Gansbaai and whale watching in Hermanus. The heartland of open road touring in South Africa is the <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/kalahari">Western Cape</a> region that encompasses the Karoo, Namaqualand and the Kalahari fringe of Richtersveld and the Kgalghadi TransFrontier National Park.</i><br />
<i><a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/south-coast"><b>Kwa/Zulu Natal</b></a> is the sultry east coast of South Africa, lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, and studded with wonderful beachside towns and villages, headed up by the metropolis of Durban, that original cultural melting pot in an already culturally diverse nation.</i><br />
<i>KNZ is the homeland of the Zulu Nation, and traditional cultural expression tends to reflect this, but it is also the home of the largest East Indian population outside of India, and so seethes with color, fragrance and flavor. It is the most populous province in South Africa, and is highly developed along its coastline, although <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/maputaland">further north</a> thing are a bit wilder with the St Lucia Wetland complex and smaller but iconic parks such as Hluhlue and Umfolozi. </i><br />
<i>It is an intensely green and tropical region of South Africa, but it also enjoys <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/midlands">The Midlands</a> which is the soft heart of the nation, and composed mostly of green, rolling hill country that culminates in the rugged escarpment of the Drakensberg Mountains. </i><br />
<i><b>The North and Northeast</b> of South Africa is big game country, and the province of <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/lowveld">Mpumulanga</a> boasts the greatest wildlife park of the all: <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/kruger-national-park">Kruger National Park</a>, the flagship of South African conservation, and without doubt one of the best eco-travel destinations in Africa.</i><br />
<i>Besides this the northern end of the Drakensberg Escarpment is a uniquely beautiful region of highlands, canyons, caves and forests, offering historic glimpses of the old mining heritage of South Africa.</i><br />
<i><b>The cities of South Africa</b> each enjoy a distinct individuality, with Cape Town leading the pack, but <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/johannesburg">Johannesburg</a> following close behind, and the runners up of <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/durban">Durban</a>, <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/port-elizabeth">Port Elizabeth</a><a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/bloemfontein">Bloemfontein</a> each offering unique cultural insights and vibrant urban grooves.</i> and </blockquote><h2>4. Get around easily in a highly traveler friendly environment</h2><a href="http://www.bootsnall.com/lt/url/go/3179"><img alt="Baz Bus" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2226" height="288" src="http://www.southafricalogue.com/files/2009/04/baz-bus.jpg" width="308" /></a>South Africa, it often seems, does not belong in Africa at all. It enjoys a transport and communication infrastructure that by world standards is impressive, but by African standards is miraculous. Expect therefore to experience no problems getting around. <br />
Each of the provinces has an international class airport with all the facilities that might be expected from a first class facility. Thanks to the prevalence of crime in South Africa these airports are very stringently regulated, and most hotels and lodges offer a complimentary airport pickup, which takes much of the guesswork out of coming and going.<br />
Besides this there is an excellent domestic and regional flight network that covers not only the main airports but many of the smaller ones, and again your hospitality proprietor or tour operator will usually collect and drop you off.<br />
Inter-city travel by coach and scheduled bus service is always easy to arrange, and the selection of services, as well as destinations, is, as would be expected, very good.<br />
For budget travelers a dedicated bus services is in operation that completes a series of circuits around South Africa, taking in almost all the main backpackers lodges, on a jump-on-jump-off basis. These is the <a href="http://www.bootsnall.com/lt/url/go/3179">Baz Bus</a>.<br />
<h2>5. Everything under the sun for the comfort traveler</h2><img alt="Lodge Accommodation" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2228" height="233" src="http://www.southafricalogue.com/files/2009/04/lodge-accommodation.jpg" width="308" />Here again expect astonishing variety and high standards of service and facilities.<br />
Brand name hotels proliferate in South Africa, and most, if not all, enjoy a solid web presence so information and bookings are easy to arrange. <br />
Likewise South Africa has a widespread and growing network of backpackers lodges that are also well represented on the web and also offer all the sensible services necessary to keep you safe in a high crime neighborhood.<br />
Also a common feature in South Africa are a litany of<a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/accommodation/ecotourism-africa-style.html"> game and theme lodges</a> set in and around the main national parks and beauty spots, probably most notably game lodges, but all kinds of these high end facilities exist. They are rarely cheap, but standards are universally high and usually the service is integrated with some sort of safari/excision option that explores the surrounding area.<br />
Lastly a vast network of B&Bs and Guesthouses are to be found all over South Africa, and rarely does a town of village not have at least one. These tend to be less well represented on the web, and often they serve road touring parties and work along the lines of drop-in bookings.<br />
All in all South Africa is well set up to handle large numbers of travelers from budget to elite with everything in between.<br />
<h2>6. World class standards of health care…</h2><img alt="Groote Schuur Hospital" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2242" height="230" src="http://www.southafricalogue.com/files/2009/04/groote-schuur.gif" width="308" />A growing feature of the South African hospitality industry in the <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/cape-town-health-wellness">Health & Wellness</a> phenomenon, and in most of the upscale wilderness lodges - and there are few of these that are not upscale - an emphasis is placed on spa and wellness facilities that try as much as possible to lean on local tradition herbalism and practice. <br />
In the Cape the industry has a much more cosmopolitan flavor, while throughout the country there are themed resorts that tap into geo-thermal springs offering a variety of curative properties.<br />
South Africa is also one of the global medical tourism destinations, <a href="http://www.southafricalogue.com/cape-town/winelands/surgery-safari-in-south-africa.html">Safari & Surgery</a> being the local variant, and bearing in mind that the first successful heart transplant was conducted in South Africa, facilities and expertise across the board are very high. <br />
It is not unknown, however, for hospitals to refuse care, even emergency care, to the uninsured, so while you will probably have better care than you can expect at home, it is not free, and health insurance is vital.<br />
Emergency response on South Africa’s roads and countryside is exceptional, but again make sure you have insurance.<br />
<h2>7. Step into a fully fledged consumer nation…</h2><img alt="sandton" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2230" height="253" src="http://www.southafricalogue.com/files/2009/04/sandton.jpg" width="308" />Seasoned African travelers who are accustomed to a complete lack of consumer culture on the ground are usually amazed when crossing the Limpopo into South Africa to be confronted immediately by an American style Mall culture that in many respects exceeds the lavish supply of the original. <br />
The Sandton Center in Johannesburg, for example, is regarded as one of the world premier shopping destinations. It is only just slightly more lavish than many other luxury malls scattered around the country, and thousands of other smaller shopping centers countrywide that offer everything you are ever likely to need, and usually much more.<br />
So don’t worry if you forget something, and more importantly if you are planning a trip north into the African heartland any last minute requirements as well as any pharmaceuticals you will need along the way are all easily available in South Africa.<br />
<h2>8. Use your plastic anywhere in South Africa..</h2>This is again something that you need not worry about too much in South Africa. The local currency is the Rand, it is internationally traded and there is no local currency black market as there is in many other African countries. Most banks will change money, and credit cards are widely accepted almost everywhere that you will need to use one. Local ATMs proliferate, and are usually very reliable.<br />
<h2>9. Get the word out with the best communications infrastructure in Africa</h2>The web is alive and well in South Africa, wi-fi is everywhere and every hospitality facility, even the most humble, is connected. <img alt="Vodacom" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2244" height="283" src="http://www.southafricalogue.com/files/2009/04/vodacom.jpg" width="308" />It is very easy to get connected up with a cell phone, and pay-as-you-go set up is a simple matter of walking into your local or airport <b>Vodacom</b> or <b>MTN</b> store.<br />
<h2>10. Find out what you need to know in the most out-of-the-way places…</h2>Once again the web is replete with South African tourist information, but most hospitality establishments will offer a complimentary copy of <a href="http://www.coastingafrica.com/">Coast to Coast</a>, a jazzy, up to the minute publication that covers just about everything you need to know about South Africa. <br />
Besides this all the main, and even most of the peripheral, tourist destinations have a tourist Information office, with the main ones being in the main cities.<br />
Backpackers Lodges operate on a network, and the information exchange that exists in these establishments is second to none. Everything that is hot and current, bad or disreputable, or even downright dangerous, will be known about very quickly on the backpack circuit, so it is there that you should look for up to the minute info if you are an independent traveler.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-6114258381823350952010-05-23T06:00:00.001-07:002010-05-23T06:00:49.376-07:00THE SPECIAL ONE INDEED<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">Jos<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho%20">é</a> Mourinho</h1><!-- /firstHeading --> <!-- bodyContent --> <!-- tagline --><table cellspacing="5" class="infobox vcard" style="font-size: 88%; line-height: 1.2em; text-align: left; width: 22em;"><caption class="fn" style="font-size: 125%; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Mourinho</a></caption><caption class="fn" style="font-size: 125%; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5em;">
</caption> <tbody>
<tr class=""> <td class="" colspan="4" style="text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Manager_Jose_Mourinho_of_Inter_Milan,_April_18,_2009.jpg"><img alt="Manager Jose Mourinho of Inter Milan, April 18, 2009.jpg" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Manager_Jose_Mourinho_of_Inter_Milan%2C_April_18%2C_2009.jpg/300px-Manager_Jose_Mourinho_of_Inter_Milan%2C_April_18%2C_2009.jpg" width="300" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th colspan="4" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Personal information</th> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Full name</th> <td class="nickname" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho</td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Date of birth</th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">26 January 1963 <span style="display: none;">(<span class="bday">1963-01-26</span>)</span> <span class="noprint">(age 47)</span></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Place of birth</th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set%C3%BAbal" title="Setúbal">Setúbal</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Height</th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">1.79 m (5 ft <span style="white-space: nowrap;">10<s style="display: none;">+</s><span class="template-frac"><sup>1</sup><big>⁄</big><sub>2</sub></span></span> in)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th colspan="4" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Club information</th> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Current club</th> <td class="org" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano" title="F.C. Internazionale Milano">F.C. Internazionale Milano</a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th colspan="4" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Senior career*</th> </tr>
<tr class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Years</th> <td class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><b>Team</b></td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><b>Apps<sup>†</sup></b></td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><b>(Gls)<sup>†</sup></b></td> </tr>
<tr class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1980–1982</span></th> <td class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Ave" title="Rio Ave">Rio Ave</a></td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><br />
</td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1982–1983</span></th> <td class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.F._Os_Belenenses" title="C.F. Os Belenenses">Belenenses</a></td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><br />
</td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1983–1985</span></th> <td class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">GD Sesimbra</td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><br />
</td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1985–1987</span></th> <td class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Comércio e Indústria</td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><br />
</td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th colspan="4" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Teams managed</th> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1990–1991</span></th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.F._Estrela_da_Amadora" title="C.F. Estrela da Amadora">Estrela Amadora</a> (assistant)</td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1993–1994</span></th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Porto" title="F.C. Porto">Porto</a> (assistant)</td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1996–2000</span></th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Barcelona" title="FC Barcelona">Barcelona</a> (assistant)</td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2000</span></th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.L._Benfica" title="S.L. Benfica">Benfica</a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2001–2002</span></th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.D._Leiria" title="U.D. Leiria">União de Leiria</a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2002–2004</span></th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Porto" title="F.C. Porto">Porto</a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2004–2007</span></th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2008–</span></th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano" title="F.C. Internazionale Milano">Internazionale</a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <td class="" colspan="4" style="color: darkslategrey; font-size: 82%; text-align: center;">* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.<br />
† Appearances (Goals).</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b>José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho</b>, <small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Prince_Henry" title="Order of Prince Henry">GOIH</a></small> (<small>Portuguese pronunciation: </small><span class="IPA" title="Pronunciation in IPA"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_Portuguese" title="Wikipedia:IPA for Portuguese">[ʒuˈzɛ moˈɾiɲu]</a></span>; born 26 January 1963 in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set%C3%BAbal" title="Setúbal">Setúbal</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a>), is a Portuguese <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football" title="Association football">football</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manager_%28football%29" title="Manager (football)">manager</a>. He is the current manager of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italian</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serie_A" title="Serie A">Serie A</a> team <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano" title="F.C. Internazionale Milano">Internazionale</a>, to whom he is contracted for three seasons. He has the nickname "The Special One", a self-proclaimed title which was later taken up by the British media.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The son of Portuguese goalkeeper <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Manuel_F%C3%A9lix_Mourinho" title="José Manuel Félix Mourinho">José Félix Mourinho</a>, Mourinho started out as a player but he was dissatisfied with his lack of skill and switched to management. After spells working as an assistant manager and a youth team coach in the early 1990s, he became an interpreter for <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Bobby_Robson" title="Sir Bobby Robson">Sir Bobby Robson</a>. There, Mourinho learnt much from the veteran coach and worked with him at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporting_Clube_de_Portugal" title="Sporting Clube de Portugal">Sporting Lisbon</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Porto" title="F.C. Porto">Porto</a> in Portugal, before following him to Spanish club <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Barcelona" title="FC Barcelona">Barcelona</a>.<br />
He began focusing on coaching and impressed with brief but successful managerial periods at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.L._Benfica" title="S.L. Benfica">Benfica</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.D._Leiria" title="U.D. Leiria">União de Leiria</a>. He returned to Porto in 2002, this time as head coach, and soon became a force to be reckoned with, winning the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Liga" title="Portuguese Liga">Portuguese Liga</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_of_Portugal" title="Cup of Portugal">Cup of Portugal</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Cup" title="UEFA Cup">UEFA Cup</a> in 2003. Greater success followed in 2004 as Mourinho guided the team to the top of the league for a second time and won the highest honour in European club football, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a>.<br />
Mourinho moved to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a> the following year and won two consecutive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League" title="Premier League">Premier League</a> titles in 2005 and 2006, among other domestic honours. He often courted controversy for his outspokenness, but his victories at Chelsea and Porto established him as one of the world's top football managers, well regarded by both his peers and the press. Additionally, he was named the world's best football manager by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Federation_of_Football_History_and_Statistics" title="International Federation of Football History and Statistics">International Federation of Football History and Statistics</a> (IFFHS) for both the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons.<br />
After a fall-out with the Chelsea hierarchy, he moved to Italy's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serie_A" title="Serie A">Serie A</a>, signing a three-year contract with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano" title="F.C. Internazionale Milano">Internazionale</a> in mid-2008. Within three months, he had won his first Italian honour, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercoppa_Italiana" title="Supercoppa Italiana">Supercoppa Italiana</a>, and completed his first season in Italy by winning the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serie_A_2008%E2%80%9309" title="Serie A 2008–09">Serie A league title</a>. He then followed that up the following year by winning the first "treble" in Italian history, the Serie A league title, Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League, thus becoming the third manager in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_history" title="Football history">football history</a> to win two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a> with two different teams, after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Happel" title="Ernst Happel">Ernst Happel</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottmar_Hitzfeld" title="Ottmar Hitzfeld">Ottmar Hitzfeld</a>.<br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td> <div id="toctitle"> <h2>Contents</h2><span class="toctoggle">[<a class="internal" href="javascript:toggleToc()" id="togglelink">hide</a>]</span></div><ul><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Early_life_and_career"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Early life and career</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Formative_years_and_education"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Formative years and education</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Entering_management"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Entering management</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Coaching_career"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Coaching career</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Benfica_and_Leiria"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Benfica and Leiria</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Porto"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Porto</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Chelsea"><span class="tocnumber">2.3</span> <span class="toctext">Chelsea</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Inter"><span class="tocnumber">2.4</span> <span class="toctext">Inter</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Managerial_statistics"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Managerial statistics</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Unbeaten_home_record"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Unbeaten home record</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Managerial_honours"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Managerial honours</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Individual_honours"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Individual honours</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Special_Awards"><span class="tocnumber">6.1</span> <span class="toctext">Special Awards</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Controversy"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">Controversy</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#Personal_life"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">Personal life</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">9</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#References"><span class="tocnumber">10</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">11</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li>
</ul></td> </tr>
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</script> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Early_life_and_career">Early life and career</span></h2><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Formative_years_and_education">Formative years and education</span></h3>José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho was born in 1963 to a large middle-class family in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set%C3%BAbal" title="Setúbal">Setúbal</a>, Portugal, the son of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9lix_Mourinho" title="Félix Mourinho">Félix Mourinho</a> and Maria Júlia Mourinho. His father played football professionally for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.F._Os_Belenenses" title="C.F. Os Belenenses">Belenenses</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vit%C3%B3ria_F.C." title="Vitória F.C.">Vitória de Setúbal</a>, earning one cap for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal_national_football_team" title="Portugal national football team">Portugal</a> in the course of his career. His mother was a primary school teacher from an affluent background;<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Statesman_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Statesman-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> her uncle funded the construction of the Vitória de Setúbal football stadium. However, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnation_Revolution" title="Carnation Revolution">the fall</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B3nio_de_Oliveira_Salazar" title="António de Oliveira Salazar">António de Oliveira Salazar</a>'s <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estado_Novo_%28Portugal%29" title="Estado Novo (Portugal)">Estado Novo</a></i> regime in April 1974 led to the family losing all but a property in nearby <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmela" title="Palmela">Palmela</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sitting_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Sitting-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Mourinho was a popular and competitive child and his mother encouraged him to be successful in his endeavors.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sitting_3-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Sitting-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> Football was a major part of his life and his father recalled being very impressed with his knowledge of the game. Footballing commitments in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto" title="Porto">Porto</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon" title="Lisbon">Lisbon</a> meant that Félix was often separated from his son. Still, the young Mourinho managed to spend time with him and as a teenager he would travel by any means necessary to attend weekend matches. By this time, his father had changed from player to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coach_%28sport%29" title="Coach (sport)">coach</a> and in turn the José Mourinho became a student of the game, observing training sessions and scouting opposing teams.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Smith1_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Smith1-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Mourinho wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father by becoming a footballer and he joined the Belenenses youth team. Graduating to the senior level, he played at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Ave_F.C." title="Rio Ave F.C.">Rio Ave</a> (where his father was coach), Belenenses and Sesimbra, but it became evident that he would not excel as a professional due to a lack of the requisite pace and power.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-JoseWay_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-JoseWay-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> Acceding to his shortcomings, he chose to pursue the dream of becoming a professional football coach instead.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Statesman_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Statesman-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> His mother had different ideas altogether and enrolled him in a business school. Mourinho attended the school but dropped out on his first day, deciding he would rather focus on sport, and chose to attend the Instituto Superior de Educação Física (ISEF), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_University_of_Lisbon" title="Technical University of Lisbon">Technical University of Lisbon</a>, to study <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_science" title="Sports science">sports science</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sitting_3-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Sitting-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> He taught <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_education" title="Physical education">physical education</a> at various schools and after five years, he had earned his diploma, receiving consistently good marks throughout the course.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Smith1_4-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Smith1-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> After attending coaching courses held by the English and Scottish Football Associations, former <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland_football_team" title="Scotland football team">Scotland</a> manager <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Roxburgh" title="Andy Roxburgh">Andy Roxburgh</a> took note of the young Portuguese's drive and attention to detail.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Feature_7-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Feature-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> Mourinho sought to redefine the role of coach in football by mixing coaching theory with motivational and psychological techniques.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Statesman_2-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Statesman-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Entering_management">Entering management</span></h3>After leaving his job as a school coach, Mourinho looked for paths into professional management in his hometown and became youth team coach at Vitória de Setúbal in the early 1990s. Working his way up the ladder, he accepted the position of assistant manager at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.F._Estrela_da_Amadora" title="C.F. Estrela da Amadora">Estrela da Amadora</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Feature_7-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Feature-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> Mourinho yearned for greater challenges and in 1992 an opportunity arose to work as a translator for a top foreign coach. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Robson" title="Bobby Robson">Bobby Robson</a> had been appointed as the new manager of Lisbon side <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporting_Clube_de_Portugal" title="Sporting Clube de Portugal">Sporting Clube de Portugal</a> and the Englishman required a local coach with a good command of English to work as his <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpreter_%28communication%29" title="Interpreter (communication)">interpreter</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-JoseWay_5-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-JoseWay-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Initially, the move was a step away from management but as an interpreter Mourinho earned Robson's respect and friendship. He welcomed Mourinho's translations and the two became close through discussing tactics and coaching.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-JoseWay_5-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-JoseWay-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> Robson was sacked by Sporting but Portuguese rivals <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Porto" title="F.C. Porto">FC Porto</a> appointed him as their head coach and Mourinho continued to coach and interpret for players at the new post.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Feature_7-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Feature-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> After two years at Porto the duo moved again, switching to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Barcelona" title="FC Barcelona">FC Barcelona</a> in 1996, and Mourinho continued to show his linguistic dexterity and drive, learning <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalan_language" title="Catalan language">Catalan</a> for the new challenge.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TDT1_8-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-TDT1-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> Mourinho and his family moved to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona" title="Barcelona">Barcelona</a> and he gradually became a prominent figure of Barcelona's staff by translating at press conferences, planning practice sessions and helping players through tactical advice and analyses of the opposition. Robson and Mourinho's styles complemented each other: the Englishman favoured an attacking style, while Mourinho covered defensive options, and the Portuguese's love of planning and training combined with Robson's direct man-management. The partnership was fruitful and Barcelona finished the season with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Cup_Winners%27_Cup" title="UEFA Cup Winners' Cup">European Cup Winners' Cup</a>. Robson moved club the following season but this time Mourinho did not follow as Barcelona were keen to retain him as assistant manager.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Feature_7-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Feature-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> Despite the move, the two remained good friends and Mourinho later reflected on the effect Robson had had upon him:<br />
<blockquote> One of the most important things I learnt from Bobby Robson is that when you win, you shouldn’t assume you are <i>the</i> team, and when you lose, you shouldn’t think you are rubbish.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Feature_7-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Feature-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
</blockquote>He began working with Robson's successor, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_van_Gaal" title="Louis van Gaal">Louis van Gaal</a>, and he learnt much from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands" title="Netherlands">Dutchman</a>'s conscientious style. Both assistant and head coach combined their studious approach to the game and Barcelona won <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Liga" title="La Liga">La Liga</a> twice in van Gaal's first two years as coach.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Feature_7-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Feature-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> Van Gaal saw that his number two had the promise to be more than a skilled assistant. He let Mourinho develop his own independent coaching style and entrusted him with the coaching duties of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Barcelona_Atl%C3%A8tic" title="FC Barcelona Atlètic">FC Barcelona B</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TDT1_8-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-TDT1-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> Van Gaal also let Mourinho take charge of the first team (acting as Mourinho's assistant himself) for certain trophies, like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Catalunya" title="Copa Catalunya">Copa Catalunya</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Feature_7-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Feature-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Coaching_career">Coaching career</span></h2><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Benfica_and_Leiria">Benfica and Leiria</span></h3>The chance to become a top-tier manager arrived in September 2000 when Mourinho moved up from his role as <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistant_coach" title="Assistant coach">assistant coach</a> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon" title="Lisbon">Lisbon</a> side <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.L._Benfica" title="S.L. Benfica">Benfica</a> to replace head coach <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupp_Heynckes" title="Jupp Heynckes">Jupp Heynckes</a> after the fourth week of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Liga" title="Portuguese Liga">Portuguese Liga</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TDT1_8-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-TDT1-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> The Benfica hierarchy wanted to appoint <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesualdo_Ferreira" title="Jesualdo Ferreira">Jesualdo Ferreira</a> as the new assistant coach but Mourinho refused and picked <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Mozer" title="Carlos Mozer">Carlos Mozer</a>, a retired Benfica defender, as his right-hand man instead.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup> Mourinho was highly critical of Ferreira, whom he had first encountered as his teacher at ISEF, and later lambasted the veteran coach by stating: "This could be the story of a donkey who worked for 30 years but never became a horse."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> Only weeks after being given the job at Benfica, Mourinho's mentor, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Robson" title="Bobby Robson">Bobby Robson</a>, offered him the assistant manager's role at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_United_F.C." title="Newcastle United F.C.">Newcastle United</a>. Such was Robson's desperation for Mourinho to join him he offered to step down after two years in charge and hand over the reins to Mourinho. Mourinho turned the offer down and said he knew Robson would never step down at the club he loved.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Mourinho and Mozer proved a popular combination, enjoying a 3–0 win against fierce rivals Sporting in December.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guard1_12-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Guard1-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup> However, their reign appeared to be at risk after Benfica's election turned against club president João Vale e Azevedo, and the newly-elected <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Vilarinho" title="Manuel Vilarinho">Manuel Vilarinho</a> said that he would instate ex-Benfica player <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B3nio_Jos%C3%A9_Concei%C3%A7%C3%A3o_Oliveira" title="António José Conceição Oliveira">Toni</a> as his new coach.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TDT1_8-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-TDT1-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> Although Vilarinho had no intention of firing him immediately, Mourinho used the victory over Sporting to test the president's loyalty and he asked for a contract extension.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guard1_12-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Guard1-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup> Vilarinho refused the demand and Mourinho resigned from his position immediately. He left the club on 5 December 2000 after just nine league games in charge.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> Upon later reflection, Vilarinho rued his poor judgement and expressed his frustration at losing Mourinho:<br />
<blockquote> [Put me] back then [and] I would do exactly the opposite: I would extend his contract. Only later I realised that one's personality and pride cannot be put before the interest of the institution we serve.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guard1_12-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Guard1-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
</blockquote>Mourinho quickly found a new managerial post in January 2001 with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.D._Leiria" title="U.D. Leiria">União de Leiria</a>, whom he took to their <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000-01_in_Portuguese_football" title="2000-01 in Portuguese football">highest-ever league finish</a> of fifth place.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> Mourinho's successes at Leiria did not go unrecognised and he caught the attention of larger Portuguese clubs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TDT1_8-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-TDT1-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Porto">Porto</span></h3>He was then hand-picked in January 2002 by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Porto" title="F.C. Porto">FC Porto</a> to replace <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oct%C3%A1vio_Machado" title="Octávio Machado">Octávio Machado</a>. Mourinho guided the team to third place that year after a strong 15-game run (W–D–L: 11–2–2) and gave the promise of "making Porto champions next year."<br />
He quickly identified several key players whom he saw as the backbone of what he believed would be a perfect Porto team — <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%ADtor_Ba%C3%ADa" title="Vítor Baía">Vítor Baía</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Carvalho" title="Ricardo Carvalho">Ricardo Carvalho</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costinha" title="Costinha">Costinha</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deco" title="Deco">Deco</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitri_Alenichev" title="Dmitri Alenichev">Dmitri Alenichev</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9lder_Postiga" title="Hélder Postiga">Hélder Postiga</a>. He recalled captain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Costa" title="Jorge Costa">Jorge Costa</a> after a six-month loan to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlton_Athletic_F.C." title="Charlton Athletic F.C.">Charlton Athletic</a>. The signings from other clubs included <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuno_Valente" title="Nuno Valente">Nuno Valente</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derlei" title="Derlei">Derlei</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.D._Leiria" title="U.D. Leiria">União de Leiria</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Ferreira" title="Paulo Ferreira">Paulo Ferreira</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vit%C3%B3ria_F.C." title="Vitória F.C.">Vitória de Setúbal</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Emanuel" title="Pedro Emanuel">Pedro Emanuel</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boavista_F.C." title="Boavista F.C.">Boavista</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgaras_Jankauskas" title="Edgaras Jankauskas">Edgaras Jankauskas</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maniche" title="Maniche">Maniche</a>, who both had been out of contract at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.L._Benfica" title="S.L. Benfica">Benfica</a>.<br />
During the pre-season, Mourinho put on the club website detailed reports on the team training. The reports were filled with formal vocabulary, as, for instance, he referred to a 20 km jog as an extended <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerobic_exercise" title="Aerobic exercise">aerobic exercise</a>. While they attracted some scorn for the pretentiousness, others praised the innovation and the application of a more scientific approach to the training methods practised in Portugal. One of the key aspects in Mourinho-era Porto was his quick wit and the pressuring play, which started at the offensive line, dubbed <i>pressão alta</i> ("high pressure"). The physical and combative abilities of the teams' defenders and midfielders allowed Porto to apply pressure from the offensive lines and forced opponents either to concede the ball or try longer, uncertain passes.<br />
In 2003, Mourinho won his first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Liga" title="Portuguese Liga">Portuguese Liga</a> with a 27–5–2 record, 11 points clear of Benfica, the team he quit two years earlier. The total of 86 points out of the possible maximum of 102 was a Portuguese record since the rule of three points per win was introduced. Mourinho also won the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_of_Portugal" title="Cup of Portugal">Portuguese Cup</a> (against former club Leiria) and the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Cup" title="UEFA Cup">UEFA Cup</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Cup_2002-03#Final" title="UEFA Cup 2002-03">final</a> against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_F.C." title="Celtic F.C.">Celtic</a>, both in May 2003.<br />
The following season witnessed further successes: he led Porto to victory in the one-match <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperCup_C%C3%A2ndido_de_Oliveira" title="SuperCup Cândido de Oliveira">Portuguese SuperCup</a>, beating Leiria 1–0. However they lost the UEFA Super Cup 1–0 to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.C._Milan" title="A.C. Milan">Milan</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andriy_Shevchenko" title="Andriy Shevchenko">Andriy Shevchenko</a> scoring the solitary goal. The team were dominant in the Portuguese Liga and they finished the season with a perfect home record, an eight-point advantage, and an unbeaten run that only ended against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Vicente_F.C." title="Gil Vicente F.C.">Gil Vicente</a>; they secured the title five weeks before the end of the season. Porto lost the Portuguese Cup final to Benfica in May 2004, but two weeks later Mourinho won a greater prize: the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a>, with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_UEFA_Champions_League_Final" title="2004 UEFA Champions League Final">3–0</a> win over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AS_Monaco_FC" title="AS Monaco FC">AS Monaco</a> in Germany. The club had eliminated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_United_F.C." title="Manchester United F.C.">Manchester United</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympique_Lyonnais" title="Olympique Lyonnais">Olympique Lyonnais</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportivo_de_La_Coru%C3%B1a" title="Deportivo de La Coruña">Deportivo La Coruña</a> and their sole defeat of the competition came against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Madrid_C.F." title="Real Madrid C.F.">Real Madrid</a> in the group round.<br />
Mourinho's win over Manchester United foreshadowed a move to the English league, where he and manager Alex Ferguson would compete in the Premier League. Porto were on the verge of an away goals defeat when Costinha scored an injury time goal to win the tie and Mourinho celebrated the goal flamboyantly. As a response to his European and domestic success, Mourinho was linked with several top European clubs, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_F.C." title="Liverpool F.C.">Liverpool</a>, Real Madrid and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a>. Mourinho publicly stated his preference for the Liverpool job over the Chelsea one:<br />
<blockquote> Liverpool are a team that interests everyone and Chelsea does not interest me so much because it is a new project with lots of money invested in it. I think it is a project which, if the club fail to win everything, then [Roman] <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Abramovich" title="Roman Abramovich">Abramovich</a> could retire and take the money out of the club. It's an uncertain project. It is interesting for a coach to have the money to hire quality players but you never know if a project like this will bring success.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LivMove_16-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-LivMove-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
</blockquote>Liverpool offered their managerial position to Spanish coach <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Ben%C3%ADtez" title="Rafael Benítez">Rafael Benítez</a> and Mourinho instead accepted a large offer from Roman Abramovich and pledged his immediate future to Chelsea.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LivMove_16-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-LivMove-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Chelsea">Chelsea</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JoseMourinho.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="332" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/JoseMourinho.jpg/220px-JoseMourinho.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JoseMourinho.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Mourinho at Chelsea</div></div></div>Mourinho moved to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a> in June 2004, becoming one of the highest paid managers in football with a salary of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_sterling" title="Pound sterling">£</a>4.2 million a year, subsequently raised in 2005 to £5.2 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup> In a press conference upon joining the English side, Mourinho said, "Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one," which resulted in the media dubbing him "The Special One".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Mourinho recruited his backroom staff from Porto, consisting of assistant manager <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltemar_Brito" title="Baltemar Brito">Baltemar Brito</a>, fitness coach Rui Faria, chief scout André Villas Boas and goalkeeping coach <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silvino_Louro" title="Silvino Louro">Silvino Louro</a>. He retained the services of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Clarke" title="Steve Clarke">Steve Clarke</a>, a long-serving former player at Chelsea, who had also performed an assistant managerial-type role under previous managers at the club. In terms of spending, Mourinho carried on where his predecessor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Ranieri" title="Claudio Ranieri">Claudio Ranieri</a> left off, as, bankrolled by Roman Abramovich, he spent in excess of £70 m in transfer fees on players such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiago_Mendes" title="Tiago Mendes">Tiago</a> (£10 million) from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.L._Benfica" title="S.L. Benfica">Benfica</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Essien" title="Michael Essien">Michael Essien</a> (£24.4 million) from <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympique_Lyon" title="Olympique Lyon">Olympique Lyon</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Drogba" title="Didier Drogba">Didier Drogba</a> (£24 million) from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympique_de_Marseille" title="Olympique de Marseille">Olympique de Marseille</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mateja_Kezman" title="Mateja Kezman">Mateja Kezman</a> (£5.4 million) from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSV_Eindhoven" title="PSV Eindhoven">PSV</a> and Porto pair <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Carvalho" title="Ricardo Carvalho">Ricardo Carvalho</a> (£19.8 million) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Ferreira" title="Paulo Ferreira">Paulo Ferreira</a> (£13.3 million).<br />
Under Mourinho, Chelsea built on the potential developed in the previous season. By early December, they were at the top of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League" title="Premier League">Premier League</a> table and had reached the knock-out stages of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League_2004-05" title="UEFA Champions League 2004-05">Champions League</a>. He scooped his first trophy by winning the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Football_League_Cup_Final" title="2005 Football League Cup Final">League Cup</a> against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_F.C." title="Liverpool F.C.">Liverpool</a> 3–2 (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extra_time" title="Extra time">AET</a>) in Cardiff. Towards the end of the match, Mourinho was escorted from the touchline after putting his finger to his mouth in the direction of Liverpool fans, as a response to taunts directed towards him whilst Liverpool were leading, before the equalising goal.<br />
The club added more trophies as they secured their first top-flight domestic title in 50 years, setting a string of English football records in the process. However, he failed to achieve back-to-back Champions League successes when Chelsea were knocked out of the competition by a controversial goal in the semi-finals by eventual winners Liverpool.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-19"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Chelsea started the next season well. They defeated Arsenal 2–1 to win the FA Community Shield, and topped the Premier League from the first weekend of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005-06_in_English_football" title="2005-06 in English football">2005–06</a> season. Chelsea beat rivals Manchester United 3–0 to win their second consecutive Premiership title and Mourinho's fourth domestic title in a row. After the presentation of his championship medal, Mourinho threw his medal and blazer into the crowd. He was awarded a second medal within minutes which he also threw into the crowd.<br />
The signing of Ukrainian striker <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andriy_Shevchenko" title="Andriy Shevchenko">Andriy Shevchenko</a> in the summer of 2006 for a club record fee would also prove to be a point of contention between Mourinho and Abramovich. Shevchenko, at the time of his signing, was one of the most highly regarded strikers in Europe during his time with Milan, where he won the Champions League, Scudetto and Ballon d'Or awards in his seven years at Milan. Chelsea had attempted to sign Shevchenko in the preceding two years but Milan rebuffed Abramovich's interest in him. Shevchenko's first season at Chelsea was viewed as a major disappointment by the Chelsea fans as he only scored four league goals and fourteen in all competitions. Shevchenko's strike partner, Didier Drogba had the highest scoring season of his career that year and this led Shevchenko to be dropped from the starting line-up towards the end of the season by Mourinho. Notably, in the Champions League match at Anfield, Shevchenko was not even included on the bench. Abramovich's insistence on Mourinho playing the Ukrainian was widely viewed as a further source of friction between the two men. Shevchenko's signing was not the only one for Chelsea however, as German captain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Ballack" title="Michael Ballack">Michael Ballack</a> was also signed to strengthen the midfield. The Icelandic striker <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ei%C3%B0ur_Gu%C3%B0johnsen" title="Eiður Guðjohnsen">Eiður Guðjohnsen</a>, an important player for Chelsea under Ranieri and Mourinho, departed the club for FC Barcelona.<br />
The <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006-07_in_English_football" title="2006-07 in English football">2006–07</a> season saw growing media speculation that Mourinho would leave the club at the season's conclusion, due to alleged poor relations with owner Roman Abramovich and a power struggle with sporting director <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Arnesen" title="Frank Arnesen">Frank Arnesen</a> and Abramovich advisor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet_de_Visser" title="Piet de Visser">Piet de Visser</a>. Mourinho later cleared doubts regarding his future at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamford_Bridge_%28stadium%29" title="Stamford Bridge (stadium)">Stamford Bridge</a>, stating that there would only be two ways for him to leave Chelsea: if Chelsea were not to offer him a new contract in June 2010, and if Chelsea were to sack him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup> He then launched an ambitious campaign for all four trophies available with the aim of becoming the first club in English football to complete "the quadruple".<br />
Despite the unrest, Chelsea, under Mourinho won the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cup" title="Football League Cup">League Cup</a> again by defeating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenal_F.C." title="Arsenal F.C.">Arsenal</a> in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cup_Final_2007" title="Football League Cup Final 2007">final</a> at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Stadium" title="Millennium Stadium">Millennium Stadium</a>. However the possibility of the quadruple was brought to an end on 1 May 2007 when Liverpool eliminated Chelsea from the UEFA Champions League on penalties at Anfield, following a 1–1 aggregate draw. Days later Chelsea failed to win the Premier League title by drawing 1–1 with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 6 May 2007. This meant that the title went to Manchester United. This was Mourinho's first season without a league title win in five years. Mourinho led Chelsea to a 1–0 victory against Manchester United in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Cup_Final_2007" title="FA Cup Final 2007">2007 FA Cup Final</a>, winning in the first final to be played at the new <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wembley_Stadium" title="Wembley Stadium">Wembley Stadium</a>. This was his first FA Cup win which meant that he had won every domestic trophy available to a Premier League manager. However, there was to be further friction between himself and Abramovich when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avram_Grant" title="Avram Grant">Avram Grant</a> was appointed as Director of Football, despite objections from Mourinho. Grant's position was further enhanced by being given a seat on the board. In spite of these tensions, the 2007–08 transfer season would see the departure of Dutch winger Arjen Robben to Real Madrid and French midfielder <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florent_Malouda" title="Florent Malouda">Florent Malouda</a> moved to Chelsea. Shevchenko was linked with a return to AC Milan but he remained at Chelsea for another year.<br />
In the first match of the 2007–08 season, Chelsea beat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_City_F.C." title="Birmingham City F.C.">Birmingham City</a> 3–2 to set a new record of 64 consecutive home league matches without defeat, surpassing the record set by Liverpool between 1978 and 1981.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Unbeaten_21-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Unbeaten-21"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a></sup> Despite this feat, Chelsea's start to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007-08_in_English_football" title="2007-08 in English football">2007–08</a> season was not as successful as previous starts. The team lost at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Villa_F.C." title="Aston Villa F.C.">Aston Villa</a> and followed this with a goalless draw at home to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackburn_Rovers_F.C." title="Blackburn Rovers F.C.">Blackburn Rovers</a>. Their opening game in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a> saw them only manage a 1–1 home draw against the Norwegian team <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosenborg_B.K." title="Rosenborg B.K.">Rosenborg</a> in front of an almost half-empty stadium. Andriy Shevchenko scored Chelsea's only goal in that match.<br />
Mourinho unexpectedly left Chelsea on 20 September 2007 "by mutual consent," although there had been a series of disagreements with chairman Roman Abramovich. The Chelsea board held an emergency meeting and decided it was time to part with their manager. Mourinho left as the most successful manager in Chelsea's history, having won six trophies for the club in three years. He was also undefeated in all home league games. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avram_Grant" title="Avram Grant">Avram Grant</a> succeeded José Mourinho as Chelsea manager but failed to win any trophies in his year in charge, although he reached the final of the Champions League and League Cup. Grant's Chelsea also finished second in the Premier League.<br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Inter">Inter</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jose_Mourinho_-_Inter_Mailand_%282%29.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="330" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Jose_Mourinho_-_Inter_Mailand_%282%29.jpg/220px-Jose_Mourinho_-_Inter_Mailand_%282%29.jpg" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jose_Mourinho_-_Inter_Mailand_%282%29.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Mourinho at Inter</div></div></div>On 2 June 2008, Mourinho was appointed the successor of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Mancini" title="Roberto Mancini">Roberto Mancini</a> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano" title="F.C. Internazionale Milano">Internazionale</a> on a three-year contract, and brought along with him much of his backroom staff who had served him at both Chelsea and Porto.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup> He chose <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Baresi" title="Giuseppe Baresi">Giuseppe Baresi</a>, a former Inter player and ex-head coach of their youth academy, as his assistant.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup> He spoke solely in Italian in his first press conference as Inter boss, claiming to have learnt it "in three weeks".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup> Mourinho stated that he only intended to make a few major signings in the summer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-26"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a></sup> By the end of the transfer window, he had brought three new players to the side: Brazilian winger <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mancini_%28Brazilian_footballer%29" title="Mancini (Brazilian footballer)">Mancini</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro" title="Euro">€</a>13 million),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup> Ghanaian midfielder <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulley_Muntari" title="Sulley Muntari">Sulley Muntari</a> for reported €14 million,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-29"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a></sup> and Portuguese winger <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Quaresma" title="Ricardo Quaresma">Ricardo Quaresma</a> for a cash/player exchange fee of €18.6 million plus young Portuguese midfielder <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%A9_%28footballer_born_1987%29" title="Pelé (footballer born 1987)">Pelé</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In his first season as Inter head coach, Mourinho won the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Supercoppa_Italiana" title="2008 Supercoppa Italiana">Italian Supercup</a>, beating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.S._Roma" title="A.S. Roma">Roma</a> on penalties,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-32"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup> and finished top of Serie A. However, Inter were eliminated 2–0 on aggregate by Manchester United in the first knock-out round of the UEFA Champions League, and he also failed to win the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppa_Italia" title="Coppa Italia">Coppa Italia</a>, being defeated 3–1 on aggregate by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.C._Sampdoria" title="U.C. Sampdoria">Sampdoria</a> in the semi-finals.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup> As <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA" title="UEFA">UEFA</a> was beginning to push the larger clubs in top leagues to play more homegrown players, Mourinho regularly played 18-year-old Italian forward <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Balotelli" title="Mario Balotelli">Mario Balotelli</a> and promoted academy defender <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davide_Santon" title="Davide Santon">Davide Santon</a> to the first team permanently — installing an Italian contingent into a team previously composed of mostly foreign players. Both teenagers played a part in the Scudetto-winning season and played enough games to earn their first senior trophy.<br />
Despite his domestic successes in winning the Scudetto by a ten point margin, Jose Mourinho's first season in Italy was viewed as disappointing by some Inter fans as they failed to improve on the performances of his predecessor Roberto Mancini in the Champions League. Inter put in a series of lacklustre group stage performances that included a shock 1–0 home loss to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panathinaikos_F.C." title="Panathinaikos F.C.">Panathinaikos</a> and an away draw with Cypriot minnows <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorthosis_Famagusta_F.C." title="Anorthosis Famagusta F.C.">Anorthosis Famagusta</a>. However, they qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League but failed to make it to the quarter finals after being defeated by Manchester United.<br />
Mourinho also caused immediate ripples in Italian football through his controversial relationships with the Italian press and media, and feuds with major Serie A coaches such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Ancelotti" title="Carlo Ancelotti">Carlo Ancelotti</a> then of Milan, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luciano_Spalletti" title="Luciano Spalletti">Luciano Spalletti</a> of Roma and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Ranieri" title="Claudio Ranieri">Claudio Ranieri</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juventus_F.C." title="Juventus F.C.">Juventus</a>. At a press conference in March 2009, he insulted the first two rivals by claiming they would end the season with no honours—and accused the Italian sport journalists of "intellectual prostitution" on their behalf.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-34"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a></sup> This rant promptly became very popular in Italy, especially regarding the "zero titles" quote used by Mourinho, and incorrectly pronounced by him as <i>zeru tituli</i> (in correct Italian it would have been <i>zero titoli</i>), which was later extensively referred to by football journalists in Italy. It also became the title's catchphrase used by fans to celebrate Inter's 17th <i>scudetto</i> later that season.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-35"><span>[</span>36<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-36"><span>[</span>37<span>]</span></a></sup> The catchphrase was even used by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_Inc." title="Nike Inc.">Nike</a> to present the celebration shirts for Inter's Serie A title.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-37"><span>[</span>38<span>]</span></a></sup> After the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Coppa_Italia_Final" title="2009 Coppa Italia Final">Coppa Italia final</a> in May, fans of Roma's cross-town rivals <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.S._Lazio" title="S.S. Lazio">Lazio</a>, the new Coppa Italia winners, wore shirts with <i>Io campione, tu zero titoli</i> ("I'm a champion, you have no honours") on it,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-38"><span>[</span>39<span>]</span></a></sup> quoting Mourinho's "zeru tituli" statement.<br />
On 16 May 2009, Inter mathematically won the Serie A title, after runners-up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.C._Milan" title="A.C. Milan">Milan</a> lost to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udinese_Calcio" title="Udinese Calcio">Udinese</a>. This loss left the <i>Nerazzurri</i> seven points above their crosstown rivals with only two games remaining. They would eventually finish ten points clear of Milan.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-39"><span>[</span>40<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On 28 July 2009, Mourinho was reported to have shown interest in taking over at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_United_F.C." title="Manchester United F.C.">Manchester United</a> when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Ferguson" title="Alex Ferguson">Alex Ferguson</a> retired. He was quoted as saying, "I would consider going to Manchester United but United have to consider if they want me to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson. If they do, then of course."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ITN_United_interest_declaration_40-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-ITN_United_interest_declaration-40"><span>[</span>41<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Under Mourinho, Inter have remained active in the transfer market. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adriano_Leite_Ribeiro" title="Adriano Leite Ribeiro">Adriano</a> left Inter in April 2009, and the exit of the Brazilian striker was followed by the Argentine duo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Ricardo_Cruz" title="Julio Ricardo Cruz">Julio Cruz</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hern%C3%A1n_Crespo" title="Hernán Crespo">Hernán Crespo</a>. Legendary Portuguese attacking midfielder and veteran <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lu%C3%ADs_Figo" title="Luís Figo">Luís Figo</a> retired. Figo was on the verge of leaving Inter under Mancini due to a lack of playing time but in his final season, Mourinho used him frequently. Mourinho signed Argentine striker <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Milito" title="Diego Milito">Diego Milito</a>, who fell just one goal short of winning the top scorer award with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genoa_C.F.C." title="Genoa C.F.C.">Genoa</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiago_Motta" title="Thiago Motta">Thiago Motta</a> to bolster the midfield. Perhaps his most notable signing of the summer of his second season was a swap deal of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zlatan_Ibrahimovi%C4%87" title="Zlatan Ibrahimović">Zlatan Ibrahimović</a> for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Barcelona" title="FC Barcelona">FC Barcelona</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon" title="Cameroon">Cameroonian</a> striker <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Eto%27o" title="Samuel Eto'o">Samuel Eto'o</a> and a reported 35 million pound also went to inter. This transfer was the second most expensive in the history of the transfer market, after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristiano_Ronaldo" title="Cristiano Ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> moved to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Madrid_C.F." title="Real Madrid C.F.">Real Madrid</a> earlier in the summer. Eto'o got off to a promising start with Inter by scoring two goals in the first two matches of the season.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Quaresma" title="Ricardo Quaresma">Ricardo Quaresma</a>'s signing from Mourinho's old club <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Porto" title="F.C. Porto">Porto</a> was viewed as a missing link in the Inter squad, but his play disappointed the club and led him to be loaned off to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a> midway through the season, ironically Mourinho's other former club. Mancini also failed to dominate in the midfield and addressing these shortcomings in the transfer market became a priority for Inter. Inter's lack of a creative playmaker, or <i>trequartista</i>, has been blamed for the Champions League failure. In their attempt to deal with this issue, Inter signed Dutch midfielder <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Sneijder" title="Wesley Sneijder">Wesley Sneijder</a> from Real Madrid.<br />
Mourinho once again sparked controversy in the summer with his argument with Italy national team coach <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcello_Lippi" title="Marcello Lippi">Marcello Lippi</a>. Lippi predicted that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juventus_F.C." title="Juventus F.C.">Juventus</a> would win the <i>Scudetto</i> in the 2009–10 season, which Mourinho viewed Lippi's comments as disrespectful to Inter. The previous year, Lippi predicted Inter would win the title and Mourinho did not respond to his prediction. Lippi responded by saying that Mourinho was equal to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciro_Ferrara" title="Ciro Ferrara">Ciro Ferrara</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_Ara%C3%BAjo" title="Leonardo Araújo">Leonardo</a> at Juventus and Milan, respectively, only that he was more experienced. After the row with Lippi, he clashed with Italy captain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabio_Cannavaro" title="Fabio Cannavaro">Fabio Cannavaro</a> over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davide_Santon" title="Davide Santon">Davide Santon</a>'s place in the Inter squad. Cannavaro had said that Santon might have to leave Inter to get regular playing time so he wants to play for Italy in the World Cup. Mourinho responded by saying that Cannavaro was acting like a coach.<br />
Inter struggled in their first two matches of the new season. The team lost the Italian SuperCup to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.S._Lazio" title="S.S. Lazio">Lazio</a> 2–1 and drew 1–1 with newly promoted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.S._Bari" title="A.S. Bari">Bari</a> at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Siro" title="San Siro">San Siro</a>. Mourinho's team improved dramatically since then, however, as he built a formidable midfield with Sneijder at the heart of it and the likes of new signing Thiago Motta and veterans <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javier_Zanetti" title="Javier Zanetti">Javier Zanetti</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dejan_Stankovi%C4%87" title="Dejan Stanković">Dejan Stanković</a>. Inter went on score more than 30 goals (as of the end of November), thrashing derby rivals Milan 4–0, with new signings Diego Milito and Motta both scoring, and hammering Genoa 5–0, the largest margin of victory in the Serie A that season. He was sent off in the December <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derby_d%27Italia" title="Derby d'Italia">Derby d'Italia</a> away fixture after he sarcastically applauded the referee for what he felt was a dubious free-kick given to Juventus and Inter went on to lose 2–1, courtesy of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Marchisio" title="Claudio Marchisio">Claudio Marchisio</a> winner in the second-half.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-41"><span>[</span>42<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Later during the season, Mourinho maintained a strongly critical position against refereeing in Italy, which reached its peak during the February 22, 2010 league game against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.C._Sampdoria" title="U.C. Sampdoria">Sampdoria</a>, ended in a 0–0 tie, with two Inter players being sent off in the first half. At the end of the first half, José Mourinho made a handcuffs gesture towards a camera which was considered by the Football Association as violent and critical of the refereeing performance, and caused a three-game ban against the Portuguese coach.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-42"><span>[</span>43<span>]</span></a></sup> Also, his difficult relationship with young striker <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Balotelli" title="Mario Balotelli">Mario Balotelli</a> and the team's loss of form that led Inter to achieve only seven points in six games (and three of such games, including a shock 1–3 defeat at the hands of Sicilian minnows <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcio_Catania" title="Calcio Catania">Catania</a>, happening during Mourinho's ban) were heavily criticized by the media and pundits. Despite this, Mourinho achieved what was hailed as one of his career highlights after Inter managed to progress to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a> quarter-finals by defeating Mourinho's former team <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a> in both legs (2–1 win at San Siro, then followed by a 1–0 win at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamford_Bridge_%28stadium%29" title="Stamford Bridge (stadium)">Stamford Bridge</a>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-43"><span>[</span>44<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On the 6th of April 2010, José Mourinho became the first manager in history to take three different teams to the semi-finals of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a> (this record was equalled by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Bayern_Munich" title="FC Bayern Munich">Bayern Munich</a> manager <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_van_Gaal" title="Louis van Gaal">Louis van Gaal</a> a day later) after his <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internazionale" title="Internazionale">Internazionale</a> managed to overcome <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFC_CSKA_Moscow" title="PFC CSKA Moscow">CSKA Moscow</a> 0–1 in Russia in the second leg of their quarter-final tie, which ended 2–0 on aggregate. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Sneijder" title="Wesley Sneijder">Wesley Sneijder</a>'s goal in the sixth minute proved the difference in a match played in laid-back style. This marked the first time in seven years that <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internazionale" title="Internazionale">Internazionale</a> managed to make it to the semi-finals of the competition.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-44"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></a></sup> On April 13th, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano" title="F.C. Internazionale Milano">Internazionale</a> continued its good season, having managed to qualify for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppa_Italia" title="Coppa Italia">Coppa Italia</a> final, for the first time under Mourinho, by beating <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiorentina" title="Fiorentina">Fiorentina</a> 1–0 away (2–0 on aggregate).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a></sup> On April 28th 2010, José Mourinho reached the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_UEFA_Champions_League_Final" title="2010 UEFA Champions League Final">UEFA Champions League Final</a> for the second time in his career after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano" title="F.C. Internazionale Milano">Internazionale</a> beat current holders <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona" title="Barcelona">Barcelona</a> 3-2 on aggregate, after losing 1-0 on the night (which Mourinho called "the most beautiful defeat of my life") and brought <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano" title="F.C. Internazionale Milano">Internazionale</a> back into a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League_Final" title="UEFA Champions League Final">UEFA Champions League Final</a> 38 years after their last, where they were defeated by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFC_Ajax" title="AFC Ajax">AFC Ajax</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-46"><span>[</span>47<span>]</span></a></sup> The final was at the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Bernabeu_Stadium" title="Santiago Bernabeu Stadium">Santiago Bernabeu Stadium</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid" title="Madrid">Madrid</a> against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Bayern_Munich" title="FC Bayern Munich">Bayern Munich</a> on May 22.<br />
On May 2, after a 2-0 away win at Rome against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazio" title="Lazio">Lazio</a>, Inter almost secured the Serie A title. On May 5, the team won the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppa_Italia_2009-10" title="Coppa Italia 2009-10">Coppa Italia</a>, defeating <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AS_Roma" title="AS Roma">AS Roma</a> 1-0 and on the 16th May Inter beat Siena 1-0 to secure the domestic double.<br />
On May 22, 2010, Inter won the UEFA Champions League beating Bayern Munich 2-0, and in doing so Inter became the first Italian club to complete <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Treble" title="The Treble">The Treble</a> and Mourinho personally celebrated the second "treble win" in his managerial career and second Champions League win.<br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Managerial_statistics">Managerial statistics</span></h2><table class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr> <th rowspan="2">Team</th> <th rowspan="2">Nat</th> <th rowspan="2">From</th> <th rowspan="2">To</th> <th colspan="5">Record</th> </tr>
<tr> <th>G</th> <th>W</th> <th>D</th> <th>L</th> <th>Win %</th> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.L._Benfica" title="S.L. Benfica">Benfica</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal"><img alt="Portugal" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Portugal.svg/22px-Flag_of_Portugal.svg.png" width="22" /></a></span></td> <td align="left">20 September 2000</td> <td align="left">5 December 2000</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000011.000000</span>11</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000006.000000</span>6</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000003.000000</span>3</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000002.000000</span>2</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000054.550000</span>54.55</td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.D._Leiria" title="U.D. Leiria">Leiria</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal"><img alt="Portugal" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Portugal.svg/22px-Flag_of_Portugal.svg.png" width="22" /></a></span></td> <td align="left">January 2001</td> <td align="left">20 January 2002</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000031.000000</span>31</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000017.000000</span>17</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000010.000000</span>10</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000004.000000</span>4</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000054.840000</span>54.84</td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Porto" title="F.C. Porto">Porto</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal"><img alt="Portugal" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Portugal.svg/22px-Flag_of_Portugal.svg.png" width="22" /></a></span></td> <td align="left">23 January 2002</td> <td align="left">26 May 2004</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000123.000000</span>123</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000087.000000</span>87</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000021.000000</span>21</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000015.000000</span>15</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000070.730000</span>70.73</td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England"><img alt="England" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Flag_of_England.svg/22px-Flag_of_England.svg.png" width="22" /></a></span></td> <td align="left">2 June 2004</td> <td align="left">20 September 2007</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000185.000000</span>185</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000131.000000</span>131</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000036.000000</span>36</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000018.000000</span>18</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000070.810000</span>70.81</td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano" title="F.C. Internazionale Milano">Internazionale</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy" title="Italy"><img alt="Italy" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png" width="22" /></a></span></td> <td align="left">2 June 2008</td> <td align="left"><br />
</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000108.000000</span>108</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000067.000000</span>67</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000026.000000</span>26</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000015.000000</span>15</td> <td align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000062.040000</span>62.04</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="4" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Total</th> <th align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000458.000000</span>458</th> <th align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000308.000000</span>308</th> <th align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000096.000000</span>96</th> <th align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000054.000000</span>54</th> <th align="center"><span style="display: none;">&0000000000000067.250000</span>67.25</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>Statistics accurate as of match played 22 May 2010<br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Unbeaten_home_record">Unbeaten home record</span></h2>As of May 9 2010, Mourinho is on a run of 136 home league matches unbeaten: 38 (W36–D2) with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Porto" title="F.C. Porto">Porto</a>, 60 (W46–D14) with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a> and 38 (W29–D9) with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano" title="F.C. Internazionale Milano">Internazionale</a>.<br />
His last and only home league defeat came when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Porto" title="F.C. Porto">Porto</a> were defeated 3–2 by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.C._Beira-Mar" title="S.C. Beira-Mar">Beira-Mar</a> on 23 February 2002.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-47"><span>[</span>48<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Managerial_honours">Managerial honours</span></h2>In eight seasons of club management, including an eight month sabbatical in 2007-08, Mourinho has led his club to win its domestic league six times and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a> twice.<br />
<br />
<dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal"><img alt="Portugal" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Portugal.svg/22px-Flag_of_Portugal.svg.png" width="22" /></a></span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Porto" title="F.C. Porto">Porto</a> (2002-2004)</dt>
</dl><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Liga" title="Portuguese Liga">Portuguese Liga</a> (2): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002%E2%80%9303_Portuguese_Liga" title="2002–03 Portuguese Liga">2002-03</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003%E2%80%9304_Portuguese_Liga" title="2003–04 Portuguese Liga">2003-04</a></li>
<li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_of_Portugal" title="Cup of Portugal">Portuguese Cup</a> (1): <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002-03_in_Portuguese_football#Cup_of_Portugal" title="2002-03 in Portuguese football">2002-03</a></li>
<li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperCup_C%C3%A2ndido_de_Oliveira" title="SuperCup Cândido de Oliveira">Portuguese SuperCup</a> (1): 2003</li>
<li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Cup" title="UEFA Cup">UEFA Cup</a> (1): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002%E2%80%9303_UEFA_Cup" title="2002–03 UEFA Cup">2002-03</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a> (1): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003%E2%80%9304_UEFA_Champions_League" title="2003–04 UEFA Champions League">2003-04</a></li>
</ul><br />
<dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England"><img alt="England" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Flag_of_England.svg/22px-Flag_of_England.svg.png" width="22" /></a></span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a> (2004-2007)</dt>
</dl><ul><li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Premier_League" title="FA Premier League">FA Premier League</a> (2): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004%E2%80%9305_FA_Premier_League" title="2004–05 FA Premier League">2004-05</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_FA_Premier_League" title="2005–06 FA Premier League">2005-06</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Cup" title="FA Cup">FA Cup</a> (1): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006%E2%80%9307_FA_Cup" title="2006–07 FA Cup">2006-07</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cup" title="Football League Cup">League Cup</a> (2): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004%E2%80%9305_Football_League_Cup" title="2004–05 Football League Cup">2004-05</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006%E2%80%9307_Football_League_Cup" title="2006–07 Football League Cup">2006-07</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Community_Shield" title="FA Community Shield">FA Community Shield</a> (1): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_FA_Community_Shield" title="2005 FA Community Shield">2005</a></li>
</ul><br />
<dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy" title="Italy"><img alt="Italy" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png" width="22" /></a></span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milano" title="F.C. Internazionale Milano">Internazionale</a> (2008-)</dt>
</dl><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serie_A" title="Serie A">Serie A</a> (2): <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serie_A_2008%E2%80%9309" title="Serie A 2008–09">2008-09</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serie_A_2009%E2%80%9310" title="Serie A 2009–10">2009-10</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppa_Italia" title="Coppa Italia">Coppa Italia</a> (1): <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppa_Italia_2009-10" title="Coppa Italia 2009-10">2009-10</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercoppa_Italiana" title="Supercoppa Italiana">Supercoppa Italiana</a> (1): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a> (1): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_UEFA_Champions_League" title="2009–10 UEFA Champions League">2009-10</a></li>
</ul><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Individual_honours">Individual honours</span></h2><ul><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA" title="UEFA">UEFA Manager of the Year</a></b> (1): 2003</li>
<li><b><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portuguese_Liga_Manager_of_the_Year&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Portuguese Liga Manager of the Year (page does not exist)">Portuguese Liga Manager of the Year</a></b> (2): 2002–03, 2003–04</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League_Manager_of_the_Year" title="Premier League Manager of the Year">Premier League Manager of the Year</a></b> (2): 2004–05, 2005–06</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serie_A_Coach_of_the_Year" title="Serie A Coach of the Year">Serie A Manager of the Year</a></b> (1): 2009</li>
<li><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IFFHS" title="IFFHS">IFFHS</a> World Manager of the Year</b> (2): 2004, 2005</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Club_Football_Awards#Coach.28es.29_of_the_Year" title="UEFA Club Football Awards">UEFA Champions League Manager of the Year</a></b> (2): 2002–03, 2003–04</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Team_of_the_Year" title="UEFA Team of the Year">UEFA Team of the Year</a> Coach of the Year</b> (3): 2003, 2004, 2005</li>
<li><b>BBC Sports Personality of the Year <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coach_Award" title="Coach Award">Coach Award</a></b> (1): 2005</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onze_d%27Or" title="Onze d'Or">Onze d'Or</a> European Coach</b> (1): 2005</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League_Manager_of_the_Month" title="Premier League Manager of the Month">Premier League Manager of the Month</a></b> (3): November 2004, January 2005, March 2007</li>
<li><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Soccer_Magazine" title="World Soccer Magazine">World Soccer Magazine Coach of the Year</a></b> (2): 2004, 2005</li>
<li><b><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Sports_Press_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" title="International Sports Press Association (page does not exist)">International Sports Press Association</a> Best Manager in the World</b> (1): 2010 <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-48"><span>[</span>49<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
</ul><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Special_Awards">Special Awards</span></h3><ul><li><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree" title="Honorary degree">Honoris causa</a></i> - degree by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_University_of_Lisbon" title="Technical University of Lisbon">Technical University of Lisbon</a> for his accomplishments in football.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_49-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-autogenerated1-49"><span>[</span>50<span>]</span></a></sup></li>
</ul><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Controversy">Controversy</span></h2>Mourinho has often been seen as a controversial figure in football. His time at Chelsea, in particular, fuelled this viewpoint as he frequently made outspoken comments that saw him face punishment from the footballing authorities.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-50"><span>[</span>51<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On 6 October 2004, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Mutu" title="Adrian Mutu">Adrian Mutu</a> accused Mourinho of trying to prevent him from playing in a World Cup qualifier. Mourinho was informed by the Chelsea medical team that the player was unfit after a knee injury, but Mutu disagreed and insisted he was fit to play.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-51"><span>[</span>52<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-52"><span>[</span>53<span>]</span></a></sup> The fitness disagreement soon became irrelevant as Mutu tested positive for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine" title="Cocaine">cocaine</a> in a routine <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drugs_test" title="Drugs test">drugs test</a> and he was sacked on 29 October 2004.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-53"><span>[</span>54<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Following a Champions League tie between Chelsea and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Barcelona" title="FC Barcelona">FC Barcelona</a> in March 2005, Mourinho accused <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Frisk" title="Anders Frisk">Anders Frisk</a> and Barcelona coach <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Rijkaard" title="Frank Rijkaard">Frank Rijkaard</a> of breaking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA" title="FIFA">FIFA</a> rules by having a meeting at half–time. Mourinho insisted that this biased the referee and caused him to send off Chelsea striker <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Drogba" title="Didier Drogba">Didier Drogba</a> in the second half.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-54"><span>[</span>55<span>]</span></a></sup> Frisk admitted that Rijkaard had tried to speak to him but insisted that he had sent him away.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-55"><span>[</span>56<span>]</span></a></sup> The situation intensified when Frisk began to receive death threats from angered fans, causing the referee to retire prematurely.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-56"><span>[</span>57<span>]</span></a></sup> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA" title="UEFA">UEFA</a> referee's chief, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volker_Roth" title="Volker Roth">Volker Roth</a>, labelled Mourinho an "enemy of football",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-57"><span>[</span>58<span>]</span></a></sup> although UEFA distanced themselves from the comment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-58"><span>[</span>59<span>]</span></a></sup> After an investigation of the incident, Mourinho was given a two-match touchline ban for his behaviour and both Chelsea and the manager were fined by UEFA, though the body confirmed that it did not hold Mourinho personally responsible for Frisk's retirement.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-59"><span>[</span>60<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-60"><span>[</span>61<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On 2 June 2005, Mourinho was fined £200,000 for his part in the meeting with then <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenal_F.C." title="Arsenal F.C.">Arsenal</a> full-back <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Cole" title="Ashley Cole">Ashley Cole</a> in January 2005 in breach of the Premier League rules. His fine was later reduced to £75,000 after a hearing in August.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-61"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-61"><span>[</span>62<span>]</span></a></sup> Later that year, he labelled Arsenal manager <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars%C3%A8ne_Wenger" title="Arsène Wenger">Arsène Wenger</a> "a voyeur" after being irked at what he saw as the latter's apparent obsession with Chelsea. Wenger was furious with the remark and considered taking legal action against Mourinho.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-62"><span>[</span>63<span>]</span></a></sup> However, the animosity died down and the two managers made peace after Mourinho admitted that he regretted making the comment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-63"><span>[</span>64<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
After a league match with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everton_F.C." title="Everton F.C.">Everton</a> on 17 December 2006, Mourinho branded <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson_%28English_footballer%29" title="Andrew Johnson (English footballer)">Andrew Johnson</a> "untrustworthy" following a challenge with Chelsea keeper <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrique_Hil%C3%A1rio" title="Henrique Hilário">Henrique Hilário</a>. Everton issued a statement threatening legal action and calling on Mourinho to apologize,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-64"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-64"><span>[</span>65<span>]</span></a></sup> which he later did.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-65"><span>[</span>66<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In August 2009, Mourinho again found himself causing controversy after commenting that the performance of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" title="Islam">Muslim</a> player <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulley_Muntari" title="Sulley Muntari">Sulley Muntari</a> was lacking fitness and energy due to fasting during the month of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan" title="Ramadan">Ramadan</a>. He was reported to have said, "Muntari had some problems related to Ramadan, perhaps with this heat it's not good for him to be doing this (fasting). Ramadan has not arrived at the ideal moment for a player to play a football match."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-66"><span>[</span>67<span>]</span></a></sup> The comments sparked an angry response from Muslim leader Mohamed Nour Dachan, who responded, "I think Mourinho could do with talking a little less. A practising [Muslim] player is not weakened because we know from the Institute of Sports Medicine that mental and psychological stability can give a sportsman an extra edge on the field."<br />
On April 21, 2010, after Inter's 3-1 win against FC Barcelona in Milan, Catalan media revealed that Mourinho and Portuguese referee <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleg%C3%A1rio_Benqueren%C3%A7a" title="Olegário Benquerença">Olegário Benquerença</a> (who was the referee of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Siro" title="San Siro">San Siro</a> match) were long time friends and also that they co-own a restaurant called <i>O Menino</i> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiria" title="Leiria">Leiria</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a>, accusing Benquerença's friendship with Mourinho of being responsible for Inter's win (Benquerença counted an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offside_%28association_football%29" title="Offside (association football)">offside</a> goal by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Milito" title="Diego Milito">Diego Milito</a>. Catalan radio and media also revealed that Benquerença is called <i>Larapio</i> ("thief") in Portugal, since a 2004 match between <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benfica" title="Benfica">Benfica</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Porto" title="FC Porto">Porto</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon" title="Lisbon">Lisbon</a> in which Benquerença disallowed a clear goal by Benfica's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petit_%28Portuguese_footballer%29" title="Petit (Portuguese footballer)">Petit</a>, thus helping Porto to win 1-0; however, that match took place the season after Mourinho's departure from the club.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-67"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-67"><span>[</span>68<span>]</span></a></sup> Mourinho himself denied any such allegiances. "I have no restaurant with anybody" he said, "maybe Pep has a restaurant in Oslo", taunting Norwegian referee <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Henning_Ovrebo" title="Tom Henning Ovrebo">Tom Henning Ovrebo</a>'s role in Barcelona's qualification against Chelsea in London for the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008-09_UEFA_Champions_League" title="2008-09 UEFA Champions League">2008-09 UEFA Champions League</a> semifinal.<br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Personal_life">Personal life</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 152px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mourinho_and_children.JPG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="207" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Mourinho_and_children.JPG/150px-Mourinho_and_children.JPG" width="150" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mourinho_and_children.JPG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Mourinho with his children, Matilde and José Jr.</div></div></div>Mourinho met his wife Tami when they were teenagers in Setúbal, Portugal, and the couple married in 1989.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OBProfile_68-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-OBProfile-68"><span>[</span>69<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Family_69-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Family-69"><span>[</span>70<span>]</span></a></sup> Their first child, daughter Matilde, was born in 1996 and they had their first son, José, Jr., four years later. Mourinho, whilst dedicated to football, describes his family as the centre of his life and has noted that the "most important thing is my family and being a good father."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sitting_3-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Sitting-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Family_69-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Family-69"><span>[</span>70<span>]</span></a></sup> He was selected as the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Statesman" title="New Statesman">New Statesman</a></i> Man of the Year 2005 and was described as a man devoted to both his family and his work.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Statesman_2-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-Statesman-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> Mourinho has also been a part of social initiatives and charity work, helping with a youth project, bringing Israeli and Palestinian children together through football and donating his "lucky" jacket to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarian_response_to_the_2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake" title="Humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake">Tsunami Relief</a>, earning £22,000 for the charity.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-70"><span>[</span>71<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-71"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-71"><span>[</span>72<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Widely known for his strong personality, refined dress sense,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-72"><span>[</span>73<span>]</span></a></sup> and quirky comments at press conferences,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-73"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-73"><span>[</span>74<span>]</span></a></sup> Mourinho has experienced fame outside of football circles, featuring in European advertisement campaigns for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Group" title="Samsung Group">Samsung</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Express" title="American Express">American Express</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adidas" title="Adidas">Adidas</a>, amongst others.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-74"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-74"><span>[</span>75<span>]</span></a></sup> An unofficial biography of Mourinho, titled <i>O Vencedor – De Setúbal a Stamford Bridge</i> (The Winner – from Setúbal to Stamford Bridge), was a best seller in Portugal. However, Mourinho did not authorise the biography and attempted, unsuccessfully, to prevent the book from being published.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-75"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-75"><span>[</span>76<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Mourinho was part of an unusual event in May 2007 when he was arrested for preventing animal welfare officials from putting his dog in to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarantine" title="Quarantine">quarantine</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-76"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-76"><span>[</span>77<span>]</span></a></sup> The dog had not been sufficiently inoculated but the situation was resolved after it was returned to Portugal and Mourinho received a police caution.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-77"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-77"><span>[</span>78<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In 23 March 2009, José Mourinho was awarded a doctorate <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honoris_causa" title="Honoris causa">honoris causa</a></i> degree by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_University_of_Lisbon" title="Technical University of Lisbon">Technical University of Lisbon</a> for his accomplishments in football.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_49-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-autogenerated1-49"><span>[</span>50<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Mourinho speaks Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French and English fluently. He also speaks Catalan.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-78"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho#cite_note-78"><span>[</span>79<span>]</span></a></sup>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-41646407538307842142010-05-19T07:30:00.000-07:002010-05-19T07:30:14.064-07:00THE GENIUS AT WORK<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">Wayne Rooney</h1><!-- /firstHeading --> <!-- bodyContent --> <!-- tagline --><!-- /jumpto --> <!-- bodytext --> <div class="metadata topicon" id="protected-icon" style="display: none; right: 55px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Protection_policy#semi" title="This article is semi-protected to prevent libelous additions."><img alt="This article is semi-protected to prevent libelous additions." height="20" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Padlock-silver-medium.svg/20px-Padlock-silver-medium.svg.png" width="20" /></a></div><table cellspacing="5" class="infobox vcard" style="font-size: 88%; line-height: 1.2em; text-align: left; width: 22em;"><caption class="fn" style="font-size: 125%; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney</a></caption> <tbody>
<tr class=""> <td class="" colspan="4" style="text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rooney_2010.jpg"><img alt="Rooney 2010.jpg" height="328" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Rooney_2010.jpg/170px-Rooney_2010.jpg" width="170" /></a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th colspan="4" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Personal information</th> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Full name</th> <td class="nickname" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Wayne Mark Rooney</td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Date of birth</th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">24 October 1985 <span style="display: none;">(<span class="bday">1985-10-24</span>)</span> <span class="noprint">(age 24)</span></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Place of birth</th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croxteth" title="Croxteth">Croxteth</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool" title="Liverpool">Liverpool</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Height</th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)</td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Playing position</th> <td class="role" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_%28association_football%29" title="Forward (association football)">Striker</a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th colspan="4" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Club information</th> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Current club</th> <td class="org" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_United_F.C." title="Manchester United F.C.">Manchester United</a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Number</th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">10</td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th colspan="4" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Youth career</th> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1996–2002</span></th> <td class="" colspan="3" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everton_F.C." title="Everton F.C.">Everton</a></td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th colspan="4" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Senior career*</th> </tr>
<tr class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Years</th> <td class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><b>Team</b></td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><b>Apps<sup>†</sup></b></td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><b>(Gls)<sup>†</sup></b></td> </tr>
<tr class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2002–2004</span></th> <td class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everton_F.C." title="Everton F.C.">Everton</a></td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">67</td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">(15)</td> </tr>
<tr class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2004–</span></th> <td class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_United_F.C." title="Manchester United F.C.">Manchester United</a></td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">189</td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">(91)</td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <th colspan="4" style="background-color: lightsteelblue; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">National team<sup>‡</sup></th> </tr>
<tr class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"> <th style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2003–</span></th> <td class="" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_national_football_team" title="England national football team">England</a></td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">58</td> <td class="" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">(25)</td> </tr>
<tr class=""> <td class="" colspan="4" style="color: darkslategrey; font-size: 82%; text-align: center;">* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:44, 09 May 2010 (UTC).<br />
† Appearances (Goals).<br />
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 01:44, 10 March 2010 (UTC)</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b>Wayne Mark Rooney</b> (born 24 October 1985) is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_people" title="English people">English</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football" title="Association football">footballer</a> who currently plays as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_%28association_football%29" title="Forward (association football)">striker</a> for English <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League" title="Premier League">Premier League</a> club <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_United_F.C." title="Manchester United F.C.">Manchester United</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_national_football_team" title="England national football team">England national team</a>.<br />
Rooney began his career with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everton_F.C." title="Everton F.C.">Everton</a>, joining their youth team at age ten and rising through the ranks. He made his professional debut in 2002 and his first goal made him the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history at the time. He quickly became part of Everton's first team, spending two seasons at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merseyside" title="Merseyside">Merseyside</a> club. Before the start of the 2004–05 season he moved to Manchester United for £25.6 million and became a key member of the first team. Since then, he has won the Premier League three times, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League_2007%E2%80%9308" title="UEFA Champions League 2007–08">2007–08 UEFA Champions League</a> and also two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cup" title="Football League Cup">League Cups</a>. Individually, Rooney has also been awarded the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Players%27_Player_of_the_Year" title="PFA Players' Player of the Year">PFA Players' Player of the Year</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FWA_Footballer_of_the_Year" title="FWA Footballer of the Year">FWA Footballer of the Year</a> in 2009–10, a credit to his rapid development into one of his club and country's most important players.<br />
Rooney made his England debut in 2003 and, at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2004" title="UEFA Euro 2004">UEFA Euro 2004</a>, he briefly became the competition's youngest goalscorer. He is frequently selected for the England squad and also featured at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2006 FIFA World Cup">2006 FIFA World Cup</a>.<br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td> <div id="toctitle"> <h2>Contents</h2><span class="toctoggle">[<a class="internal" href="javascript:toggleToc()" id="togglelink">hide</a>]</span></div><ul><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Early_life"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Early life</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Club_career"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Club career</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Everton"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Everton</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Manchester_United"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Manchester United</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Since_2004"><span class="tocnumber">2.2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Since 2004</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#2009.E2.80.9310"><span class="tocnumber">2.2.2</span> <span class="toctext">2009–10</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#International_career"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">International career</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Personal_life"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Personal life</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Family"><span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Family</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Commercial_interests"><span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Commercial interests</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Paul_Stretford_controversy"><span class="tocnumber">4.3</span> <span class="toctext">Paul Stretford controversy</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Career_statistics"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Career statistics</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#International_goals"><span class="tocnumber">5.1</span> <span class="toctext">International goals</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Honours"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Honours</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Club"><span class="tocnumber">6.1</span> <span class="toctext">Club</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Manchester_United_2"><span class="tocnumber">6.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Manchester United</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#Individual"><span class="tocnumber">6.2</span> <span class="toctext">Individual</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#References"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li>
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</script> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Early_life">Early life</span></h2>Born in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croxteth" title="Croxteth">Croxteth</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool" title="Liverpool">Liverpool</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merseyside" title="Merseyside">Merseyside</a>, Rooney is the first child of parents of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Catholic" title="Irish Catholic">Irish Catholic</a> extraction<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> Thomas Wayne and Jeanette Marie Rooney (née Morrey).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> He was raised in Croxteth with younger brothers Graeme and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rooney_%28footballer%29" title="John Rooney (footballer)">John</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> and all three attended <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_La_Salle_Humanities_College" title="De La Salle Humanities College">De La Salle School</a>. Wayne grew up supporting local club <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everton_F.C." title="Everton F.C.">Everton</a>, and his childhood hero was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Ferguson" title="Duncan Ferguson">Duncan Ferguson</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Club_career">Club career</span></h2><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Everton">Everton</span></h3>After excelling for Liverpool Schoolboys, Rooney was signed on schoolboy terms by Everton at the age of ten.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> He was part of the youth squad, and after scoring in an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Youth_Cup" title="FA Youth Cup">FA Youth Cup</a> match, he revealed a T-shirt under his jersey that read, <i>"Once a Blue, always a Blue."</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> Since he was under 17 at the time and therefore ineligible for a professional contract, he was playing for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_sterling" title="Pound sterling">£</a>80 a week and living with his family on one of the country's most deprived <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_house" title="Council house">council estates</a>.<br />
On 19 October 2002, five days before his 17th birthday, Rooney scored a match-winning goal against reigning league champions <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenal_F.C." title="Arsenal F.C.">Arsenal</a>; in addition to ending Arsenal's thirty-match unbeaten run,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> it made Rooney the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, a record that has since been surpassed twice; first by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Milner_%28footballer%29" title="James Milner (footballer)">James Milner</a> and then by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Vaughan_%28footballer_born_1988%29" title="James Vaughan (footballer born 1988)">James Vaughan</a>. He was named BBC Sports' 2002 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Young_Sports_Personality_of_the_Year" title="BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year">Young Personality of the Year</a>. He played 33 Premier League games that season and scored six goals.<br />
At the end of the 2003–04 season, Rooney, citing Everton's inability to challenge for European competition (they had finished seventh the previous season and only just missed out on a UEFA Cup place, but in 2003–04 had narrowly avoided relegation and finished 17th), requested a transfer that Everton refused to oblige if the transfer fee was less than £50 million. A three-year, £12,000-a-week contract offer from the club was snubbed by Rooney's agent in August 2004, leaving Manchester United and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_United_F.C." title="Newcastle United F.C.">Newcastle United</a> to compete for his signature. <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times" title="The Times">The Times</a></i> reported that Newcastle were close to signing Rooney for £18.5 million, as confirmed by Rooney's agent, but Manchester United ultimately won the bidding war and Rooney signed at the end of the month after a £25.6 million deal with Everton was reached.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> At the time of his sale Everton were struggling financially with a significant debt and the deal helped turn the club's finances around. It was the highest fee ever paid for a player aged under 20. Rooney was still only 18 years old when he left Everton.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup> In his final season at Everton, he scored eight goals in 34 Premier League games. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On 1 September 2006, Everton manager <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Moyes" title="David Moyes">David Moyes</a> sued Rooney for libel after the tabloid newspaper <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Mail" title="Daily Mail">The Daily Mail</a></i> published excerpts from Rooney's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Rooney#Personal_life" title="Wayne Rooney">2006 autobiography</a> that accused the coach of leaking Rooney's reasons for leaving the club to the press.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup> The case was settled out of court for £500,000 on 3 June 2008, and Rooney apologized to Moyes for <i>"false claims"</i> he had made in the book regarding the matter.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-moyes_12-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-moyes-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Manchester_United">Manchester United</span></h3><h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Since_2004">Since 2004</span></h4><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wayne_Rooney_%28Broken_Foot%29.JPG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="146" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Wayne_Rooney_%28Broken_Foot%29.JPG/220px-Wayne_Rooney_%28Broken_Foot%29.JPG" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wayne_Rooney_%28Broken_Foot%29.JPG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Rooney being treated for his broken foot</div></div></div>Rooney made his United debut on 28 September 2004 in a 6–2 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">Champions League</a> group stage win over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenerbah%C3%A7e_S.K." title="Fenerbahçe S.K.">Fenerbahçe</a>, scoring a hat-trick along with an assist.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup> However, his first season at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Trafford" title="Old Trafford">Old Trafford</a> ended trophyless as United could only manage a third place finish in the league (having been champions or runners-up on all but two previous occasions since 1992) and failed to progress to the last eight of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Cup" title="European Cup">UEFA Champions League</a>. United had more success in the cup competitions, but were edged out of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cup" title="Football League Cup">League Cup</a> in the semi finals by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a> side who also won the Premier League title that season, and a goalless draw with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenal_F.C." title="Arsenal F.C.">Arsenal</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Cup" title="FA Cup">FA Cup</a> final was followed by a penalty shoot-out defeat. However, Rooney was United's top league scorer that season with 11 goals, and was credited with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Young_Player_of_the_Year" title="PFA Young Player of the Year">PFA Young Player of the Year</a> award. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In September 2005, Rooney was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ejection_%28sports%29" title="Ejection (sports)">sent off</a> in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a> clash with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villarreal_CF" title="Villarreal CF">Villarreal</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain" title="Spain">Spain</a> (which ended in a goalless draw) for sarcastically clapping the referee who had booked him for an unintentional foul on an opponent.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> His first trophy with United came in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cup_2005-06" title="Football League Cup 2005-06">2006 League Cup</a>, and he was also named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_of_the_match" title="Man of the match">man of the match</a> after scoring twice in United's 4–0 win over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigan_Athletic_F.C." title="Wigan Athletic F.C.">Wigan Athletic</a> in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cup_Final_2006" title="Football League Cup Final 2006">final</a>. In the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League" title="Premier League">Premier League</a>, however, an erratic start to the season left title glory looking unlikely for United and their title hopes were ended in late April when they lost 3–0 at home to champions <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a> and had to settle for second place. Rooney's goalscoring further improved in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005-06_in_English_football" title="2005-06 in English football">2005–06 season</a>, as he managed 16 goals in 36 Premier League games.<br />
Rooney was sent off in an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam_Tournament" title="Amsterdam Tournament">Amsterdam Tournament</a> match against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Porto" title="F.C. Porto">Porto</a> on 4 August 2006 after hitting Porto defender <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepe_%28footballer_born_1983%29" title="Pepe (footballer born 1983)">Pepe</a> with an elbow.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup> He was punished with a three-match ban by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_Association" title="The Football Association">the FA</a>, following their receipt of a 23-page report from referee Ruud Bossen that explained his decision.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup> Rooney wrote a letter of protest to the FA, citing the lack of punishment handed down to other players who were sent off in friendlies. He also threatened to withdraw the FA's permission to use his image rights if they did not revoke the ban, but the FA had no power to make such a decision.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wayne_Rooney_2.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="224" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Wayne_Rooney_2.jpg/170px-Wayne_Rooney_2.jpg" width="170" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wayne_Rooney_2.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Rooney playing for Manchester United</div></div></div>During the first half of the 2006–07 season, Rooney ended a ten-game scoreless streak with a hat-trick against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolton_Wanderers_F.C." title="Bolton Wanderers F.C.">Bolton Wanderers</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-IHT_19-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-IHT-19"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup> and he signed a two-year contract extension the next month that tied him to United until 2012. By the end of April, a combination of two goals in an 8–3 aggregate quarter-final win over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.S._Roma" title="A.S. Roma">Roma</a> and two more in a 3–2 semi-final first leg victory over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.C._Milan" title="A.C. Milan">AC Milan</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup> brought Rooney's total goal amount to 23 in all competitions and tied him with teammate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristiano_Ronaldo" title="Cristiano Ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> for the team goalscoring lead. By the end of that season, he had scored 14 league goals.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-21"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Rooney collected his first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League" title="Premier League">Premier League</a> title winner's medal at the end of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006-07_in_English_football" title="2006-07 in English football">2006–07 season</a>, but has yet to pick up an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Cup" title="FA Cup">FA Cup</a> winner's medal; he had to settle for a runners-up medal in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_FA_Cup_Final" title="2007 FA Cup Final">2007 FA Cup Final</a>.<br />
United announced during the post-season that Rooney had taken over the number 10 jersey that was vacated by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruud_van_Nistelrooy" title="Ruud van Nistelrooy">Ruud van Nistelrooy</a>, who had left for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Madrid_C.F." title="Real Madrid C.F.">Real Madrid</a> a year earlier. He was presented with the shirt at a press conference on 28 June 2007 by former United striker <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Law" title="Denis Law">Denis Law</a>, who had also worn the number during his tenure with the club in the 1960s and early 1970s.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wayne_Rooney_UEFA_Champions_League.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="274" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Wayne_Rooney_UEFA_Champions_League.jpg/170px-Wayne_Rooney_UEFA_Champions_League.jpg" width="170" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wayne_Rooney_UEFA_Champions_League.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Rooney in a Champions League match against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_F.C." title="Celtic F.C.">Celtic</a></div></div></div>On 12 August 2007, Rooney fractured his left <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metatarsal" title="Metatarsal">metatarsal</a> in United's opening-day goalless draw against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_F.C." title="Reading F.C.">Reading</a>;<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-reuters_23-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-reuters-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup> he had suffered the same injury to his right foot in 2004.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bbcsport_24-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-bbcsport-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup> After being sidelined for six weeks, he returned for United's 1–0 Champions League group stage win over Roma on 2 October, scoring the match's only goal. However, barely a month into his return, Rooney injured his ankle during a training session on 9 November, and missed an additional two weeks. His first match back was against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulham_F.C." title="Fulham F.C.">Fulham</a> on 3 December, in which he played 70 minutes.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;" title=" since July 2008">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Linkrot" title="Wikipedia:Linkrot">dead link</a></i>]</span></sup> Rooney missed a total of ten games and finished the 2007–08 season with 18 goals (12 of them in the league), as United clinched both the Premier League and the Champions League, in which they defeated league rivals <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C." title="Chelsea F.C.">Chelsea</a> in the competition's first-ever <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_UEFA_Champions_League_Final" title="2008 UEFA Champions League Final">all-English final</a>.<br />
On 4 October 2008 in an away win over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackburn_Rovers_F.C." title="Blackburn Rovers F.C.">Blackburn Rovers</a>, Rooney became the youngest player in league history to make 200 appearances.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-26"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a></sup> On 14 January after scoring what turned out to be the only goal 54 seconds into the 1–0 win over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigan_Athletic_F.C." title="Wigan Athletic F.C.">Wigan Athletic</a>, Rooney limped off with a hamstring ailment in the eighth minute. His replacement, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_T%C3%A9vez" title="Carlos Tévez">Carlos Tévez</a>, was injured himself shortly after entering the game, but stayed on.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wigan_27-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-wigan-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup> Rooney was out for three weeks, missing one match apiece in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cup" title="Football League Cup">League Cup</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Cup" title="FA Cup">FA Cup</a>, along with four Premier League matches.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-telegraph2_28-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-telegraph2-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup>. On 25 April 2009, Rooney scored his final league goals of the season in one of the games of the season, United scored 5 goals in an emphatic second half display to come from 2–0 down winning the game 5–2. Rooney grabbed two goals, set up two and provided the assist that led to the penalty for United's first goal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Man_Utd_5-2_Tottenham_29-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-Man_Utd_5-2_Tottenham-29"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a></sup> Rooney ended the season with 20 goals in all competitions, behind Ronaldo as leading United scorer for the season. Once again, he managed 12 goals in the league.<br />
<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="2009.E2.80.9310">2009–10</span></h4>Rooney's start to the new campaign got off to great scoring ways, grabbing a goal in the 90th minute of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_FA_Community_Shield" title="2009 FA Community Shield">2009 Community Shield</a>, though United lost the game to Chelsea on penalties. He then scored the only goal of the opening game of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League_2009-10" title="Premier League 2009-10">2009–10</a> season against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_City_F.C." title="Birmingham City F.C.">Birmingham City</a>, taking his overall United tally to 99.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Man_Utd_1-0_Birmingham_30-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-Man_Utd_1-0_Birmingham-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup> He failed to score in the next game, a historic 1–0 defeat to the hands of newly-promoted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnley_F.C." title="Burnley F.C.">Burnley</a> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turf_Moor" title="Turf Moor">Turf Moor</a>. On 22 August 2009, he became the 20th Manchester United player to have scored over 100 goals for the club, finding the net twice in a 5–0 away win at Wigan Athletic, a game which also saw <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Owen" title="Michael Owen">Michael Owen</a> notch his first goal for United.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Wigan_0-5_Man_Utd_31-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-Wigan_0-5_Man_Utd-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup>.<br />
<div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wayne_Rooney_vs_Everton_2009.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="255" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Wayne_Rooney_vs_Everton_2009.jpg/170px-Wayne_Rooney_vs_Everton_2009.jpg" width="170" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wayne_Rooney_vs_Everton_2009.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Rooney in a November 2009 match against Everton.</div></div></div>On 29 August 2009, United played <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenal_F.C." title="Arsenal F.C.">Arsenal</a> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Trafford" title="Old Trafford">Old Trafford</a>. Rooney scored the equaliser from the penalty spot after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Arshavin" title="Andrei Arshavin">Andrei Arshavin</a> had put the Gunners ahead. The game finished 2–1 to Manchester United after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abou_Diaby" title="Abou Diaby">Abou Diaby</a> scored an own goal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Man_Utd_2-1_Arsenal_32-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-Man_Utd_2-1_Arsenal-32"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup> Five days later Rooney commented on his penalty against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenal_F.C." title="Arsenal F.C.">Arsenal</a>: "Everyone who watches me play knows I am an honest player, I play the game as honestly as I can. If the referee gives a penalty there is nothing you can do."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup> On 28 November 2009, Rooney scored his first hat-trick for three years in a 4–1 away victory against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth_F.C." title="Portsmouth F.C.">Portsmouth</a>, with two of them being penalties.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-34"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a></sup> On 27 December 2009, he was awarded <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_of_the_Match" title="Man of the Match">Man of the Match</a> against <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hull_City_F.C." title="Hull City F.C.">Hull</a>. He was involved in all the goals scored in the game, hitting the opener and then giving away the ball for Hull's equalizing penalty. He then forced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Dawson" title="Andy Dawson">Andy Dawson</a> into conceding an own goal and then set up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimitar_Berbatov" title="Dimitar Berbatov">Dimitar Berbatov</a> for United's third goal which gave them a 3–1 victory.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-35"><span>[</span>36<span>]</span></a></sup> On 30 December 2009, three days on from their victory over Hull, he grabbed another goal in United's 5–0 thrashing of Wigan in their final game of the decade.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-36"><span>[</span>37<span>]</span></a></sup> On 23 January 2010, Rooney scored all four goals in Manchester United's 4–0 win over Hull City; three of the goals came in the last 10 minutes of the match. This was the first time in his career that he bagged four in one match.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-37"><span>[</span>38<span>]</span></a></sup> On 27 January 2010, he continued his great scoring run by heading the winner in the second minute of stoppage time against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_derby" title="Manchester derby">derby</a> rivals <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_City_F.C." title="Manchester City F.C.">Manchester City</a>. This gave United a 4–3 aggregate win, taking them into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Football_League_Cup_Final" title="2010 Football League Cup Final">final</a>, it was his first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cup" title="Football League Cup">League Cup</a> goal since netting two in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Football_League_Cup_Final" title="2006 Football League Cup Final">2006 final</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-38"><span>[</span>39<span>]</span></a></sup> On 31 January 2010, Rooney scored his 100th <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League" title="Premier League">Premier League</a> goal in a 3–1 win over Arsenal for the first time in the league at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Stadium" title="Emirates Stadium">Emirates</a>, notably his first Premier League goal also came against Arsenal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-39"><span>[</span>40<span>]</span></a></sup> On 16 February 2010, Rooney hit his first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">European</a> goals of the season, scoring two headers in the 3–2 away win against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.C._Milan" title="A.C. Milan">A.C. Milan</a> in their first ever win against them at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Siro" title="San Siro">San Siro</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-40"><span>[</span>41<span>]</span></a></sup> On 28 February 2010, he scored another header against Aston Villa (his fifth consecutive headed goal in a row) which resulted in Manchester United winning the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carling_Cup" title="Carling Cup">Carling Cup</a> final 2–1.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-41"><span>[</span>42<span>]</span></a></sup> In the second leg of United's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">European</a> tie against <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Milan" title="AC Milan">AC Milan</a>, Rooney scored a brace in a resounding 4–0 home victory, taking his tally of goals this season to 30.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-42"><span>[</span>43<span>]</span></a></sup> He then added 2 more to his tally just 5 days later at Old Trafford, in a 3–0 win over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulham_F.C." title="Fulham F.C.">Fulham</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-43"><span>[</span>44<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On 30 March 2010, during United's Champions League Quarter-final first leg defeat against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Bayern_Munich" title="FC Bayern Munich">Bayern Munich</a> (at Munich's Allianz Arena), Rooney crumpled when he twisted his ankle in the last minute.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-44"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></a></sup> There were fears that he had received serious ligament damage or even a broken ankle, but it was announced that the injury was only slight ligament damage, and that he would be out for 2 to 3 weeks<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-injury_45-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-injury-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a></sup>, missing United's crunch match with Chelsea and the return leg against Munich next week.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-injury_45-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-injury-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a></sup> The team list for second leg of the Champions League Quarter-final yielded a massive surprise when Rooney was given a starting place in the United lineup.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2ndleg_46-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-2ndleg-46"><span>[</span>47<span>]</span></a></sup> Despite a 3–0 lead by the 41st minute, Munich snatched 2 goals back (with United forced down to 10 men after <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Da_Silva" title="Rafael Da Silva">Rafael Da Silva</a> was sent-off). Rooney was substituted after re-damaging his ankle. Manchester United, although they won the second leg 3–2, exited from the Champions League on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Away_goals_rule" title="Away goals rule">away goals rule</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2ndleg_46-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-2ndleg-46"><span>[</span>47<span>]</span></a></sup> On 25 April 2010, Rooney was named the 2010 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Players%27_Player_of_the_Year" title="PFA Players' Player of the Year">PFA Players' Player of the Year</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-47"><span>[</span>48<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="International_career">International career</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wayne_Rooney.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="191" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Wayne_Rooney.jpg/200px-Wayne_Rooney.jpg" width="200" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wayne_Rooney.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Rooney playing for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_national_football_team" title="England national football team">England</a></div></div></div>Rooney became the youngest player to play for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_national_football_team" title="England national football team">England</a> when he earned his first cap in a friendly against <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_national_football_%28soccer%29_team" title="Australia national football (soccer) team">Australia</a> on 12 February 2003 at seventeen, the same age in which he also became the youngest player to score an England goal. Arsenal youngster <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_Walcott" title="Theo Walcott">Theo Walcott</a> broke Rooney's appearance record by 36 days in June 2006.<br />
His first tournament action was at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_2004" title="Euro 2004">Euro 2004</a>, in which he became the youngest scorer in competition history on 17 June 2004, when he scored twice against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland_national_football_team" title="Switzerland national football team">Switzerland</a>; however, this record was topped by Swiss midfielder <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Vonlanthen" title="Johan Vonlanthen">Johan Vonlanthen</a> four days later. Rooney suffered an injury in the quarterfinal match against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal_national_football_team" title="Portugal national football team">Portugal</a> as England were eliminated on penalties.<br />
Following a foot injury in an April 2006 Premier League match, Rooney faced a race to fitness for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2006 FIFA World Cup">2006 World Cup</a>. England attempted to hasten his recovery with the use of an oxygen tent, which allowed Rooney to enter a group match against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad_and_Tobago_national_football_team" title="Trinidad and Tobago national football team">Trinidad and Tobago</a> and start the next match against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden_national_football_team" title="Sweden national football team">Sweden</a>. However, he never got back into game shape and went scoreless as England bowed out in the quarterfinals, again on penalty kicks.<br />
Rooney was red-carded in the 62nd minute of the quarterfinal for stamping on Portugal defender <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Carvalho" title="Ricardo Carvalho">Ricardo Carvalho</a> as both attempted to gain possession of the ball, an incident that occurred right in front of referee <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horacio_Elizondo" title="Horacio Elizondo">Horacio Elizondo</a>. Rooney's United teammate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristiano_Ronaldo" title="Cristiano Ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> openly protested his actions, and was in turn shoved by Rooney. Elizondo sent Rooney off, after which Ronaldo was seen winking at the Portugal bench. Rooney denied intentionally targeting Carvalho in a statement on 3 July, adding, <i>"I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano but am disappointed that he chose to get involved. I suppose I do, though, have to remember that on that particular occasion we were not teammates."</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-48"><span>[</span>49<span>]</span></a></sup> Elizondo confirmed the next day that Rooney was dismissed solely for the infraction on Carvalho.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-49"><span>[</span>50<span>]</span></a></sup> Rooney was fined <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_franc" title="Swiss franc">CHF</a>5,000 for the incident.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-50"><span>[</span>51<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Personal_life">Personal life</span></h2><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Family">Family</span></h3>Rooney met his wife, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleen_Rooney" title="Coleen Rooney">Coleen Rooney</a> (née McLoughlin), while both were in their final year of secondary school. They married on 12 June 2008 after six years of dating, during which Rooney admitted to soliciting prostitution in Liverpool in 2004. '"I was young and stupid. It was at a time when I was very young and immature and before I had settled down with Coleen."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-51"><span>[</span>52<span>]</span></a></sup> He has a tattoo of the words "<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Enough_Education_To_Perform" title="Just Enough Education To Perform">Just Enough Education To Perform</a>," the title of an album by his favorite band, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonics" title="Stereophonics">Stereophonics</a>; Coleen arranged for the group to play at their wedding reception.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-52"><span>[</span>53<span>]</span></a></sup> The wedding ran into some controversy with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church" title="Catholic Church">Catholic Church</a>. The couple, held a religious ceremony at La Cervara, a converted monastery near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genoa" title="Genoa">Genoa</a>, despite being warned by the local bishop's office against the plan. The bishop's office told the Rooneys that La Cervara is deconsecrated and not suitable for a wedding. It suggested a different church, five miles away. Nevertheless, the couple ignored the advice and Father Edward Quinn, their local priest from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croxteth" title="Croxteth">Croxteth</a>, presided over a ceremony in which rings were exchanged.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-53"><span>[</span>54<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
In April 2006, he was awarded £100,000 in libel damages from tabloids <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sun_%28newspaper%29" title="The Sun (newspaper)">The Sun</a></i> and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_of_the_World" title="News of the World">News of the World</a>,</i> who had claimed that he had assaulted Coleen in a nightclub. Rooney donated the money to charity.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-54"><span>[</span>55<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
The Rooneys reside in a £4.25 million mansion in the village of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prestbury,_Cheshire" title="Prestbury, Cheshire">Prestbury, Cheshire</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-55"><span>[</span>56<span>]</span></a></sup> which was built by a company owned by Dawn Ward, the wife of former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield_United_F.C." title="Sheffield United F.C.">Sheffield United</a> striker <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Ward" title="Ashley Ward">Ashley Ward</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-56"><span>[</span>57<span>]</span></a></sup> He also owns property in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Charlotte,_Florida" title="Port Charlotte, Florida">Port Charlotte, Florida</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-57"><span>[</span>58<span>]</span></a></sup> While Rooney was house hunting in Cheshire after signing with Manchester United, he spotted a pub sign that read <i>"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Brydges_Rodney,_1st_Baron_Rodney" title="George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney">Admiral Rodney</a>,"</i> which he misread as <i>"Admiral Rooney."</i> He nonetheless considered it a positive omen for his future home.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_58-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-autogenerated1-58"><span>[</span>59<span>]</span></a></sup> Rooney owns a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogue_de_Bordeaux" title="Dogue de Bordeaux">French mastiff</a> dog, which was reportedly bought for £1,250.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-59"><span>[</span>60<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Rooney's wife Coleen announced on 7 April 2009 that the couple were expecting their first baby, due in October 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-60"><span>[</span>61<span>]</span></a></sup> Coleen gave birth to their son, Kai Wayne Rooney, on 2 November 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-61"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-61"><span>[</span>62<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Commercial_interests">Commercial interests</span></h3>Rooney has endorsement deals with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike,_Inc." title="Nike, Inc.">Nike</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-62"><span>[</span>63<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia" title="Nokia">Nokia</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-63"><span>[</span>64<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company" title="Ford Motor Company">Ford</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asda" title="Asda">Asda</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-64"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-64"><span>[</span>65<span>]</span></a></sup> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola" title="Coca-Cola">Coca-Cola</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-65"><span>[</span>66<span>]</span></a></sup> He has appeared on five straight UK-version covers of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Arts" title="Electronic Arts">Electronic Arts</a>' <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_%28series%29" title="FIFA (series)"><i>FIFA</i> series</a> from <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_06" title="FIFA 06">FIFA 06</a></i> (2005) to <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_10" title="FIFA 10">FIFA 10</a></i> (2009).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-66"><span>[</span>67<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
On 9 March 2006, Rooney signed the largest sports book deal in publishing history with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HarperCollins" title="HarperCollins">HarperCollins</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-67"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-67"><span>[</span>68<span>]</span></a></sup> who granted him a £5 million advance plus royalties for a minimum of five books to be published over a twelve-year period. The first, <i>My Story So Far,</i> an autobiography ghostwritten by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_Davies" title="Hunter Davies">Hunter Davies</a>, was published after the World Cup. The second publication, <i>The Official Wayne Rooney Annual,</i> was aimed at the teenage market and edited by football journalist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hunt" title="Chris Hunt">Chris Hunt</a>.<br />
In July 2006, Rooney's lawyers went to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations" title="United Nations">United Nations</a>' <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Intellectual_Property_Organisation" title="World Intellectual Property Organisation">World Intellectual Property Organisation</a> to gain ownership of the Internet domain names <i>waynerooney.com</i> and <i>waynerooney.co.uk</i>, both of which Welsh actor Huw Marshall registered in 2002.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-68"><span>[</span>69<span>]</span></a></sup> Three months later, the WIPO awarded Rooney the rights to <i>waynerooney.com.</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-69"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-69"><span>[</span>70<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Paul_Stretford_controversy">Paul Stretford controversy</span></h3>In July 2002, while Rooney was with Everton, agent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Stretford" title="Paul Stretford">Paul Stretford</a> encouraged Rooney and his parents to enter the player into an eight-year contract with Proactive Sports Management. However, Rooney was already with another representation firm at the time, while Stretford's transaction went unreported to the FA, and he was thus charged with improper conduct.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-manublog_70-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-manublog-70"><span>[</span>71<span>]</span></a></sup> Stretford alleged in his October 2004 trial that he had secretly recorded boxing promoter John Hyland (an associate of Rooney's first agent) and two other men threatening and attempting to blackmail him for an undisclosed percentage of Rooney's earnings.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-telegraph_71-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-telegraph-71"><span>[</span>72<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
Stretford's case collapsed due to evidence that conflicted with his insistence that he had not signed Rooney, and on 9 July 2008, he was found guilty of <i>"making of false and/or misleading witness statements to police, and giving false and/or misleading testimony."</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-telegraph_71-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-telegraph-71"><span>[</span>72<span>]</span></a></sup> In addition, the contract to which Stretford had signed Rooney was two years longer than the limit allowed by the FA. Stretford was fined £300,000 and banned from working as a football agent for eighteen months, a verdict he promptly appealed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-telegraph_71-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-telegraph-71"><span>[</span>72<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Career_statistics">Career statistics</span></h2><table class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr> <th rowspan="2">Club</th> <th rowspan="2">Season</th> <th colspan="2">League</th> <th colspan="2">Cup</th> <th colspan="2">League Cup</th> <th colspan="2">Continental</th> <th colspan="2">Other<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-72"><span>[</span>73<span>]</span></a></sup></th> <th colspan="2">Total</th> </tr>
<tr> <th>Apps</th> <th>Goals</th> <th>Apps</th> <th>Goals</th> <th>Apps</th> <th>Goals</th> <th>Apps</th> <th>Goals</th> <th>Apps</th> <th>Goals</th> <th>Apps</th> <th>Goals</th> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everton_F.C." title="Everton F.C.">Everton</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002%E2%80%9303_FA_Premier_League" title="2002–03 FA Premier League">2002–03</a></td> <td>33</td> <td>6</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>3</td> <td>2</td> <td colspan="2">–</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>37</td> <td>8</td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003%E2%80%9304_FA_Premier_League" title="2003–04 FA Premier League">2003–04</a></td> <td>34</td> <td>9</td> <td>3</td> <td>0</td> <td>3</td> <td>0</td> <td colspan="2">–</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>40</td> <td>9</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Total</th> <th>67</th> <th>15</th> <th>4</th> <th>0</th> <th>6</th> <th>2</th> <th colspan="2">–</th> <th>0</th> <th>0</th> <th>77</th> <th>17</th> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_United_F.C." title="Manchester United F.C.">Manchester United</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004%E2%80%9305_FA_Premier_League" title="2004–05 FA Premier League">2004–05</a></td> <td>29</td> <td>11</td> <td>6</td> <td>3</td> <td>2</td> <td>0</td> <td>6</td> <td>3</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>43</td> <td>17</td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_FA_Premier_League" title="2005–06 FA Premier League">2005–06</a></td> <td>36</td> <td>16</td> <td>3</td> <td>0</td> <td>4</td> <td>2</td> <td>5</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>48</td> <td>19</td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006%E2%80%9307_FA_Premier_League" title="2006–07 FA Premier League">2006–07</a></td> <td>35</td> <td>14</td> <td>7</td> <td>5</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>12</td> <td>4</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>55</td> <td>23</td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%9308_Premier_League" title="2007–08 Premier League">2007–08</a></td> <td>27</td> <td>12</td> <td>4</td> <td>2</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>11</td> <td>4</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>43</td> <td>18</td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9309_Premier_League" title="2008–09 Premier League">2008–09</a></td> <td>30</td> <td>12</td> <td>2</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>13</td> <td>4</td> <td>3</td> <td>3</td> <td>49</td> <td>20</td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Premier_League" title="2009–10 Premier League">2009–10</a></td> <td>32</td> <td>26</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>3</td> <td>2</td> <td>7</td> <td>5</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>44</td> <td>34</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Total</th> <th>189</th> <th>91</th> <th>23</th> <th>11</th> <th>11</th> <th>4</th> <th>54</th> <th>21</th> <th>5</th> <th>4</th> <th>282</th> <th>131</th> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2">Career total</th> <th>256</th> <th>106</th> <th>27</th> <th>11</th> <th>17</th> <th>6</th> <th>54</th> <th>21</th> <th>5</th> <th>4</th> <th>359</th> <th>148</th> </tr>
</tbody></table><i>Statistics accurate as of match played 09 May 2010</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-73"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#cite_note-73"><span>[</span>74<span>]</span></a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="International_goals">International goals</span></h3><table border="1" class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" id="collapsibleTable0" style="border: 1px none; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr> <th colspan="7" width="250"><span class="collapseButton">[<a href="javascript:collapseTable(0);" id="collapseButton0">show</a>]</span>Wayne Rooney international goals<a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_rooney#" onclick="ts_resortTable(this);return false;"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></th> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>1</td> <td>6 September 2003</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skopje" title="Skopje">Skopje</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Macedonia" title="Republic of Macedonia">Republic of Macedonia</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Flag_of_Macedonia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Macedonia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_national_football_team" title="Macedonia national football team">Macedonia</a></td> <td>2–1</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_UEFA_European_Football_Championship" title="2004 UEFA European Football Championship">UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>2</td> <td>10 September 2003</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester" title="Manchester">Manchester</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="13" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Flag_of_Liechtenstein.svg/22px-Flag_of_Liechtenstein.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liechtenstein_national_football_team" title="Liechtenstein national football team">Liechtenstein</a></td> <td>2–0</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_UEFA_European_Football_Championship" title="2004 UEFA European Football Championship">UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>3</td> <td>16 November 2003</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester" title="Manchester">Manchester</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="17" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Flag_of_Denmark.svg/22px-Flag_of_Denmark.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark_national_football_team" title="Denmark national football team">Denmark</a></td> <td>3–2</td> <td>Loss</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_match" title="Friendly match">Friendly</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>4</td> <td>5 June 2004</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester" title="Manchester">Manchester</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="16" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Flag_of_Iceland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Iceland.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland_national_football_team" title="Iceland national football team">Iceland</a></td> <td>6–1</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_match" title="Friendly match">Friendly</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>5</td> <td>5 June 2004</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester" title="Manchester">Manchester</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="16" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Flag_of_Iceland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Iceland.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland_national_football_team" title="Iceland national football team">Iceland</a></td> <td>6–1</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_match" title="Friendly match">Friendly</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>6</td> <td>17 June 2004</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coimbra" title="Coimbra">Coimbra</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="20" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Switzerland.svg/20px-Flag_of_Switzerland.svg.png" width="20" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland_national_football_team" title="Switzerland national football team">Switzerland</a></td> <td>3–0</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_2004" title="Euro 2004">UEFA Euro 2004</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>7</td> <td>17 June 2004</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coimbra" title="Coimbra">Coimbra</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="20" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Switzerland.svg/20px-Flag_of_Switzerland.svg.png" width="20" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland_national_football_team" title="Switzerland national football team">Switzerland</a></td> <td>3–0</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_2004" title="Euro 2004">UEFA Euro 2004</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>8</td> <td>21 June 2004</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon" title="Lisbon">Lisbon</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Croatia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Croatia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia_national_football_team" title="Croatia national football team">Croatia</a></td> <td>4–2</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_2004" title="Euro 2004">UEFA Euro 2004</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>9</td> <td>21 June 2004</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon" title="Lisbon">Lisbon</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Croatia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Croatia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia_national_football_team" title="Croatia national football team">Croatia</a></td> <td>4–2</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_2004" title="Euro 2004">UEFA Euro 2004</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>10</td> <td>17 August 2005</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen" title="Copenhagen">Copenhagen</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark" title="Denmark">Denmark</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="17" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Flag_of_Denmark.svg/22px-Flag_of_Denmark.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark_national_football_team" title="Denmark national football team">Denmark</a></td> <td>4–1</td> <td>Loss</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_match" title="Friendly match">Friendly</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>11</td> <td>12 November 2005</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva" title="Geneva">Geneva</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland" title="Switzerland">Switzerland</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Flag_of_Argentina.svg/22px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina_national_football_team" title="Argentina national football team">Argentina</a></td> <td>3–2</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_match" title="Friendly match">Friendly</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>12</td> <td>15 November 2006</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam" title="Amsterdam">Amsterdam</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands" title="Netherlands">Netherlands</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_national_football_team" title="Netherlands national football team">Netherlands</a></td> <td>1–1</td> <td>Draw</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_match" title="Friendly match">Friendly</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>13</td> <td>13 October 2007</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="14" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Flag_of_Estonia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Estonia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonia_national_football_team" title="Estonia national football team">Estonia</a></td> <td>3–0</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_UEFA_European_Football_Championship" title="2008 UEFA European Football Championship">UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>14</td> <td>17 October 2007</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow" title="Moscow">Moscow</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_national_football_team" title="Russia national football team">Russia</a></td> <td>2–1</td> <td>Loss</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_UEFA_European_Football_Championship" title="2008 UEFA European Football Championship">UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>15</td> <td>10 September 2008</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zagreb" title="Zagreb">Zagreb</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia" title="Croatia">Croatia</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Croatia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Croatia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia_national_football_team" title="Croatia national football team">Croatia</a></td> <td>4–1</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2010 FIFA World Cup">2010 World Cup qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>16</td> <td>12 October 2008</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan_national_football_team" title="Kazakhstan national football team">Kazakhstan</a></td> <td>5–1</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2010 FIFA World Cup">2010 World Cup qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>17</td> <td>12 October 2008</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan_national_football_team" title="Kazakhstan national football team">Kazakhstan</a></td> <td>5–1</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2010 FIFA World Cup">2010 World Cup qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>18</td> <td>15 October 2008</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk" title="Minsk">Minsk</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus" title="Belarus">Belarus</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Flag_of_Belarus.svg/22px-Flag_of_Belarus.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus_national_football_team" title="Belarus national football team">Belarus</a></td> <td>3–1</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2010 FIFA World Cup">2010 World Cup qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>19</td> <td>15 October 2008</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk" title="Minsk">Minsk</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus" title="Belarus">Belarus</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Flag_of_Belarus.svg/22px-Flag_of_Belarus.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus_national_football_team" title="Belarus national football team">Belarus</a></td> <td>3–1</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2010 FIFA World Cup">2010 World Cup qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>20</td> <td>28 March 2009</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Flag_of_Slovakia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Slovakia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia_national_football_team" title="Slovakia national football team">Slovakia</a></td> <td>4–0</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_match" title="Friendly match">Friendly</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>21</td> <td>28 March 2009</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Flag_of_Slovakia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Slovakia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia_national_football_team" title="Slovakia national football team">Slovakia</a></td> <td>4–0</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_match" title="Friendly match">Friendly</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>22</td> <td>6 June 2009</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almaty" title="Almaty">Almaty</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan" title="Kazakhstan">Kazakhstan</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan_national_football_team" title="Kazakhstan national football team">Kazakhstan</a></td> <td>4–0</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2010 FIFA World Cup">2010 World Cup qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>23</td> <td>10 June 2009</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Flag_of_Andorra.svg/22px-Flag_of_Andorra.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andorra_national_football_team" title="Andorra national football team">Andorra</a></td> <td>6–0</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2010 FIFA World Cup">2010 World Cup qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>24</td> <td>10 June 2009</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="15" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Flag_of_Andorra.svg/22px-Flag_of_Andorra.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andorra_national_football_team" title="Andorra national football team">Andorra</a></td> <td>6–0</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2010 FIFA World Cup">2010 World Cup qualifying</a></td> </tr>
<tr style="display: none;"> <td>25</td> <td>9 September 2009</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" title="London">London</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a></td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" class="thumbborder" height="11" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Croatia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Croatia.svg.png" width="22" /> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia_national_football_team" title="Croatia national football team">Croatia</a></td> <td>5–1</td> <td>Win</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2010 FIFA World Cup">2010 World Cup qualifying</a></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Honours">Honours</span></h2><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Club">Club</span></h3><h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Manchester_United_2">Manchester United</span></h4><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League" title="Premier League">Premier League</a> (3): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006%E2%80%9307_FA_Premier_League" title="2006–07 FA Premier League">2006–07</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%9308_Premier_League" title="2007–08 Premier League">2007–08</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9309_Premier_League" title="2008–09 Premier League">2008–09</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Community_Shield" title="FA Community Shield">Community Shield</a> (1): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_FA_Community_Shield" title="2007 FA Community Shield">2007</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cup" title="Football League Cup">League Cup</a> (2): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Football_League_Cup_Final" title="2006 Football League Cup Final">2005–06</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Football_League_Cup" title="2009–10 Football League Cup">2009–10</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a> (1): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_UEFA_Champions_League_Final" title="2008 UEFA Champions League Final">2007–08</a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_Club_World_Cup" title="FIFA Club World Cup">FIFA Club World Cup</a> (1): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_FIFA_Club_World_Cup_Final" title="2008 FIFA Club World Cup Final">2008</a></li>
</ul><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Individual">Individual</span></h3><ul><li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Sports_Personality_of_the_Year_Young_Personality" title="BBC Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality">BBC Sports Young Personality of the Year</a> (1): 2002</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bravo_Award" title="Bravo Award">Bravo Award</a> (1): 2003</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2004" title="UEFA Euro 2004">UEFA Euro 2004</a> Team of the Tournament</li>
<li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFPro_World_Young_Player_of_the_Year" title="FIFPro World Young Player of the Year">FIFPro World Young Player of the Year</a> (1): 2004–05</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Matt_Busby_Player_of_the_Year" title="Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year">Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year</a> (2): 2005–06, 2009–10</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FWA_Footballer_of_the_Year" title="FWA Footballer of the Year">FWA Footballer of the Year</a> (1): 2009–10</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Players%27_Player_of_the_Year" title="PFA Players' Player of the Year">PFA Players' Player of the Year</a> (1): 2009–10</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Young_Player_of_the_Year" title="PFA Young Player of the Year">PFA Young Player of the Year</a> (2): 2004–05, 2005–06</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Fans%27_Player_of_the_Year" title="PFA Fans' Player of the Year">PFA Fans' Player of the Year</a> (2): 2005–06, 2009–10</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Team_of_the_Year" title="PFA Team of the Year">PFA Premier League Team of the Year</a> (2): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Team_of_the_Year#Premier_League_14" title="PFA Team of the Year">2005–06</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Team_of_the_Year#Premier_League_18" title="PFA Team of the Year">2009–10</a></li>
<li><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Premier_League_Player_of_the_Month" title="FA Premier League Player of the Month">FA Premier League Player of the Month</a> (5): February 2005, December 2005, March 2006, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%9308_Premier_League#Monthly_awards" title="2007–08 Premier League">October 2007</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Premier_League#Monthly_awards" title="2009–10 Premier League">January 2010</a></li>
<li>Barclays Player of the Season (1): 2009–10</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_Club_World_Cup" title="FIFA Club World Cup">FIFA Club World Cup</a> Golden Ball (1): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_FIFA_Club_World_Cup" title="2008 FIFA Club World Cup">2008</a></li>
<li>England Player of the Year (2): 2008, 2009</li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-67194685006542283422010-05-17T05:47:00.000-07:002010-05-17T05:47:42.499-07:00A LOVE TALEI have been loved but never have I loved. So I weep to save my soul. Weeping will not save you! A voice said to me,neither would working save you. Though my face were bathed in tears,that could not allay my fears & could not wash my sins of years. I knew weeping could not save me! For I have sinned in my inability to reciprocate the love that washed my heart clean. So I waited to condole my soul,but waiting will also not save me. Helpless,guilty,I lie. In my ears is mercy's cry,if I wait I can but die,waiting could never save me. So I ran in search for believe,so I could reciprocate love,hoping I could love until I see an apple on an orange tree. Soon enough my eye stomached a creature I have never seen before. Incredible it was. I then screamed aloud,'I have seen nature among mem'. The greatest of men he is. Clothed with water & powdered with pastures. Empowered with the strength of a hundred men. Cherubic is his silver crafted body which an angelic maiden could die for. He breathes fire & bath with snow. His hair stands firm like the statu of liberty. His eye sparkles like diamond in sunlight & his eye ball shines like the midnight stars. For he was a natured spartan. As I marvelled at this nature-like creature,I saw the sun on the face of an innocent maiden whose whose unriped sense nutured a blameless mind. Slender & tender in her crave for love. Carved like an hot chocolate lake with the shape of an hour-glass which sweetness could quench the hunger of a fearless soldier & her sea-like eye could break the rocky heart of a soldier at war front. I gazed in curiosity at the spartan & maiden as their feet met at an 'abicus' garden,where the spartan crave for the maiden like a mad man craving for madness. Their sight socket connected like copper wire fused to a junction box & then they fell into a love trance with no holdbacks, then they knew they were betrothed. With a step closer she surrender to his adore like a rodent caught in a trap. 'But only time is capable of understanding how great their love for each other really is' I said to myself in believe.<br />
<br />
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</script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-51390618106334135852010-05-16T05:20:00.000-07:002010-05-16T05:32:48.888-07:00THIS IS IT, BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson">Michael Jackson</a></h1><div></div><div class="metadata topicon" id="protected-icon" style="display: none; right: 55px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Protection_policy#semi" title="This article is semi-protected indefinitely in response to an ongoing high risk of vandalism."><img alt="This article is semi-protected indefinitely in response to an ongoing high risk of vandalism." height="20" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Padlock-silver-medium.svg/20px-Padlock-silver-medium.svg.png" width="20" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><table class="infobox vcard" style="font-size: 88%; line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; width: 22em;"><tbody>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: rgb(240, 230, 140) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-size: 125%; text-align: center;"><span class="fn">Michael Jackson</span></th> </tr>
<tr> <td class="" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_1984.jpg" title="At the White House in 1984"><img alt="" height="335" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Michael_Jackson_1984.jpg/220px-Michael_Jackson_1984.jpg" width="220" /></a><br />
<div><small>At <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_House" title="The White House">the White House</a> in 1984</small></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: rgb(240, 230, 140) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Background information</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;">Birth name</th> <td class="nickname">Michael Joseph Jackson</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Born</th> <td>August 29, 1958<span style="display: none;">(<span class="bday">1958-08-29</span>)</span><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary,_Indiana" title="Gary, Indiana">Gary</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana" title="Indiana">Indiana</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">U.S.</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Died</th> <td>June 25, 2009 (aged 50)<br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles,_California" title="Los Angeles, California">Los Angeles</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a>, U.S.</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_genre" title="Music genre">Genres</a></th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_music" title="Pop music">Pop</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_music" title="Rock music">rock</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_jack_swing" title="New jack swing">new jack swing</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_contemporary" title="Adult contemporary">adult contemporary</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel" title="Gospel">gospel</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_R%26B" title="Contemporary R&B">R&B</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_music" title="Soul music">soul</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk" title="Funk">funk</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;">Occupations</th> <td>Singer, songwriter, record producer, composer, dancer, choreographer, actor, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_activist" title="Peace activist">peace activist</a>, businessman, philanthropist</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_instrument" title="Musical instrument">Instruments</a></th> <td class="note">Vocals, guitar, beatbox, piano, drums</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;">Years active</th> <td>1964–2009</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_label" title="Record label">Labels</a></th> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motown_Records" title="Motown Records">Motown</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Records" title="Epic Records">Epic</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_Recordings" title="Legacy Recordings">Legacy</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Associated acts</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jackson_5" title="The Jackson 5">The Jackson 5</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Website</th> <td><a class="external text" href="http://www.michaeljackson.com/" rel="nofollow">www.michaeljackson.com</a></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><br />
<b>Michael Joseph Jackson</b> (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_of_the_United_States" title="People of the United States">American</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer-songwriter" title="Singer-songwriter">singer-songwriter</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancer" title="Dancer">dancer</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actor" title="Actor">actor</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choreographer" title="Choreographer">choreographer</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poet" title="Poet">poet</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Businessperson" title="Businessperson">businessman</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropist" title="Philanthropist">philanthropist</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_producer" title="Record producer">record producer</a>. Referred to as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorific_nicknames_in_popular_music" title="Honorific nicknames in popular music">King of Pop</a>, he is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup> as well as one of the most influential.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup> His unrivaled contribution to music, dance and fashion,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jackson:_A_Fashion_Retrospective_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Jackson:_A_Fashion_Retrospective-4">[5]</a></sup> and a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_culture" title="Popular culture">popular culture</a> for over four decades.<br />
Jackson made his debut, alongside his brothers, in 1964 as the lead singer of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jackson_5" title="The Jackson 5">The Jackson 5</a>. His solo career started in 1971, and resulted in ten studio albums. Of these, the 1982 album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28album%29" title="Thriller (album)">Thriller</a></i> became the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums_worldwide" title="List of best-selling albums worldwide">best-selling album</a> of all time, having sold more than 110 million copies worldwide. Four of his other albums <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off_the_Wall" title="Off the Wall">Off the Wall</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad" title="Bad">Bad</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous" title="Dangerous">Dangerous</a> <i>and</i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIStory:_Past,_Present_and_Future,_Book_I" title="HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I">HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I</a> (best-selling double-album of all time by a solo artist) rank among the world's best-sellers making Jackson the artist with the most <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums_worldwide" title="List of best-selling albums worldwide">best-selling albums</a>. His 1997 release,<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_on_the_Dance_Floor:_HIStory_in_the_Mix" title="Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix">Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix</a></i>, is the best selling <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_remix_albums_worldwide" title="List of best-selling remix albums worldwide">remix album</a> of all time .<br />
Jackson is credited with elevating the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_video" title="Music video">music video</a> from a mere promotional tool into an art form. His created groundbreaking videos for songs such as <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean" title="Billie Jean">Billie Jean</a></i>, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_It" title="Beat It">Beat It</a></i> and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28song%29" title="Thriller (song)">Thriller</a></i>—the last of which has been voted as the greatest <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_video" title="Music video">music video</a> of all time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup> The video for "Thriller" is the only music video inducted into the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_film_registry" title="National film registry">national film registry</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress" title="Library of Congress">Library of Congress</a> where induction are preserved forever.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Michael_Jackson_7-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Michael_Jackson-7">[8]</a></sup>He was the first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American" title="African American">African American</a> artist to amass a strong <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossover_%28music%29" title="Crossover (music)">crossover</a> following on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV" title="MTV">MTV</a>. Jackson's music videos have been credited with turning <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV" title="MTV">MTV</a> and Cable TV into successful ventures.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup> He popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot_%28dance%29" title="Robot (dance)">robot</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonwalk_%28dance%29" title="Moonwalk (dance)">moonwalk</a>. His distinctive musical style, vocal style, and choreography continue to transcend generational, racial and cultural boundaries.<br />
Jackson has been inducted 12 times into various <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_halls_and_walks_of_fame" title="List of halls and walks of fame">music halls of fame</a>, more than any other act. He is one of the very few artists to have been inducted into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame" title="Rock and Roll Hall of Fame">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a> twice. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Records_and_achievements_of_Michael_Jackson" title="Records and achievements of Michael Jackson">Other achievements</a> include 13 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness_World_Records" title="Guinness World Records">Guinness World Records</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guinness_Records_2002_p36_10-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Guinness_Records_2002_p36-10">[11]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guinness_Records_2002_pp145.E2.80.93147_11-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Guinness_Records_2002_pp145.E2.80.93147-11">[12]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guinness_Records_2005_p193_12-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Guinness_Records_2005_p193-12">[13]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jackson_receives_his_world_records_13-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Jackson_receives_his_world_records-13">[14]</a></sup>(more than any other artist and including the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time); 15 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award" title="Grammy Award">Grammy Awards</a>, including the <i>Living Legend Award</i> and the <i>Lifetime Achievement Award</i>; 26 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Music_Awards" title="American Music Awards">American Music Awards</a>(more than any other artist, and including recognition as <i>Artist of the Century</i>; 17 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_artists_who_reached_number_one_in_the_United_States#J" title="List of artists who reached number one in the United States">number-one singles in the United States</a> (including four as a member of The Jackson 5). <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Singles_14-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Singles-14">[15]</a></sup> and over 780 million record sales globally.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Michael_Jackson_album_sales_soar_16-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Michael_Jackson_album_sales_soar-16">[17]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup><br />
Jackson's personal life and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_relationships_of_Michael_Jackson" title="Personal relationships of Michael Jackson">relationships</a> generated controversy for years. His <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson%27s_health_and_appearance" title="Michael Jackson's health and appearance">appearance</a> began to change in the mid-1980s, and his varying nasal structure and skin color attracted much media speculation. In 1993 he was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_child_sexual_abuse_accusations_against_Michael_Jackson" title="1993 child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson">accused</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_sexual_abuse" title="Child sexual abuse">child sexual abuse</a>, though no formal charges were brought. In 2005 he was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_v._Jackson" title="People v. Jackson">tried and acquitted</a> of similar allegations. Jackson <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Michael_Jackson" title="Death of Michael Jackson">died</a> on June 25, 2009 from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_overdose" title="Drug overdose">drug overdose</a>, amidst preparations for a series of concerts entitled <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_It_%28Michael_Jackson_concerts%29" title="This Is It (Michael Jackson concerts)"><i>This Is It</i></a>. Before his death, Jackson had reportedly been administered drugs such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propofol" title="Propofol">propofol</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorazepam" title="Lorazepam">lorazepam</a>. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_County_Coroner%27s_Office" title="Los Angeles County Coroner's Office">Los Angeles County Coroner</a> concluded that his death was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homicide" title="Homicide">homicide</a>. His personal physician <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plea" title="Plea">pleaded</a> not guilty to charges of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manslaughter#Involuntary_manslaughter" title="Manslaughter">involuntary manslaughter</a>. Jackson's death triggered a global outpouring of grief, and as many as a billion people around the world may have watched <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_memorial_service" title="Michael Jackson memorial service">his public memorial service</a> on live television.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup> On March 16, 2010, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Music_Entertainment" title="Sony Music Entertainment">Sony Music Entertainment</a> signed a record-breaking $250 million deal with Jackson's estate to retain distribution rights to his recordings until 2017 and release seven posthumous albums over the next decade.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wallstreet-sony_20-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-wallstreet-sony-20">[21]</a></sup><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><div id="toctitle"><h2>Contents</h2><span class="toctoggle">[<a class="internal" href="javascript:toggleToc()" id="togglelink">hide</a>]</span></div><ul><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Life_and_career"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Life and career</span></a> <br />
<ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Early_life_and_The_Jackson_5_.281958.E2.80.931975.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Early life and The Jackson 5 (1958–1975)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Move_to_Epic_and_Off_the_Wall_.281975.E2.80.931981.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Move to Epic and Off the Wall (1975–1981)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Thriller_and_Motown_25_.281982.E2.80.9383.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.3</span> <span class="toctext">Thriller and Motown 25 (1982–83)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Pepsi.2C_.22We_Are_the_World.22_and_business_career_.281984.E2.80.9385.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.4</span> <span class="toctext">Pepsi, "We Are the World" and business career (1984–85)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Appearance.2C_tabloids.2C_Bad.2C_autobiography_and_films_.281986.E2.80.9387.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.5</span> <span class="toctext">Appearance, tabloids, Bad, autobiography and films (1986–87)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Autobiography.2C_changing_appearance_and_Neverland_.281988.E2.80.931990.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.6</span> <span class="toctext">Autobiography, changing appearance and Neverland (1988–1990)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Dangerous.2C_Heal_the_World_Foundation.2C_Poetry_and_Super_Bowl_XXVII_.281991.E2.80.9393.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.7</span> <span class="toctext">Dangerous, Heal the World Foundation, Poetry and Super Bowl XXVII (1991–93)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#First_child_sexual_abuse_allegations_and_first_marriage_.281993-94.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.8</span> <span class="toctext">First child sexual abuse allegations and first marriage (1993-94)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#HIStory.2C_second_marriage_and_fatherhood_.281995.E2.80.9399.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.9</span> <span class="toctext">HIStory, second marriage and fatherhood (1995–99)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Label_dispute.2C_Invincible_and_third_child_.282000.E2.80.9303.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.10</span> <span class="toctext">Label dispute, Invincible and third child (2000–03)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Second_child_sexual_abuse_allegations_.282003.E2.80.9305.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.11</span> <span class="toctext">Second child sexual abuse allegations (2003–05)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Final_years_.282006.E2.80.9309.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.12</span> <span class="toctext">Final years (2006–09)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Posthumous_works"><span class="tocnumber">1.13</span> <span class="toctext">Posthumous works</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Death_and_memorial"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Death and memorial</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Artistry"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Artistry</span></a> <br />
<ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Influences"><span class="tocnumber">3.1</span> <span class="toctext">Influences</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Musical_themes_and_genres"><span class="tocnumber">3.2</span> <span class="toctext">Musical themes and genres</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Vocal_style"><span class="tocnumber">3.3</span> <span class="toctext">Vocal style</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Music_videos_and_choreography"><span class="tocnumber">3.4</span> <span class="toctext">Music videos and choreography</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Legacy_and_influence"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Legacy and influence</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Honors_and_Awards"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Honors and Awards</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Lifetime_Earnings"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Lifetime Earnings</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Discography"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">Discography</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Filmography"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">Filmography</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Tours"><span class="tocnumber">9</span> <span class="toctext">Tours</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-27"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">10</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Citations"><span class="tocnumber">11</span> <span class="toctext">Citations</span></a> <br />
<ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-29"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Footnotes"><span class="tocnumber">11.1</span> <span class="toctext">Footnotes</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Bibliography"><span class="tocnumber">11.2</span> <span class="toctext">Bibliography</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-31"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#Further_reading"><span class="tocnumber">12</span> <span class="toctext">Further reading</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-32"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">13</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Life_and_career">Life and career</span></h2><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Early_life_and_The_Jackson_5_.281958.E2.80.931975.29">Early life and The Jackson 5 (1958–1975)</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2300_Jackson_Street_Yuksel.jpg"><img alt="A house surrounded by a yellow colored grass, flowers, trees, and a light blue colored sky can be seen. The house has white walls, two windows, a white door with a black door frame, and a black roof. In front of the house there is a walk way, yellow grass and multiple colored flowers and memorabilia. In the background, there are two tall trees and a light blue colored sky that has multiple clouds." class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e8/2300_Jackson_Street_Yuksel.jpg/220px-2300_Jackson_Street_Yuksel.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2300_Jackson_Street_Yuksel.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Jackson's childhood home in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary,_Indiana" title="Gary, Indiana">Gary, Indiana</a>, showing floral tributes after his death.</div></div></div>Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, the eighth of ten children to an African American working-class family, in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary,_Indiana" title="Gary, Indiana">Gary, Indiana</a>, an industrial suburb of Chicago. His mother, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Jackson" title="Katherine Jackson">Katherine Esther Scruse</a>, was a devout <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses" title="Jehovah's Witnesses">Jehovah's Witness</a>, and his father, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Jackson_%28manager%29" title="Joe Jackson (manager)">Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson</a>, a steel mill worker who performed with an R&B band called The Falcons. Jackson had three sisters: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebbie_Jackson" title="Rebbie Jackson">Rebbie</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Toya_Jackson" title="La Toya Jackson">La Toya</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Jackson" title="Janet Jackson">Janet</a>, and six brothers: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Jackson" title="Jackie Jackson">Jackie</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_Jackson" title="Tito Jackson">Tito</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_Jackson" title="Jermaine Jackson">Jermaine</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlon_Jackson" title="Marlon Jackson">Marlon</a>, Brandon (Marlon's twin brother, who died shortly after birth)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Jackson_%28musician%29" title="Randy Jackson (musician)">Randy</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_20_22-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_20-22">[23]</a></sup><br />
Jackson had a troubled relationship with his father, Joe. He stated that he was physically and emotionally abused during incessant rehearsals, with whippings and name-calling, though also crediting his father's strict discipline with playing a large role in his success.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MJ.27s_secret_childhood_23-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-MJ.27s_secret_childhood-23">[24]</a></sup> In one altercation recalled by Marlon, Joseph held Michael upside down by one leg and "pummeled him over and over again with his hand, hitting him on his back and buttocks".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_20-22_24-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_20-22-24">[25]</a></sup> Joseph would also grab his sons and push them with great force against the wall. One night while Michael was asleep, Joseph climbed into his room through the bedroom window, wearing a fright mask and screamed, in hopes to scare him. He said he wanted to teach the children not to leave the window open when they went to sleep. For years afterward, Jackson said he suffered nightmares about being kidnapped from his bedroom.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_20-22_24-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_20-22-24">[25]</a></sup> Joseph acknowledged in 2003 that he regularly whipped Jackson as a child.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-news.bbc.co.uk_25-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-news.bbc.co.uk-25">[26]</a></sup><br />
Jackson first spoke openly about his childhood abuse in an interview with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey" title="Oprah Winfrey">Oprah Winfrey</a> broadcast on February 10, 1993 live around the world. He admitted that he had often cried from loneliness and he would vomit on the sight of his father. Jackson's father was also said to have verbally abused Jackson, saying that he had a fat nose on numerous occasions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-26">[27]</a></sup> In fact, Michael Jackson's deep dissatisfaction with his appearance, his nightmares and chronic sleep problems, his tendency to remain hyper-compliant especially with his father, and to remain child-like throughout his adult life are in many ways consistent with the effects of this chronic maltreatment he endured as a young child.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-27">[28]</a></sup> In an interview with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Bashir" title="Martin Bashir">Martin Bashir</a>, later included in the 2003 broadcast of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_with_Michael_Jackson" title="Living with Michael Jackson">Living with Michael Jackson</a></i>, Jackson acknowledged that his father hurt him when he was a child, but was nonetheless a "genius," as he admitted his father's strict discipline played a huge role in his success. When Bashir dismissed the positive remark and continued asking about beatings, Jackson put his hand over his face and objected to the questions. He recalled that Joseph sat in a chair with a belt in his hand as he and his siblings rehearsed, and that "if you didn't do it the right way, he would tear you up, really get you".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-28">[29]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lewis_165-168_29-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-lewis_165-168-29">[30]</a></sup><br />
He showed talent early in his life, performing in front of classmates during a Christmas recital in kindergarten. In 1964, he and Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers – a band formed by brothers Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine—as backup musicians playing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conga" title="Conga">congas</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tambourine" title="Tambourine">tambourine</a>. Jackson later began performing backup vocals and dancing. When he was eight, Jackson began sharing the lead vocals with his older brother Jermaine, and the group's name was changed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jackson_5" title="The Jackson 5">The Jackson 5</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_20_22-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_20-22">[23]</a></sup> The band toured <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwestern_United_States" title="Midwestern United States">the Midwest</a> extensively from 1966 to 1968, frequently performing at a string of black clubs known as the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitlin%27_circuit" title="Chitlin' circuit">chitlin' circuit</a>", where they often opened <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striptease" title="Striptease">stripteases</a> and other adult acts. In 1966, they won a major local talent show with renditions of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motown_Records" title="Motown Records">Motown</a> hits and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown" title="James Brown">James Brown</a>'s "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Got_You_%28I_Feel_Good%29" title="I Got You (I Feel Good)">I Got You (I Feel Good)</a>", led by Michael.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RRHF_30-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RRHF-30">[31]</a></sup><br />
The Jackson 5 recorded several songs, including "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boy_%28The_Jackson_5_song%29" title="Big Boy (The Jackson 5 song)">Big Boy</a>", for the local record label <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steeltown_Records" title="Steeltown Records">Steeltown</a> in 1967, before signing with Motown Records in 1968.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_20_22-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_20-22">[23]</a></sup> <i>Rolling Stone</i> magazine later described the young Michael as "a prodigy" with "overwhelming musical gifts," writing that he "quickly emerged as the main draw and lead singer."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rollingstone_31-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-rollingstone-31">[32]</a></sup> The group set a chart record when its first four singles ("<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Want_You_Back" title="I Want You Back">I Want You Back</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_%28song%29" title="ABC (song)">ABC</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Love_You_Save" title="The Love You Save">The Love You Save</a>", and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27ll_Be_There_%28The_Jackson_5_song%29" title="I'll Be There (The Jackson 5 song)">I'll Be There</a>") peaked at number one on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100" title="Billboard Hot 100"><i>Billboard</i> Hot 100</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_20_22-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_20-22">[23]</a></sup> Between 1972 and 1975, Jackson released four solo studio albums with Motown, among them <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Got_to_Be_There" title="Got to Be There">Got to Be There</a></i> and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_%28album%29" title="Ben (album)">Ben</a></i>, released as part of the Jackson 5 franchise, and producing successful singles such as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Got_to_Be_There_%28song%29" title="Got to Be There (song)">Got to Be There</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_%28song%29" title="Ben (song)">Ben</a>", and a remake of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Day" title="Bobby Day">Bobby Day</a>'s "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockin%27_Robin_%28song%29" title="Rockin' Robin (song)">Rockin' Robin</a>". The group's sales began declining in 1973, and the band members chafed under Motown's strict refusal to allow them creative control or input. Although they scored several top 40 hits, including the top 5 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco" title="Disco">disco</a> single "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_Machine" title="Dancing Machine">Dancing Machine</a>" and the top 20 hit "<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_Love" title="I Am Love">I Am Love</a>", the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_22_32-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_22-32">[33]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Move_to_Epic_and_Off_the_Wall_.281975.E2.80.931981.29">Move to Epic and <i>Off the Wall</i> (1975–1981)</span></h3>In June 1975, the Jackson 5 signed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Records" title="Epic Records">Epic Records</a>, a subsidiary of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Music_Entertainment" title="Sony Music Entertainment">CBS Records</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_22_32-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_22-32">[33]</a></sup> and renamed themselves the Jacksons. Younger brother Randy formally joined the band around this time, while Jermaine left to pursue a solo career.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_138.E2.80.93144_33-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_138.E2.80.93144-33">[34]</a></sup> They continued to tour internationally, releasing six more albums between 1976 and 1984, during which Jackson was the lead songwriter, writing hits such as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shake_Your_Body_%28Down_to_the_Ground%29" title="Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)">Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Place_Hotel" title="This Place Hotel">This Place Hotel</a>," and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can_You_Feel_It" title="Can You Feel It">Can You Feel It</a>".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RRHF_30-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RRHF-30">[31]</a></sup> In 1978, he starred as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarecrow_%28Oz%29" title="Scarecrow (Oz)">scarecrow</a> in the musical, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiz_%28film%29" title="The Wiz (film)">The Wiz</a></i>, a box-office disaster. It was here that he teamed up with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincy_Jones" title="Quincy Jones">Quincy Jones</a>, who was arranging the film's musical score. Jones agreed to produce Jackson's next solo album, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off_the_Wall_%28album%29" title="Off the Wall (album)">Off the Wall</a></i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_23_34-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_23-34">[35]</a></sup> In 1979, Jackson broke his nose during a complex dance routine. His subsequent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinoplasty" title="Rhinoplasty">rhinoplasty</a> was not a complete success; he complained of breathing difficulties that would affect his career. He was referred to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Hoefflin" title="Steven Hoefflin">Dr. Steven Hoefflin</a>, who performed Jackson's second rhinoplasty and subsequent operations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_205.E2.80.93210_35-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_205.E2.80.93210-35">[36]</a></sup><br />
Jones and Jackson produced the <i>Off the Wall</i> album together. At the album's pre-release party, Michael stated that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Richard" title="Little Richard">Little Richard</a> had a "huge influence" on him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Michael_Jackson_saved_my_life_36-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Michael_Jackson_saved_my_life-36">[37]</a></sup> Songwriters for the album included Jackson, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heatwave_%28band%29" title="Heatwave (band)">Heatwave's</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Temperton" title="Rod Temperton">Rod Temperton</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder" title="Stevie Wonder">Stevie Wonder</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McCartney" title="Paul McCartney">Paul McCartney</a>. Released in 1979, it was the first album to generate four U.S. top 10 hits, including the chart-topping singles "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Stop_%27til_You_Get_Enough" title="Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough">Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough</a>" and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_with_You_%28Michael_Jackson_song%29" title="Rock with You (Michael Jackson song)">Rock with You</a>".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_37-38_37-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_37-38-37">[38]</a></sup> It reached number three on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_200" title="Billboard 200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a> and eventually sold over 20 million copies worldwide.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Off_the_Wall_20_million_38-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Off_the_Wall_20_million-38">[39]</a></sup> In 1980, Jackson won three awards at the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Music_Awards" title="American Music Awards">American Music Awards</a> for his solo efforts: Favorite Soul/R&B Album, Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". That year, he also won <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Music_Award" title="Billboard Music Award"><i>Billboard</i> Music Awards</a> for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album and a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, also for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_37-38_37-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_37-38-37">[38]</a></sup> Despite its commercial success, Jackson felt <i>Off the Wall</i> should have made a much bigger impact, and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-39">[40]</a></sup> In 1980, he secured the highest royalty rate in the music industry: 37 percent of wholesale album profit.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-40">[41]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Thriller_and_Motown_25_.281982.E2.80.9383.29"><i>Thriller</i> and Motown 25 (1982–83)</span></h3>In 1982, Jackson contributed the song "Someone In the Dark" to the storybook for the film <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial" title="E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial">E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial</a></i>; the record won a Grammy for Best Album for Children.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MJ_Grammy.27s_41-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-MJ_Grammy.27s-41">[42]</a></sup> Later in 1982, just before <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas" title="Christmas">Christmas</a>, Jackson released what proved to be by far the biggest album of his career, and arguably the biggest pop album ever by any artist: <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28album%29" title="Thriller (album)">Thriller</a></i>. It is the best-selling album of all time in the United States,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RIAA_certification_42-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RIAA_certification-42">[43]</a></sup> as well as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums_worldwide" title="List of best-selling albums worldwide">best-selling album of all time worldwide</a>, with an estimated 110 million copies sold.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Thriller_110_million_copies_43-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Thriller_110_million_copies-43">[44]</a></sup> The album topped the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_200" title="Billboard 200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a> chart for 37 weeks and was in the top 10 of the 200 for 80 consecutive weeks. It was the first album to have seven <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100 top 10 singles, including "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean" title="Billie Jean">Billie Jean</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_It" title="Beat It">Beat It</a>," and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanna_Be_Startin%27_Somethin%27" title="Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'">Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'</a>."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-44">[45]</a></sup> <i>Thriller</i> was certified for 29 million shipments by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America" title="Recording Industry Association of America">RIAA</a>, giving it <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_music_recording_sales_certifications" title="List of music recording sales certifications">Double Diamond</a> status in the United States. Jackson's attorney <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Branca" title="John Branca">John Branca</a> noted that Jackson had the highest royalty rate in the music industry at that point: approximately $2 for every album sold. He was also making record-breaking profits from sales of his recordings. The videocassette of the documentary <i>The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller</i> sold over 350,000 copies in a few months. The era saw the arrival of novelties like dolls modeled after Michael Jackson, which appeared in stores in May 1984 at a price of $12.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TIME_45-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-TIME-45">[46]</a></sup> Biographer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Randy_Taraborrelli" title="J. Randy Taraborrelli">J. Randy Taraborrelli</a> writes that, "<i>Thriller</i> stopped selling like a leisure item — like a magazine, a toy, tickets to a hit movie — and started selling like a household staple."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_226_46-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_226-46">[47]</a></sup> In December 2009, the music video for "Thriller" was selected for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Film_Registry" title="National Film Registry">National Film Registry</a> by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress" title="Library of Congress">Library of Congress</a>, "Thriller" is the first music video to ever be inducted.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Michael_Jackson_7-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Michael_Jackson-7">[8]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Reuters:_U.S._registry_2009-12-30_47-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Reuters:_U.S._registry_2009-12-30-47">[48]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-48">[49]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><div id="ogg_player_1" style="width: 220px;"><div><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MichaelJacksonMoonwalk.ogg" title="MichaelJacksonMoonwalk.ogg"><img alt="MichaelJacksonMoonwalk.ogg" height="124" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/10/MichaelJacksonMoonwalk.ogg/mid-MichaelJacksonMoonwalk.ogg.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div><button onclick="if (typeof(wgOggPlayer) != 'undefined') wgOggPlayer.init(false, {"id": "ogg_player_1", "videoUrl": "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/10/MichaelJacksonMoonwalk.ogg", "width": 220, "height": 124, "length": "12", "linkUrl": "/wiki/File:MichaelJacksonMoonwalk.ogg", "isVideo": true});" style="text-align: center; width: 220px;" title="Play video"><img alt="Play video" height="22" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/extensions/OggHandler/play.png" width="22" /></button></div></div><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MichaelJacksonMoonwalk.ogg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Jackson debuts the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonwalk_%28dance%29" title="Moonwalk (dance)">moonwalk</a> during his performance on <i>Motown 25</i></div></div></div><i>Time</i> described Jackson's influence at that point as "Star of records, radio, rock video. A one-man rescue team for the music business. A songwriter who sets the beat for a decade. A dancer with the fanciest feet on the street. A singer who cuts across all boundaries of taste and style and color too".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TIME_45-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-TIME-45">[46]</a></sup> <i>The New York Times</i> wrote that, "in the world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everybody else".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NYTimes_49-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-NYTimes-49">[50]</a></sup><br />
In March 1983, Jackson reunited with his brothers for a legendary live performance which was taped for a <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motown_25:_Yesterday,_Today,_Forever" title="Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever">Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever</a></i> television special. The show aired on May 16, 1983, to an audience of 47 million viewers, and featured the Jacksons and a number of other Motown stars. It is best remembered for Jackson's solo performance of "Billie Jean". Wearing a distinctive black <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequin" title="Sequin">sequin</a> jacket and golf glove decorated with rhinestones, he debuted his signature dance move, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonwalk_%28dance%29" title="Moonwalk (dance)">moonwalk</a>, which former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_Train" title="Soul Train">Soul Train</a> dancer and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalamar" title="Shalamar">Shalamar</a> member, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Daniel" title="Jeffrey Daniel">Jeffrey Daniel</a> had taught him 3 years before. The Jacksons' performance drew comparisons to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley" title="Elvis Presley">Elvis Presley</a>'s and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles" title="The Beatles">The Beatles</a>' appearances on <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ed_Sullivan_Show" title="The Ed Sullivan Show">The Ed Sullivan Show</a></i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-50">[51]</a></sup> Anna Kisselgoff of <i>The New York Times</i> later wrote, "The moonwalk that he made famous is an apt metaphor for his dance style. How does he do it? As a technician, he is a great illusionist, a genuine mime. His ability to keep one leg straight as he glides while the other bends and seems to walk requires perfect timing."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Dancing_feet_of_Michael_Jackson_51-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Dancing_feet_of_Michael_Jackson-51">[52]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Pepsi.2C_.22We_Are_the_World.22_and_business_career_.281984.E2.80.9385.29">Pepsi, "We Are the World" and business career (1984–85)</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_with_the_Reagans.jpg"><img alt="In the center of the photo four people can be seen. To the farthest left a medium skin colored man wearing a black sit with a white shirt can be seen, to the second left a Caucasian man wearing a black suit with a white shirt and brown tie has his head turned to his right. To the right of the Caucasian male there is an African American man wearing a white shirt with a blue jacket that has a yellow strap across his chest, he is raising his right hand, which is covered with a white glove. To the farthest right, a Caucasian female with short blonde hair, who is wearing a white outfit, can be seen. In the background a cream colored building with a opened green door can be seen." class="thumbimage" height="221" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Michael_Jackson_with_the_Reagans.jpg/220px-Michael_Jackson_with_the_Reagans.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_with_the_Reagans.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Jackson at the White House South Portico with President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a> and first lady <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Reagan" title="Nancy Reagan">Nancy Reagan</a>, 1984</div></div></div>On January 27, 1984, Michael and other members of the Jacksons filmed a Pepsi Cola commercial, overseen by executive <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Dusenberry" title="Philip Dusenberry">Philip Dusenberry</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nytt_52-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-nytt-52">[53]</a></sup> at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrine_Auditorium" title="Shrine Auditorium">Shrine Auditorium</a> in Los Angeles. In front of a full house of fans during a simulated concert, pyrotechnics accidentally set Jackson's hair on fire. He suffered second-degree burns to his scalp. Jackson underwent treatment to hide the scars on his scalp, and he also had his third <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinoplasty" title="Rhinoplasty">rhinoplasty</a> shortly thereafter.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_205.E2.80.93210_35-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_205.E2.80.93210-35">[36]</a></sup> Jackson never recovered from this injury. Pepsi settled out of court, and Jackson donated his $1.5 million settlement to the Brotman Medical Center in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culver_City" title="Culver City">Culver City</a>, California, which now has a "Michael Jackson Burn Center" in honor of his donation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_279.E2.80.93287_53-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_279.E2.80.93287-53">[54]</a></sup><br />
On May 14, 1984, Jackson was invited to the White House to receive an award from President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a> for his support of charities that helped people overcome alcohol and drug abuse.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-54">[55]</a></sup> Jackson won eight awards during the Grammys that year. Unlike later albums, <i>Thriller</i> did not have an official tour to promote it, but the 1984 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Tour_%28The_Jacksons_tour%29" title="Victory Tour (The Jacksons tour)">Victory Tour</a>, headlined by The Jacksons, showcased much of Jackson's new solo material to more than two million Americans. He donated all the funds (around $8 million) raised from the Victory Tour to charity.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-55">[56]</a></sup> He also co-wrote the charity single "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World" title="We Are the World">We Are the World</a>" in 1985 with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Richie" title="Lionel Richie">Lionel Richie</a>, which was released worldwide to aid the poor in the U.S. and Africa. It became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 30 million copies sold and millions of dollars donated to famine relief.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-56">[57]</a></sup><br />
In 1985, ATV Music, a music publishing company owning thousands of music copyrights, including the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Songs" title="Northern Songs">Northern Songs</a> catalogue that contained the majority of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lennon/McCartney" title="Lennon/McCartney">Lennon/McCartney</a> compositions recorded by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles" title="The Beatles">The Beatles</a>, was put up for sale.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_333-337_57-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_333-337-57">[58]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1995_music_deal_58-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-1995_music_deal-58">[59]</a></sup> Jackson had become interested in owning music catalogs after working with Paul McCartney in the early 1980s: Jackson had learned McCartney made approximately $40 million a year from other people's songs. McCartney's attorney assured Jackson's attorney that McCartney was not interested in bidding on ATV: McCartney reportedly said "It's too pricey". However, McCartney later changed his mind and tried to persuade John Lennon's widow <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Ono" title="Yoko Ono">Yoko Ono</a> to join him in a joint bid. Ono declined, and McCartney pulled out. Jackson eventually beat the rest of the competition in negotiations that lasted 10 months, purchasing the catalog for $47.5 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_333-337_57-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_333-337-57">[58]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guardian_document_finances_59-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Guardian_document_finances-59">[60]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Appearance.2C_tabloids.2C_Bad.2C_autobiography_and_films_.281986.E2.80.9387.29">Appearance, tabloids, <i>Bad</i>, autobiography and films (1986–87)</span></h3><div class="rellink boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson%27s_health_and_appearance" title="Michael Jackson's health and appearance">Michael Jackson's health and appearance</a></div>Jackson's skin had been a medium-brown color for the entire duration of his youth, but starting in the mid 1980s, it gradually grew paler. The change gained widespread media coverage, including rumors that he was bleaching his skin.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-campbell_.281995.29_14-16_60-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-campbell_.281995.29_14-16-60">[61]</a></sup> According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Randy_Taraborrelli" title="J. Randy Taraborrelli">J. Randy Taraborrelli</a>'s biography, in 1986, Jackson was diagnosed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitiligo" title="Vitiligo">vitiligo</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systemic_lupus_erythematosus" title="Systemic lupus erythematosus">lupus</a>; the vitiligo partially lightened his skin, and the lupus was in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remission_%28medicine%29" title="Remission (medicine)">remission</a>; both illnesses made him sensitive to sunlight. (His long-term dermatologist Dr. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Klein" title="Arnold Klein">Arnold Klein</a> confirmed this on <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_King_Live" title="Larry King Live">Larry King Live</a></i>, after his death.) The treatments he used for his condition further lightened his skin tone, and, with the application of pancake makeup to even out blotches, he could appear very pale.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Taraborrelli_61-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Taraborrelli-61">[62]</a></sup> The structure of his face had also changed: several surgeons speculated that he had undergone various nasal surgeries, a forehead lift, thinned lips, and cheekbone surgery — although Jackson denied this and insisted that he only had surgery on his nose.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-62">[63]</a></sup> Jackson claimed that he had only two rhinoplasties and no other surgery on his face, although at one point he mentioned having a dimple created in his chin.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jackson_229-230_63-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-jackson_229-230-63">[64]</a></sup> Jackson lost weight in the early 1980s because of a change in diet and a desire for "a dancer's body".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jackson_229-230_63-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-jackson_229-230-63">[64]</a></sup> Witnesses reported that he was often dizzy and speculated that he was suffering from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorexia_nervosa" title="Anorexia nervosa">anorexia nervosa</a>; periods of weight loss would become a recurring problem later in life.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_312.E2.80.93313_64-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_312.E2.80.93313-64">[65]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michaeljackson_%28cropped%29.jpg"><img alt="In the center for the photo, a light skinned male with black hair wearing a red shirt and blue cap can be seen. The male is smiling while titling his head to his right. Behind him, there is a black background and the shoulder of another person." class="thumbimage" height="220" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Michaeljackson_%28cropped%29.jpg/170px-Michaeljackson_%28cropped%29.jpg" width="170" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michaeljackson_%28cropped%29.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Jackson two years after he was diagnosed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitiligo" title="Vitiligo">vitiligo</a>, here in the early stages of the disease</div></div></div>He became the subject of increasingly sensational reports. In 1986, the tabloids ran a story claiming that Jackson slept in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbaric_medicine" title="Hyperbaric medicine">hyperbaric oxygen chamber</a> to slow the aging process; he was pictured lying down in a glass box. Although the claim was untrue, Jackson had disseminated the fabricated story himself.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_355-361_65-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_355-361-65">[66]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BBC.2C_Jackson.27s_image_problems_66-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-BBC.2C_Jackson.27s_image_problems-66">[67]</a></sup> When Jackson bought a chimpanzee called <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubbles_%28chimpanzee%29" title="Bubbles (chimpanzee)">Bubbles</a> from a laboratory, it was reported as an example of increasing detachment from reality.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-67"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-67">[68]</a></sup> It was reported that Jackson had offered to buy the bones of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Merrick" title="Joseph Merrick">Joseph Merrick</a> (the "elephant man") and although untrue, Jackson did not deny the story.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_355-361_65-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_355-361-65">[66]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BBC.2C_Jackson.27s_image_problems_66-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-BBC.2C_Jackson.27s_image_problems-66">[67]</a></sup> Although initially he saw these stories as publicity, he stopped leaking untruths to the press as they became more sensational, so the media began making up their own stories.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BBC.2C_Jackson.27s_image_problems_66-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-BBC.2C_Jackson.27s_image_problems-66">[67]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_370.E2.80.93373_68-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_370.E2.80.93373-68">[69]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-69"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-69">[70]</a></sup> These reports became embedded in the public consciousness, inspiring the nickname "Wacko Jacko," which Jackson came to despise.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-70">[71]</a></sup> Responding to the gossip, Jackson remarked to reporter Randy Taraborrelli:<br />
<blockquote class="templatequote"><div>Why not just tell people I'm an alien from Mars. Tell them I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight. They'll believe anything <i>you</i> say, because <i>you're a reporter</i>. But if I, Michael Jackson, were to say, "I'm an alien from Mars and I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight," people would say, "Oh, man, that Michael Jackson is <i>nuts</i>. He's cracked up. You can't believe a single word that comes out of his mouth."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-71"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-71">[72]</a></sup></div></blockquote><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson%27s_%22Bad%22_Jacket_and_Belt.jpg"><img alt="A black jacket with five round golden medals on its left and right shoulder and a gold ban on its left arm sleeve. The jacket has two belt straps on the right bottom sleeve. Underneath the jacket is a golden belt, with a round pendant in the center of it. There is a red light reflecting on the jacket and belt as well as a gold squared plat on the left side of the jacket and belt." class="thumbimage" height="193" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Michael_Jackson%27s_%22Bad%22_Jacket_and_Belt.jpg/170px-Michael_Jackson%27s_%22Bad%22_Jacket_and_Belt.jpg" width="170" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson%27s_%22Bad%22_Jacket_and_Belt.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Jackson wore a gold-plated military style jacket with belt in the <i>Bad</i> era</div></div></div>Jackson collaborated with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Ford_Coppola" title="Francis Ford Coppola">Francis Ford Coppola</a> on the 17-minute <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-D_film" title="3-D film">3-D film</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_EO" title="Captain EO">Captain EO</a></i>, which debuted in September 1986 at both the original <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland" title="Disneyland">Disneyland</a> and at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPCOT" title="EPCOT">EPCOT</a> in Florida, and in March 1987 at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Disneyland" title="Tokyo Disneyland">Tokyo Disneyland</a>. The $30,000,000 movie was the centerpiece of popular attractions at all three parks. A Captain EO attraction was later featured at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Park_%28Paris%29" title="Disneyland Park (Paris)">Euro Disneyland</a> after that park opened in 1992. All four parks' Captain Eo installations stayed open well into the 1990s: Tokyo's was the last one to close, in 1998.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_41_72-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_41-72">[73]</a></sup><br />
In 1987, Jackson disassociated himself from the Jehovah's Witnesses, in response to their disapproval of the <i>Thriller</i> video.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ebony1_73-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-ebony1-73">[74]</a></sup> With the industry expecting another major hit, Jackson's first album in five years, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_%28album%29" title="Bad (album)">Bad</a></i> (1987), was highly anticipated.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TIME2_74-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-TIME2-74">[75]</a></sup> It did not top <i>Thriller</i> as a commercial or artistic triumph— and, probably nothing could have topped the earlier album— but <i>Bad</i> was still a substantial success in its own right.<br />
The <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_%28album%29" title="Bad (album)">Bad</a></i> album spawned seven hit singles in the U.S., five of which ("<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Just_Can%27t_Stop_Loving_You" title="I Just Can't Stop Loving You">I Just Can't Stop Loving You</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_%28Michael_Jackson_song%29" title="Bad (Michael Jackson song)">Bad</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_You_Make_Me_Feel" title="The Way You Make Me Feel">The Way You Make Me Feel</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_in_the_Mirror" title="Man in the Mirror">Man in the Mirror</a>" and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Diana" title="Dirty Diana">Dirty Diana</a>") reached number one on the <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100 charts. This was a record for most number one Hot 100 singles from any one album, including <i>Thriller.</i> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-A_life_in_the_spotlight.C2.A0.E2.80.94_cnn_75-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-A_life_in_the_spotlight.C2.A0.E2.80.94_cnn-75">[76]</a></sup> Although the title track's video was arguably derivative of the video for the earlier single "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_It" title="Beat It">Beat It</a>", the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_%28Michael_Jackson_song%29#Music_video" title="Bad (Michael Jackson song)">"Bad" video</a> still proved to be one of Jackson's iconic moments. It was a gritty but colorful epic set against the backdrop of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_subway" title="New York City subway">New York City subway</a> system, with spectacular costuming and choreography inspired by <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Side_Story" title="West Side Story">West Side Story</a>.</i> As of 2008, the album had sold 30 million copies worldwide.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bad_30_million_copies_76-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Bad_30_million_copies-76">[77]</a></sup><br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_World_Tour" title="Bad World Tour">Bad World Tour</a> began on September 12 that year, finishing on January 14, 1989.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lewis_95-96_77-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-lewis_95-96-77">[78]</a></sup> In Japan alone, the tour had 14 sellouts and drew 570,000 people, nearly tripling the previous record of 200,000 in a single tour.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WashPost_78-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-WashPost-78">[79]</a></sup> He broke a <i>Guinness World Record</i> <span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Michael_Jackson"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span> when 504,000 people attended seven sold-out shows at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wembley_Stadium_%281923%29" title="Wembley Stadium (1923)">Wembley Stadium</a>. He performed a total of 123 concerts to an audience of 4.4 million people. The Bad Tour turned out to be the last of Jackson's concert tours to include shows in the continental United States, although later tours did make it to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexico</a>.<br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Autobiography.2C_changing_appearance_and_Neverland_.281988.E2.80.931990.29">Autobiography, changing appearance and Neverland (1988–1990)</span></h3><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_The_Way_You_Make_Me_Feel.jpg"><img alt="A male with black hair singing into a microphone. The male is wearing a blue jacket and a white shirt with black pants and a white belt." class="thumbimage" height="287" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Michael_Jackson_The_Way_You_Make_Me_Feel.jpg/180px-Michael_Jackson_The_Way_You_Make_Me_Feel.jpg" width="180" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_The_Way_You_Make_Me_Feel.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Jackson performing "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_You_Make_Me_Feel" title="The Way You Make Me Feel">The Way You Make Me Feel</a>."</div></div></div>In 1988, Jackson released his first autobiography, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonwalk_%28book%29" title="Moonwalk (book)">Moonwalk</a></i>, which took four years to complete and sold 200,000 copies.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-79"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-79">[80]</a></sup> Jackson wrote about his childhood, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jackson_5" title="The Jackson 5">The Jackson 5</a>, and the abuse he had suffered.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-80"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-80">[81]</a></sup> He also wrote about his facial appearance, saying he had had two rhinoplastic surgeries and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleft_chin" title="Cleft chin">dimple</a> created in his chin.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jackson_229-230_63-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-jackson_229-230-63">[64]</a></sup> He attributed much of the change in the structure of his face to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puberty" title="Puberty">puberty</a>, weight loss, a strict vegetarian diet, a change in hair style, and stage lighting.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jackson_229-230_63-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-jackson_229-230-63">[64]</a></sup> <i>Moonwalk</i> reached the top position on <i>The New York Times</i> best sellers' list.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_42_81-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_42-81">[82]</a></sup> The musician then released a film called <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonwalker" title="Moonwalker">Moonwalker</a></i>, which featured live footage and short films that starred Jackson and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Pesci" title="Joe Pesci">Joe Pesci</a>. The film was originally intended to be released to theaters but due to financial issues, the film was released <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_to_video" title="Direct to video">direct to video</a>. It debuted atop the <i>Billboard</i> Top Music Video Cassette chart, staying there for 22 weeks. It was eventually knocked off the top spot by <i>Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_43-44_82-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_43-44-82">[83]</a></sup><br />
In March 1988, Jackson purchased land near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Ynez,_California" title="Santa Ynez, California">Santa Ynez, California</a> to build <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverland_Ranch" title="Neverland Ranch">Neverland Ranch</a> at a cost of $17 million. He installed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferris_wheel" title="Ferris wheel">Ferris wheels</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menagerie" title="Menagerie">menagerie</a>, and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movie_theater" title="Movie theater">movie theater</a> on the 2,700-acre (11 km<sup>2</sup>) property. A security staff of 40 patrolled the grounds. In 2003, it was valued at approximately $100 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rollingstone_31-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-rollingstone-31">[32]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-usatoday_finances_83-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-usatoday_finances-83">[84]</a></sup> In 1989, his annual earnings from album sales, endorsements, and concerts was estimated at $125 million for that year alone.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-World_Records_84-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-World_Records-84">[85]</a></sup> Shortly afterwards, he became the first Westerner to appear in a television ad in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_43-44_82-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_43-44-82">[83]</a></sup><br />
His success resulted in him being dubbed the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorific_nicknames_in_popular_music" title="Honorific nicknames in popular music">King of Pop</a>."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-85"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-85">[86]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-86"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-86">[87]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-87"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-87">[88]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-88"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-88">[89]</a></sup> The nickname was popularized by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Taylor" title="Elizabeth Taylor">Elizabeth Taylor</a> when she presented him with the Soul Train Heritage Award in 1989, proclaiming him "the true king of pop, rock and soul."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-89"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-89">[90]</a></sup> President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._W._Bush" title="George H. W. Bush">George H. W. Bush</a> presented him with The White House's special "Artist of the Decade."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-georgebush_90-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-georgebush-90">[91]</a></sup> From 1985 to 1990, he donated $500,000 to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Negro_College_Fund" title="United Negro College Fund">United Negro College Fund</a>, and all of the profits from his single "Man in the Mirror" went to charity.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Blacks_who_give_back_91-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Blacks_who_give_back-91">[92]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-92"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-92">[93]</a></sup> Jackson's live rendition of "You Were There" at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Davis,_Jr." title="Sammy Davis, Jr.">Sammy Davis Jr.'s</a> 60th birthday celebration received an Emmy nomination.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_43-44_82-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_43-44-82">[83]</a></sup> It was also around this time that Michael struck up a friendship with child actor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaulay_Culkin" title="Macaulay Culkin">Macaulay Culkin</a>, a friendship that would last until his death.<br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Dangerous.2C_Heal_the_World_Foundation.2C_Poetry_and_Super_Bowl_XXVII_.281991.E2.80.9393.29"><i>Dangerous</i>, Heal the World Foundation, Poetry and Super Bowl XXVII (1991–93)</span></h3>In March 1991, Jackson renewed his contract with Sony for $100 million, a record-breaking deal at the time, displacing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Diamond" title="Neil Diamond">Neil Diamond</a>'s renewal contract with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Records" title="Columbia Records">Columbia Records</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Deal_record_93-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Deal_record-93">[94]</a></sup> He released his eighth album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_%28album%29" title="Dangerous (album)">Dangerous</a></i> in 1991. As of 2008, <i>Dangerous</i> had shipped seven million copies in the U.S. and had sold 32 million copies worldwide. The <i>Dangerous</i> album was co-produced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Riley_%28producer%29" title="Teddy Riley (producer)">Teddy Riley</a>, one of the pioneers of "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_jack_swing" title="New jack swing">new jack swing</a>" and it turned out to be the best-selling album associated with that movement.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RIAA_certifications_94-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RIAA_certifications-94">[95]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Dangerous_32_million_copies_worldwide_95-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Dangerous_32_million_copies_worldwide-95">[96]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-New_jack_swing_96-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-New_jack_swing-96">[97]</a></sup> In the United States, the album's first single "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_or_White" title="Black or White">Black or White</a>" was its biggest hit, reaching number one on the <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100 and remaining there for seven weeks, with similar chart performances worldwide.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-KOP_achievements_97-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-KOP_achievements-97">[98]</a></sup> The album's second single "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remember_the_Time" title="Remember the Time">Remember the Time</a>" spent eight weeks in the top five in the United States, peaking at number three on the <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100 singles chart.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_45-46_98-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_45-46-98">[99]</a></sup> In 1993, Jackson performed the song at the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_Train_Awards" title="Soul Train Awards">Soul Train Awards</a> in a chair, saying he had suffered an injury in rehearsals.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-99"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-99">[100]</a></sup> In the UK and other parts of Europe, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heal_the_World" title="Heal the World">Heal the World</a>" was the biggest hit from the album; it sold 450,000 copies in the UK and spent five weeks at number two in 1992.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_45-46_98-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_45-46-98">[99]</a></sup><br />
Jackson founded the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heal_the_World_Foundation" title="Heal the World Foundation">Heal the World Foundation</a>" in 1992. The charity organization brought underprivileged children to Jackson's ranch to enjoy theme park rides that Jackson had built on the property. The foundation also sent millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war, poverty, and disease. In the same year Jackson published his second book, the bestselling collection of poetry, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_the_Dream" title="Dancing the Dream">Dancing the Dream</a></i>. While it was a commercial success and revealed a more intimate side to Jackson's nature, the collection was mostly critically unacclaimed at the time of release. In 2009, the book was republished by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doubleday_%28publisher%29" title="Doubleday (publisher)">Doubleday</a> and was more positively received by some critics in the wake of Jackson's untimely death. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_World_Tour" title="Dangerous World Tour">Dangerous World Tour</a> grossed $100 million. The tour began on June 27, 1992, and finished on November 11, 1993. Jackson performed to 3.5 million people in 67 concerts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_45-46_98-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_45-46-98">[99]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-100"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-100">[101]</a></sup> He sold the broadcast rights to his <i>Dangerous</i> world tour to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HBO" title="HBO">HBO</a> for $20 million, a record-breaking deal that still stands.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-101"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-101">[102]</a></sup><br />
Following the illness and death of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_White" title="Ryan White">Ryan White</a>, Jackson helped draw public attention to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV" title="HIV">HIV</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS" title="AIDS">AIDS</a>, something that was still controversial at the time. He publicly pleaded with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Bill_Clinton" title="Presidency of Bill Clinton">Clinton Administration</a> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a>'s Inaugural Gala to give more money to HIV/AIDS charities and research.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-102"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-102">[103]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-103"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-103">[104]</a></sup> In a high-profile visit to Africa, Jackson visited several countries, among them <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabon" title="Gabon">Gabon</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ebony_104-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ebony-104">[105]</a></sup> His first stop to Gabon was greeted with a sizable and enthusiastic reception of more than 100,000 people, some of them carrying signs that read, "Welcome Home Michael."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ebony_104-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ebony-104">[105]</a></sup> In his trip to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B4te_d%27Ivoire" title="Côte d'Ivoire">Côte d'Ivoire</a>, Jackson was crowned "King Sani" by a tribal chief.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ebony_104-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ebony-104">[105]</a></sup> He then thanked the dignitaries in French and English, signed official documents formalizing his kingship and sat on a golden throne while presiding over ceremonial dances.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ebony_104-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ebony-104">[105]</a></sup><br />
One of Jackson's most acclaimed performances came during the halftime show at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXVII" title="Super Bowl XXVII">Super Bowl XXVII</a>. As the performance began, Jackson was catapulted onto the stage as fireworks went off behind him. As he landed on the canvas, he maintained a motionless "clenched fist, standing statue stance", dressed in a gold and black military outfit and sunglasses; he remained completely motionless for several minutes while the crowd cheered. He then slowly removed his sunglasses, threw them away and began to sing and dance. His routine included four songs: "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jam_%28song%29" title="Jam (song)">Jam</a>", "Billie Jean", "Black or White" and "Heal the World". It was the first Super Bowl where the audience figures increased during the half-time show, and was viewed by 135 million Americans alone; Jackson's <i>Dangerous</i> album rose 90 places up the album chart.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-campbell_.281995.29_14-16_60-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-campbell_.281995.29_14-16-60">[61]</a></sup> Jackson was given the "Living Legend Award" at the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Awards_of_1993" title="Grammy Awards of 1993">35th Annual Grammy Awards</a> in Los Angeles. "Black or White" was Grammy nominated for best vocal performance. "Jam" gained two nominations: Best R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_45-46_98-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_45-46-98">[99]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="First_child_sexual_abuse_allegations_and_first_marriage_.281993-94.29">First child sexual abuse allegations and first marriage (1993-94)</span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_child_sexual_abuse_accusations_against_Michael_Jackson" title="1993 child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson">1993 child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson</a></div>Jackson gave a 90-minute interview to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey" title="Oprah Winfrey">Oprah Winfrey</a> in February 1993, his second television interview since 1979. He grimaced when speaking of his childhood abuse at the hands of his father; he believed he had missed out on much of his childhood years, admitting that he often cried from loneliness. He denied tabloid rumors that he had bought the bones of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elephant_Man" title="The Elephant Man">the Elephant Man</a>, slept in a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbaric" title="Hyperbaric">hyperbaric</a> oxygen chamber, or bleached his skin, stating for the first time that he had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitiligo" title="Vitiligo">vitiligo</a>. The interview was watched by an American audience of 90 million. <i>Dangerous</i> re-entered the album chart in the top 10, more than a year after its original release.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lewis_165-168_29-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-lewis_165-168-29">[30]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-campbell_.281995.29_14-16_60-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-campbell_.281995.29_14-16-60">[61]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_45-46_98-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_45-46-98">[99]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 102px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TruthSerum.jpg"><img alt="In the image, a small empty clear glass bottle with a silver colored cap can be seen standing up. The bottle has a white label on it that has the words "AMYTAL" and "SODIUM" is black bold print, as well as other words in smaller black print. In the background the bottle's reflection and a tan wall can be seen." class="thumbimage" height="162" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/TruthSerum.jpg/100px-TruthSerum.jpg" width="100" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TruthSerum.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Used on occcasion as a so-called <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_serum" title="Truth serum">truth serum</a>, sodium amytal is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbiturate" title="Barbiturate">barbiturate</a> derivative</div></div></div>In the summer of 1993, Jackson was accused of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_sexual_abuse" title="Child sexual abuse">child sexual abuse</a> by a 13-year-old boy named Jordan Chandler and his father, Evan Chandler, a dentist.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-looking_back_on_1993_105-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-looking_back_on_1993-105">[106]</a></sup> According to biographer Randy Taraborelli, Dr. Chandler alleged that his son had told him (while under the influence of the sedative <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_amytal" title="Sodium amytal">sodium amytal</a>) that Jackson had touched his penis.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_485-486_106-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_485-486-106">[107]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_477-478_107-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_477-478-107">[108]</a></sup> The Chandler family demanded payment from Jackson, and the singer initially refused. Jordan Chandler eventually told the police that Jackson had sexually abused him, and he gave a detailed description of the singer's genitals.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_496-498_108-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_496-498-108">[109]</a></sup> Dr. Chandler was tape-recorded discussing his intention to pursue charges, saying, "If I go through with this, I win big-time. There's no way I lose. I will get everything I want and they will be destroyed forever ... Michael's career will be over". Jordan's mother was, however, adamant that there had been no wrongdoing on Jackson's part.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_477-478_107-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_477-478-107">[108]</a></sup> Jackson later used the recording to argue that he was the victim of a jealous father whose only goal was to extort money from the singer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_477-478_107-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_477-478-107">[108]</a></sup><br />
Neverland Ranch was searched during an extensive investigation; Jackson even agreed to a 25-minute <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strip_search" title="Strip search">strip search</a>. Doctors concluded there were strong similarities between Jackson's genitals and Jordan Chandler's description, but it was not a definitive match.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_534-540_109-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_534-540-109">[110]</a></sup> His friends said he never recovered from the humiliation. He described the search in an emotional public statement, and proclaimed his innocence.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-looking_back_on_1993_105-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-looking_back_on_1993-105">[106]</a></sup> Jackson's older sister, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Toya_Jackson" title="La Toya Jackson">La Toya</a>, accused him of being a pedophile, but other family members and friends defended him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_534-540_109-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_534-540-109">[110]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-campbell_.281995.29_47-50_110-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-campbell_.281995.29_47-50-110">[111]</a></sup> On January 1, 1994, Jackson settled with the Chandlers out of court for $22 million, after which Jordan stopped co-operating with the criminal investigation. In the end, no charges were filed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-111"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-111">[112]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_540-545_112-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_540-545-112">[113]</a></sup><br />
In May 1994, Jackson married singer-songwriter <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Marie_Presley" title="Lisa Marie Presley">Lisa Marie Presley</a>, the daughter of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley" title="Elvis Presley">Elvis Presley</a>. They had first met in 1975, when a seven-year-old Presley attended one of Jackson's family engagements at the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGM_Grand_Hotel_and_Casino" title="MGM Grand Hotel and Casino">MGM Grand Hotel and Casino</a>, and were reconnected through a mutual friend in early 1993.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_500-507_113-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_500-507-113">[114]</a></sup> They stayed in contact every day over the telephone. As the child molestation accusations became public, Jackson became dependent on Presley for emotional support; she was concerned about his faltering health and addiction to drugs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_518.E2.80.93520_114-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_518.E2.80.93520-114">[115]</a></sup> Presley explained, "I believed he didn't do anything wrong and that he was wrongly accused and yes I started falling for him. I wanted to save him. I felt that I could do it."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-115"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-115">[116]</a></sup> She eventually persuaded him to settle the allegations out of court and go into rehabilitation to recover.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_518.E2.80.93520_114-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_518.E2.80.93520-114">[115]</a></sup><br />
Jackson proposed to Presley over the telephone towards the fall of 1993, saying, "If I asked you to marry me, would you do it?"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_518.E2.80.93520_114-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_518.E2.80.93520-114">[115]</a></sup> They married in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republic" title="Dominican Republic">Dominican Republic</a> in secrecy, denying it for nearly two months afterwards.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MJ_.26_Presley_divorce_116-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-MJ_.26_Presley_divorce-116">[117]</a></sup> The marriage was, in her words, "a married couple's life ... that was sexually active".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-117"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-117">[118]</a></sup> At the time, the tabloid media speculated that the wedding was a ploy to prop up Jackson's public image.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MJ_.26_Presley_divorce_116-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-MJ_.26_Presley_divorce-116">[117]</a></sup> The marriage lasted less than two years later, ending in an amicable divorce settlement.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_580.E2.80.93581_118-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_580.E2.80.93581-118">[119]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="HIStory.2C_second_marriage_and_fatherhood_.281995.E2.80.9399.29"><i>HIStory</i>, second marriage and fatherhood (1995–99)</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 162px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_Cannescropped.jpg"><img alt="A close-up image of a pale skinned man with black hair. He is wearing a black jacket with white designs on it." class="thumbimage" height="218" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Michael_Jackson_Cannescropped.jpg/160px-Michael_Jackson_Cannescropped.jpg" width="160" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_Cannescropped.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Michael Jackson at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Cannes_Film_Festival" title="1997 Cannes Film Festival">1997 Cannes Film Festival</a>.</div></div></div>In 1995, Jackson merged his ATV Music catalog with Sony's publishing division creating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony/ATV_Music_Publishing" title="Sony/ATV Music Publishing">Sony/ATV Music Publishing</a>. Jackson retained half-ownership of the company, earned $95 million upfront as well as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sony/ATV_Music_Publishing_artists" title="List of Sony/ATV Music Publishing artists">the rights to even more songs</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1995_music_deal_58-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-1995_music_deal-58">[59]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sonydeal_119-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-sonydeal-119">[120]</a></sup> He then released the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_album" title="Double album">double album</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIStory:_Past,_Present_and_Future,_Book_I" title="HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I">HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I</a></i>. The first disc, <i>HIStory Begins</i>, was a 15-track greatest hits album, and was later reissued as <i>Greatest Hits – HIStory Vol. I</i> in 2001, while the second disc, <i>HIStory Continues</i>, contained 15 new songs. The album debuted at number one on the charts and has been certified for seven million shipments in the US.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-120"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-120">[121]</a></sup> It is the best-selling multiple-disc album of all-time, with 20 million copies (40 million units) sold worldwide.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-KOP_achievements_97-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-KOP_achievements-97">[98]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HIStory_20_million_copies_121-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-HIStory_20_million_copies-121">[122]</a></sup> <i>HIStory</i> received a Grammy nomination for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Album_of_the_Year" title="Grammy Award for Album of the Year">Album of the Year</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350_122-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350-122">[123]</a></sup><br />
The first single released from the album was the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_A-side" title="Double A-side">double A-side</a> "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream/Childhood" title="Scream/Childhood">Scream/Childhood</a>". "Scream" was a duet, performed with Jackson's youngest sister <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Jackson" title="Janet Jackson">Janet</a>. The song fights against the media, mainly for what the media made him out to be during his 1993 child abuse allegations. The single had the highest debut on the <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100 at number five, and received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350_122-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350-122">[123]</a></sup> "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Are_Not_Alone" title="You Are Not Alone">You Are Not Alone</a>" was the second single released from <i>HIStory</i>; it holds the <i>Guinness World Record</i> for the first song ever to debut at number one on the <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100 chart.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-World_Records_84-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-World_Records-84">[85]</a></sup> It was seen as a major artistic and commercial success, receiving a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Vocal Performance".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350_122-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350-122">[123]</a></sup> In late 1995, Jackson was rushed to a hospital after collapsing during rehearsals for a televised performance; the incident was caused by a stress-related <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack" title="Panic attack">panic attack</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-123"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-123">[124]</a></sup> "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Song" title="Earth Song">Earth Song</a>" was the third single released from <i>HIStory</i>, and topped the UK singles chart for six weeks over Christmas 1995; it sold a million copies, making it Jackson's most successful single in the UK.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350_122-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350-122">[123]</a></sup> The track "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Don%27t_Care_About_Us" title="They Don't Care About Us">They Don't Care About Us</a>" became controversial when the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Defamation_League" title="Anti-Defamation League">Anti-Defamation League</a> and other groups criticized its allegedly <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Semitism" title="Anti-Semitism">anti-Semitic</a> lyrics. Jackson quickly put out a revised version of the song without the offending lyrics.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ADL_124-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-ADL-124">[125]</a></sup><br />
The album was promoted with the very successful <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIStory_World_Tour" title="HIStory World Tour">HIStory World Tour</a>. The tour began on September 7, 1996, and finished on October 15, 1997. Jackson performed 82 concerts in 58 cities to over 4.5 million fans, and grossed up a total of $165 million. The show, which visited five continents and 35 countries, became Jackson's most successful in terms of audience figures.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lewis_95-96_77-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-lewis_95-96-77">[78]</a></sup> During the Australian leg of the HIStory World Tour, Jackson married <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatology" title="Dermatology">dermatology</a> nurse <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debbie_Rowe" title="Debbie Rowe">Deborah Jeanne Rowe</a> on November 14, 1996 in an impromptu ceremony close to his Sydney hotel room. She gave birth to Michael's first two children: a son named Michael Joseph Jr (commonly known as Prince), and a daughter, Paris-Michael Katherine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_580.E2.80.93581_118-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_580.E2.80.93581-118">[119]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-125"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-125">[126]</a></sup> Rowe and Jackson first met in the mid-1980s, when Jackson was diagnosed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitiligo" title="Vitiligo">vitiligo</a>. She spent many years treating his illness as well as providing emotional support. They built a strong friendship, then became romantically involved.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-126"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-126">[127]</a></sup> Recent claims by a male dermatology assistant that he and Jackson were sexually involved have drawn fury from those close to Jackson.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-127"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-127">[128]</a></sup> Originally, there were no plans to marry, but following Rowe's first pregnancy, Jackson's mother intervened and persuaded them to do so.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-128"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-128">[129]</a></sup> The couple divorced in 1999 but remained friends, and Rowe gave full custody of the children to Jackson.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_599-600_129-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_599-600-129">[130]</a></sup><br />
In 1997, Jackson released <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_on_the_Dance_Floor:_HIStory_in_the_Mix" title="Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix">Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix</a></i>, which contained remixes of hit singles from <i>HIStory</i> and five new songs. Worldwide sales stand at 6 million copies as of 2007, making it the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_remix_albums_worldwide" title="List of best-selling remix albums worldwide">best selling remix album ever released</a>. It reached number one in the UK, as did the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_on_the_Dance_Floor_%28song%29" title="Blood on the Dance Floor (song)">title track</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-130"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-130">[131]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_610.E2.80.93611_131-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_610.E2.80.93611-131">[132]</a></sup> In the US, the album was certified platinum, but only reached number 24.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RIAA_certifications_94-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RIAA_certifications-94">[95]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350_122-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350-122">[123]</a></sup> Forbes placed his annual income at $35 million in 1996 and $20 million in 1997.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-usatoday_finances_83-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-usatoday_finances-83">[84]</a></sup> Throughout June 1999, Jackson was involved in a number of charitable events. He joined <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luciano_Pavarotti" title="Luciano Pavarotti">Luciano Pavarotti</a> for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benefit_concert" title="Benefit concert">benefit concert</a> in Modena, Italy. The show was in support of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_organization" title="Non-profit organization">non-profit organization</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Child_%28charity%29" title="War Child (charity)">War Child</a>, and raised a million dollars for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_NATO_bombing_of_Yugoslavia" title="1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia">refugees of Kosovo</a>, as well as additional funds for the children of Guatemala.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Charity_concert_Italy_132-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Charity_concert_Italy-132">[133]</a></sup> Later that month, Jackson organized a set of "Michael Jackson & Friends" benefit concerts in Germany and Korea. Other artists involved included <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash_%28musician%29" title="Slash (musician)">Slash</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpions_%28band%29" title="Scorpions (band)">The Scorpions</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyz_II_Men" title="Boyz II Men">Boyz II Men</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Vandross" title="Luther Vandross">Luther Vandross</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariah_Carey" title="Mariah Carey">Mariah Carey</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._R._Rahman" title="A. R. Rahman">A. R. Rahman</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prabhu_Deva" title="Prabhu Deva">Prabhu Deva Sundaram</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shobana_Chandrakumar" title="Shobana Chandrakumar">Shobana Chandrakumar</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Bocelli" title="Andrea Bocelli">Andrea Bocelli</a> and Luciano Pavarotti. The proceeds went to the "Nelson Mandela Children's Fund", the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Movement" title="International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement">Red Cross</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO" title="UNESCO">UNESCO</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jackson_.26_Friends_133-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Jackson_.26_Friends-133">[134]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Label_dispute.2C_Invincible_and_third_child_.282000.E2.80.9303.29">Label dispute, <i>Invincible</i> and third child (2000–03)</span></h3>In October 2001, Jackson released <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invincible_%28Michael_Jackson_album%29" title="Invincible (Michael Jackson album)">Invincible</a></i>. This was his first full-length album in six years, and it turned out to be the last album of new material he released while still alive. The release of the album was preceded by a dispute between Jackson and his record label, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Music_Entertainment" title="Sony Music Entertainment">Sony Music Entertainment</a>. Jackson had expected the licenses to the masters of his albums to revert to him sometime in the early 2000s. Once he had the licenses, he would be able to promote the material however he pleased and he would also be able to keep all the profits. However, due to various clauses in the contract, the revert date turned out to be many years away. Jackson discovered that the attorney who represented him in the deal was also representing Sony.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_610.E2.80.93611_131-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_610.E2.80.93611-131">[132]</a></sup> Jackson was also concerned about another conflict of interest. For a number of years, Sony had been pushing to buy all of Jackson's share in their music catalog venture. Jackson feared that Sony might have something to gain from Jackson's career failing, since if his career did fail he would have to sell his share of the catalog.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_614.E2.80.93617_134-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_614.E2.80.93617-134">[135]</a></sup><br />
These conflicts were utilized by the entertainer to leverage an early exit to his contract.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_610.E2.80.93611_131-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_610.E2.80.93611-131">[132]</a></sup> Just before the release of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invincible_%28Michael_Jackson_album%29" title="Invincible (Michael Jackson album)">Invincible</a></i>, Jackson informed the head of Sony Music Entertainment, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Mottola" title="Tommy Mottola">Tommy Mottola</a>, that he was leaving Sony.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_610.E2.80.93611_131-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_610.E2.80.93611-131">[132]</a></sup> As a result, all singles releases, video shootings and promotions concerning the <i>Invincible</i> album were canceled. In spite of the uproar preceding its release, <i>Invincible</i> came out in October 2001 to much anticipation. Just before the album's release, a special <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson:_30th_Anniversary_Special" title="Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special">30th Anniversary celebration</a> at Madison Square Garden occurred in September 2001 to mark the singer's 30th year as a solo artist. Jackson appeared onstage alongside his brothers for the first time since 1984.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-guardian_135-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-guardian-135">[136]</a></sup> The show also featured performances by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BDa" title="Mýa">Mýa</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usher_%28entertainer%29" title="Usher (entertainer)">Usher</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston" title="Whitney Houston">Whitney Houston</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%27N_Sync" title="'N Sync">'N Sync</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destiny%27s_Child" title="Destiny's Child">Destiny's Child</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_%28entertainer%29" title="Monica (entertainer)">Monica</a>, Luther Vandross, and Slash, among other artists.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_50-53_136-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_50-53-136">[137]</a></sup> In the wake of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11,_2001_attacks" title="September 11, 2001 attacks">September 11, 2001 attacks</a>, Jackson helped organize the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_We_Stand:_What_More_Can_I_Give" title="United We Stand: What More Can I Give">United We Stand: What More Can I Give</a> benefit concert at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy_Memorial_Stadium" title="Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium">RFK Stadium</a> in Washington, D.C. The concert was aired on October 21, 2001, and included performances from dozens of major artists, including Jackson, who performed his song "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_More_Can_I_Give" title="What More Can I Give">What More Can I Give</a>" as the finale.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_614.E2.80.93617_134-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_614.E2.80.93617-134">[135]</a></sup><br />
<i>Invincible</i> proved to be a hit, debuting atop the charts in 13 countries and going on to sell approximately 13 million copies worldwide. It received double-platinum certification in the US.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RIAA_certifications_94-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RIAA_certifications-94">[95]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-KOP_achievements_97-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-KOP_achievements-97">[98]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Invincible_13_million_copies_137-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Invincible_13_million_copies-137">[138]</a></sup> However, the sales for <i>Invincible</i> were lower than those of his previous releases, due in part to a lack of promotion, no supporting world tour and the label dispute. The album also came out at a bad time for the music industry in general.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_614.E2.80.93617_134-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_614.E2.80.93617-134">[135]</a></sup> The album cost $30 million to record, not including promotional expenditures.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-guardian-02-07-08_138-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-guardian-02-07-08-138">[139]</a></sup> <i>Invincible</i> spawned three singles, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Rock_My_World" title="You Rock My World">You Rock My World</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cry_%28Michael_Jackson_song%29" title="Cry (Michael Jackson song)">Cry</a>" and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterflies_%28Michael_Jackson_song%29" title="Butterflies (Michael Jackson song)">Butterflies</a>", the latter without a music video. Jackson alleged in July 2002 that Mottola was a "devil" and a "racist" who did not support his African-American artists, using them merely for his own personal gain.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_614.E2.80.93617_134-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_614.E2.80.93617-134">[135]</a></sup> He charged that Mottola had called his colleague <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irv_Gotti" title="Irv Gotti">Irv Gotti</a> a "fat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger" title="Nigger">nigger</a>".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-139"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-139">[140]</a></sup> Sony refused to renew Jackson's contract, and claimed that a $25 million promotional campaign had failed because Jackson refused to tour in the United States.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-guardian-02-07-08_138-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-guardian-02-07-08-138">[139]</a></sup><br />
<span id="Blanket_Jackson"></span> Jackson's third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (nicknamed "Blanket") was born in 2002.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-140"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-140">[141]</a></sup> The mother's identity is unknown, but Jackson has said the child was the result of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_insemination" title="Artificial insemination">artificial insemination</a> from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrogacy" title="Surrogacy">surrogate mother</a> and his own sperm.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_599-600_129-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_599-600-129">[130]</a></sup> In November of that year, Jackson brought his newborn son onto the balcony of his room at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Adlon" title="Hotel Adlon">Hotel Adlon</a> in Berlin, as fans stood below, holding him in his right arm, with a cloth loosely draped over the baby's face. The baby was briefly extended over a railing, four stories above ground level, causing widespread criticism in the media. Jackson later apologized for the incident, calling it "a terrible mistake".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Balcony_incident_141-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Balcony_incident-141">[142]</a></sup> Sony released a compilation of Jackson's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_Ones_%28Michael_Jackson_album%29" title="Number Ones (Michael Jackson album)">hits</a> on CD and DVD. In the US, the album was certified platinum by the RIAA; in the UK it was certified for shipments of at least 1.2 million units.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RIAA_certifications_94-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RIAA_certifications-94">[95]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BPI_142-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-BPI-142">[143]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Second_child_sexual_abuse_allegations_.282003.E2.80.9305.29">Second child sexual abuse allegations (2003–05)</span></h3><div class="rellink">Further information: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_with_Michael_Jackson" title="Living with Michael Jackson">Living with Michael Jackson</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_v._Jackson" title="People v. Jackson">People v. Jackson</a></div>In a series of interviews with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Bashir" title="Martin Bashir">Martin Bashir</a>, broadcast in 2003, as <i>Living with Michael Jackson</i>, Jackson was seen holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_Arvizo" title="Gavin Arvizo">Gavin Arvizo</a>, 13, who later accused him of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_sexual_abuse" title="Child sexual abuse">sexual abuse</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_640_143-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_640-143">[144]</a></sup> Shortly after the documentary aired, Jackson was charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_beverage#United_States_of_America" title="Alcoholic beverage">administering an intoxicating agent</a> in relation to Arvizo.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_640_143-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_640-143">[144]</a></sup> Jackson denied the allegations, saying the sleepovers were not sexual in nature.<br />
During the two years between the charges and the trial, Jackson reportedly became dependent on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pethidine" title="Pethidine">pethidine</a> (Demerol), and lost a lot of weight. The <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_v._Jackson" title="People v. Jackson">People v. Jackson</a></i> began on January 31, 2005, in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria,_California" title="Santa Maria, California">Santa Maria, California</a>, and lasted five months, until the end of May. On June 13, 2005, Jackson was acquitted on all counts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-144"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-144">[145]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Michael_Jackson_health_concerns_145-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Michael_Jackson_health_concerns-145">[146]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-146"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-146">[147]</a></sup> After the trial, in a highly publicized relocation he moved to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a> island of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain" title="Bahrain">Bahrain</a>, as a guest of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_Bin_Hamad_Bin_Isa_Al-Khalifa" title="Abdullah Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa">Sheikh Abdullah</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-147"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-147">[148]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Final_years_.282006.E2.80.9309.29">Final years (2006–09)</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson2_2006_cropped.jpg"><img alt="A group of adults and a child are shown in the photo. An African American female with short brown that is wearing a jean jacket and a light wash pair of jeans with a red shirt is seen holding a video camera, that is pointing forward. To the left of the female there is an opened black umbrella that is held above a Caucasian male with long black hair that is wearing all black clothes. In front of the male there is a child with black hair that is wearing a black cap with a blue shirt, a pair of white pants and black shoes. To the farthest left there ate two Caucasian males with dark brown hair. In the background, trees, bushes and people can be seen." class="thumbimage" height="265" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Michael_Jackson2_2006_cropped.jpg/200px-Michael_Jackson2_2006_cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson2_2006_cropped.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Jackson with his children in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Paris" title="Disneyland Paris">Disneyland Paris</a>, 2006</div></div></div>In March 2006, the main house at the Neverland Ranch was closed as a cost-cutting measure.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-148"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-148">[149]</a></sup> There were numerous reports around that time that Jackson was having financial problems. Jackson had been deliquent on his repayments of a $270 million loan secured against his music publishing holdings, even though those holdings were reportedly making him as much as $75 million a year.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-149"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-149">[150]</a></sup> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_America" title="Bank of America">Bank of America</a> sold the debt to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortress_Investment_Group" title="Fortress Investment Group">Fortress Investments</a>. Sony reportedly proposed a restructuring deal which would give them a future option to buy half of Jackson's stake in their jointly owned publishing company (leaving Jackson with a 25% stake).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sonydeal_119-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-sonydeal-119">[120]</a></sup> Jackson agreed to a Sony-backed refinancing deal in April 2006, although the exact details were not made public.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-150"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-150">[151]</a></sup> Jackson did not have a recording contract in place with Sony or any other major record label at the time.<br />
In the spring of 2006, there was an announcement that Jackson had signed a contract with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain" title="Bahrain">Bahrain</a>-based startup called Two Seas Records. However, nothing ever came of that deal, and the CEO of Two Seas, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_Records" title="Gut Records">Guy Holmes</a>, later stated that the deal had never been finalized.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2seas-billboard_151-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-2seas-billboard-151">[152]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2seas-bbc_152-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-2seas-bbc-152">[153]</a></sup> Throughout 2006, Sony repackaged 20 singles from the 1980s and 1990s as the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visionary:_The_Video_Singles" title="Visionary: The Video Singles">Michael Jackson: Visionary</a></i> series, which subsequently became a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxed_set" title="Boxed set">boxed set</a>. Most of those singles returned to the charts as a result. In September 2006, Jackson and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe confirmed reports that they had settled their long-running child custody suit. The terms were never made public. Jackson continued to be the custodial parent of the couple's two children.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jackson_settles_with_Ex_wife_153-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Jackson_settles_with_Ex_wife-153">[154]</a></sup> In October 2006, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FoxNews" title="FoxNews">FoxNews</a> entertainment reporter Roger Friedman said that Jackson had been recording at a studio in rural <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Westmeath" title="County Westmeath">Westmeath, Ireland</a>. It was not known at the time what Jackson might be working on, or who might be paying for the sessions, since his publicist had recently issued a statement claiming that he had left Two Seas.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2seas-bbc_152-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-2seas-bbc-152">[153]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-154"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-154">[155]</a></sup><br />
In November 2006, Jackson invited an <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Access_Hollywood" title="Access Hollywood">Access Hollywood</a></i> camera crew into the studio in Westmeath, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSNBC" title="MSNBC">MSNBC</a> broke the story that he was working on a new album, produced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will.i.am" title="Will.i.am">Will.i.am</a> of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-Eyed_Peas" title="Black-Eyed Peas">Black-Eyed Peas</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-KOP_achievements_97-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-KOP_achievements-97">[98]</a></sup> Jackson performed at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_World_Music_Awards" title="2006 World Music Awards">World Music Awards</a>, in London on November 15, 2006, and accepted a Diamond Award for selling over 100 million records.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-KOP_achievements_97-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-KOP_achievements-97">[98]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2006_World_Music_Awards_155-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-2006_World_Music_Awards-155">[156]</a></sup> Jackson returned to the United States after Christmas 2006 to attend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown" title="James Brown">James Brown</a>'s funeral in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusta,_Georgia" title="Augusta, Georgia">Augusta, Georgia</a>. He gave one of the eulogies, saying that "James Brown is my greatest inspiration."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jb_156-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-jb-156">[157]</a></sup> In the spring of 2007, Jackson and Sony teamed up to buy yet another music publishing company: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famous_Music" title="Famous Music">Famous Music LLC</a>, formerly owned by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viacom" title="Viacom">Viacom</a>. This deal gave him the rights to songs by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminem" title="Eminem">Eminem</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakira" title="Shakira">Shakira</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beck" title="Beck">Beck</a>, among others.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2007_music_deal_157-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-2007_music_deal-157">[158]</a></sup> Jackson recorded extensively during this period in New York with songwriter and producer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will.i.am" title="Will.i.am">Will.i.am</a> and also in Las Vegas with producers <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akon" title="Akon">Akon</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RedOne" title="RedOne">RedOne</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-telegraph-june09_158-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-telegraph-june09-158">[159]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-telegraph-june09_158-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-telegraph-june09-158">[159]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-hitquarters.com_159-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-hitquarters.com-159">[160]</a></sup> In March 2007, Jackson gave a brief interview to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press" title="Associated Press">Associated Press</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo" title="Tokyo">Tokyo</a>, where he said:<br />
<blockquote class="templatequote"><div>I've been in the entertainment industry since I was six-years-old, and as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens" title="Charles Dickens">Charles Dickens</a> would say, "It's been the best of times, the worst of times." But I would not change my career... While some have made deliberate attempts to hurt me, I take it in stride because I have a loving family, a strong faith and wonderful friends and fans who have, and continue, to support me.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-160"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-160">[161]</a></sup></div><div class="templatequotecite">—Michael Jackson</div></blockquote>In September 2007 <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone" title="Rolling Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i> broke the exact same story news MSNBC and <i>Access Hollywood</i> had broken a year earlier: i.e., that Jackson was working with Will.i.am on a new album. That album was apparently never completed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-161"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-161">[162]</a></sup> But in 2008, Jackson and Sony released <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_25" title="Thriller 25">Thriller 25</a></i> to mark the 25th anniversary of the original <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28album%29" title="Thriller (album)">Thriller</a></i>. This album featured the previously unreleased song "For All Time" (an out-take from the original sessions) as well as re-mixes, where Jackson collaborated with younger artists who had been inspired by his work.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-National_certifications_for_Thriller_25_162-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-National_certifications_for_Thriller_25-162">[163]</a></sup> Two of the remixes were released as singles with only modest success: "<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanna_Be_Startin%27_Somethin%27_2008" title="Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008">Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008</a>" (with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akon" title="Akon">Akon</a>) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_Is_Mine#The_Girl_Is_Mine_2008" title="The Girl Is Mine">The Girl Is Mine 2008</a>" (with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will.i.am" title="Will.i.am">will.i.am</a>.) The second single was based on an early demo version, without <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McCartney" title="Paul McCartney">Paul McCartney</a>. The album itself was a hit, however.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-National_certifications_for_Thriller_25_162-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-National_certifications_for_Thriller_25-162">[163]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Thriller_25_chart_positions_at_digitalproducer_163-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Thriller_25_chart_positions_at_digitalproducer-163">[164]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Thriller_25_chart_positions_164-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Thriller_25_chart_positions-164">[165]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Worldwide_shipments_of_T25_165-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Worldwide_shipments_of_T25-165">[166]</a></sup> In anticipation of Jackson's 50th birthday, Sony BMG released a series of greatest-hits albums called <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Pop_%28album%29" title="King of Pop (album)">King of Pop</a></i>. Slightly different versions were released in various countries, based on polls of local fans.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-KOP_announced_166-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-KOP_announced-166">[167]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Song_pool_167-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Song_pool-167">[168]</a></sup> <i>King of Pop</i> reached the top 10 in most countries where it was issued, and also sold well as an import in other countries (such as the United States.)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-acharts_KoP_168-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-acharts_KoP-168">[169]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-KOP_chart_positions_at_ultratop_169-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-KOP_chart_positions_at_ultratop-169">[170]</a></sup><br />
In the fall of 2008, Fortress Investments threatened to foreclose on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverland_Ranch" title="Neverland Ranch">Neverland Ranch</a>, which Jackson used as collateral for loans running into many tens of millions of dollars. However, Fortress opted to sell Jackson's debts to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_Capital" title="Colony Capital">Colony Capital LLC</a>. In November, Jackson transferred Neverland Ranch's title to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC, which was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_venture" title="Joint venture">joint venture</a> between Jackson and Colony Capital LLC. This deal cleared Jackson's debt, and he reportedly even gained an extra $35 million from the venture. At the time of his death, Jackson still owned a stake in Neverland/Sycamore Valley, but it is unknown how large that stake was.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-170"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-170">[171]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-171"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-171">[172]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-172"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-172">[173]</a></sup> In September 2008, Jackson entered negotiations with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julien%27s_Auctions" title="Julien's Auctions">Julien's Auction House</a> to display and auction a large collection of memorabilia amounting to approximately 1390 lots. The auction was scheduled to take place between April 22 and April 25.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-173"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-173">[174]</a></sup> An exhibition of the lots opened as scheduled on April 14, but the actual auction was eventually cancelled at Jackson's request.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-174"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-174">[175]</a></sup><br />
In March 2009, Jackson held a press conference at London's <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_O2_arena_%28London%29" title="The O2 arena (London)">O<sub>2</sub> arena</a> and announced a series of comeback concerts titled "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_It_%28Michael_Jackson_concerts%29" title="This Is It (Michael Jackson concerts)">This Is It</a>." The shows would be Jackson's first major series of concerts since the HIStory World Tour finished in 1997. Jackson suggested possible retirement after the shows; he said it would be his "final curtain call". The initial plan was for a 10 concerts in London, followed by shows in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris" title="Paris">Paris</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City" title="New York City">New York City</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai" title="Mumbai">Mumbai</a>. Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, stated that the first 10 dates alone would earn the singer approximately £50 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-175"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-175">[176]</a></sup> The London residency was increased to 50 dates after record breaking ticket sales: over one million were sold in less than 2 hours.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Rolling_Stone_50_dates.2C_1_million_tickets_176-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Rolling_Stone_50_dates.2C_1_million_tickets-176">[177]</a></sup> Jackson rehearsed in Los Angeles in the weeks leading up to the tour under the direction of choreographer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Ortega" title="Kenny Ortega">Kenny Ortega</a>. Most of these rehearsals took place at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staples_Center" title="Staples Center">Staples Center</a>, which was owned by AEG.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-177"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-177">[178]</a></sup> The concerts would have commenced on July 13, 2009 and finished on March 6, 2010. Less than three weeks before the first show was due to begin in London and with all concerts being sold out, Jackson died of cardiac arrest.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Michael_Jackson_dead_at_50_after_cardiac_arrest_178-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Michael_Jackson_dead_at_50_after_cardiac_arrest-178">[179]</a></sup><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Pictures" title="Columbia Pictures">Columbia Pictures</a> made a feature documentary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson%27s_This_Is_It" title="Michael Jackson's This Is It">concert-film</a> from the rehearsal and pre-recorded footage. The contract for the film stipulated that a cut of the film must be screened for Jackson's estate, which stands to receive 90 percent of the profits.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-179"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-179">[180]</a></sup> A final cut was released on October 28, 2009, for a limited 2 week run in theatres worldwide.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-180"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-180">[181]</a></sup> A promotional single titled "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_It_%28Michael_Jackson_song%29" title="This Is It (Michael Jackson song)">This Is It</a>" was released on October 12, with a new <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_It_%28Michael_Jackson_album%29" title="This Is It (Michael Jackson album)">compilation album of the same name</a> released on October 26, to be released with <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson%27s_This_Is_It" title="Michael Jackson's This Is It">Michael Jackson's This Is It</a></i> documentary film, which became the highest grossing documentary or concert movie of all time, with the earnings of more than $260 million worldwide.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-boxofficemojo_181-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-boxofficemojo-181">[182]</a></sup> Two versions of the new song appear on the album, which also features original masters of Jackson's hits in the order in which they appear in the movie. It contains a bonus disc with previously unreleased versions of more Jackson hits, as well as a previously unheard spoken word poem entitled "Planet Earth."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-182"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-182">[183]</a></sup> After his death, Jackson became the best-selling artist of 2009 in the United States selling over 8.2 million albums and 31 million albums worldwide.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-183"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-183">[184]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-184"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-184">[185]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Posthumous_works">Posthumous works</span></h3>Following the massive surge in sales of Jackson's catalogue of recordings, Sony announced that they have extended their relationship with his material. The distribution rights held by Sony Music were due to expire in 2015.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wallstreet-sony_20-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-wallstreet-sony-20">[21]</a></sup> On March 16, 2010, Sony Music Entertainment, spearheaded by its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia/Epic_Label_Group" title="Columbia/Epic Label Group">Columbia/Epic Label Group</a> division, signed a new deal with the Jackson estate to extend distribution rights to his back catalogue until at least 2017, as well as permission to release ten new albums with previously unreleased material and new collections of released work. The first new album is reportedly due out in November 2010, and the final album before December 2017. The deal was unprecedented in the music industry as it is the most expensive music contract to a single artist in history, with Sony Music reportedly paying $250 million for the deal and with the Jackson estate getting the full sum as well as its share of royalties for all works released.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wallstreet-sony_20-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-wallstreet-sony-20">[21]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-185"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-185">[186]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Death_and_memorial">Death and memorial</span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Michael_Jackson" title="Death of Michael Jackson">Death of Michael Jackson</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_memorial_service" title="Michael Jackson memorial service">Michael Jackson memorial service</a></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_Star_on_Hollywood_Blvd_%28cropped%29.jpg"><img alt="A pink star with the writing "Michael Jackson" and a gold colored rim. The star is surrounded by a metal silver colored barrier and flowers. There is also blue confetti and pink rose bud pedals on top of the star." class="thumbimage" height="167" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a9/Michael_Jackson_Star_on_Hollywood_Blvd_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Michael_Jackson_Star_on_Hollywood_Blvd_%28cropped%29.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_Star_on_Hollywood_Blvd_%28cropped%29.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Jackson's fans paid tribute to him at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, shortly after the announcement of his death.</div></div></div>On June 25, 2009, Jackson was found unconscious in bed at his rented mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmby_Hills,_Los_Angeles,_California" title="Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California">Holmby Hills</a> district of Los Angeles. Attempts at resuscitating him by Conrad Murray, his <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_physician" title="Personal physician">personal physician</a>, were unsuccessful.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Times6580897_186-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Times6580897-186">[187]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Fire_Department" title="Los Angeles Fire Department">Los Angeles Fire Department</a> paramedics received a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9-1-1" title="9-1-1">911</a> call at 12:22 (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Time_Zone" title="Pacific Time Zone">PDT</a>) (19:22 UTC), arriving three minutes later at Jackson's location.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-187"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-187">[188]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-188"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-188">[189]</a></sup> He was reportedly not breathing and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiopulmonary_resuscitation" title="Cardiopulmonary resuscitation">CPR</a> was performed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MSNBC_189-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-MSNBC-189">[190]</a></sup> Resuscitation efforts continued en route to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan_UCLA_Medical_Center" title="Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center">Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center</a>, and for an hour after arriving there at 1:13 (20:13 UTC). Jackson's death triggered a global outpouring of grief.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Times6580897_186-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Times6580897-186">[187]</a></sup> He was pronounced dead at 2:26 local time (21:26 UTC).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-190"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-190">[191]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-reuters_191-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-reuters-191">[192]</a></sup><br />
The news spread quickly online, causing websites to slow down and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crash_%28computing%29" title="Crash (computing)">crash</a> from user overload. Both TMZ and the <i>Los Angeles Times</i> suffered outages.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Rawlinson_192-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Rawlinson-192">[193]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google" title="Google">Google</a> initially believed that the input from millions of people searching for "Michael Jackson" meant that the search engine was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial-of-service_attack#Distributed_attack" title="Denial-of-service attack">under attack</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter">Twitter</a> reported a crash, as did <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> at 3:15 p.m. PDT (6:15 p.m. EST).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-193"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-193">[194]</a></sup> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation" title="Wikimedia Foundation">Wikimedia Foundation</a> reported nearly a million visitors to Jackson's biography within one hour, probably the most visitors in a one-hour period to any article in Wikipedia's history.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-194"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-194">[195]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AOL_Instant_Messenger" title="AOL Instant Messenger">AOL Instant Messenger</a> collapsed for 40 minutes. AOL called it a "seminal moment in Internet history", adding, "We've never seen anything like it in terms of scope or depth."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WoodJune27_195-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-WoodJune27-195">[196]</a></sup><br />
Around 15% of Twitter posts—or 5,000 <a class="extiw" href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tweet#Noun" title="wiktionary:tweet">tweets</a> per minute—reportedly mentioned Jackson after the news broke,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-crash_196-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-crash-196">[197]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Wortham_197-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Wortham-197">[198]</a></sup> compared to the 5% recalled as having mentioned the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Iranian_election" title="2009 Iranian election">Iranian elections</a> or the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_pandemic" title="2009 flu pandemic">flu pandemic</a> that had made headlines earlier in the year.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Wortham_197-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Wortham-197">[198]</a></sup> Overall, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_traffic" title="Web traffic">web traffic</a> ranged from 11% to at least 20% higher than normal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-crash_196-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-crash-196">[197]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-198"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-198">[199]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV" title="MTV">MTV</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Entertainment_Television" title="Black Entertainment Television">Black Entertainment Television</a> (BET) aired <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_%28television%29" title="Marathon (television)">marathons</a> of Jackson's music videos.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mtvjackson_199-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-mtvjackson-199">[200]</a></sup> Jackson specials aired on multiple television stations around the world. The British <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_opera" title="Soap opera">soap opera</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EastEnders" title="EastEnders">EastEnders</a></i> added a last-minute scene, in which <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denise_Wicks" title="Denise Wicks">one character</a> tells <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Trueman" title="Patrick Trueman">another</a> about the news, to the June 26 episode.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-200"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-200">[201]</a></sup> Jackson was the topic of every front-page headline in the daily British tabloid <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sun_%28newspaper%29" title="The Sun (newspaper)">The Sun</a></i> for about two weeks following his death.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SunHeadlines_201-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-SunHeadlines-201">[202]</a></sup> During the same period, the three major U.S. networks' evening newscasts—<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_News_with_Charles_Gibson" title="World News with Charles Gibson">ABC's World News</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_Evening_News" title="CBS Evening News">CBS Evening News</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC_Nightly_News" title="NBC Nightly News">NBC Nightly News</a>—devoted 34 percent of their broadcast time to him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-202"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-202">[203]</a></sup> Magazines including <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Magazine" title="Time Magazine">TIME</a></i> published commemorative editions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-203"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-203">[204]</a></sup> A scene that had featured Jackson's sister La Toya was cut from the film <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%BCno_%28film%29" title="Brüno (film)"><i>Brüno</i></a> out of respect toward Jackson's family.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-204"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-204">[205]</a></sup><br />
Jackson's memorial was held on July 7, 2009, at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staples_Center" title="Staples Center">Staples Center</a> in Los Angeles, preceded by a private family service at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Lawn_Memorial_Park_%28Hollywood_Hills%29#Court_of_Liberty" title="Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)">Forest Lawn Memorial Park's Hall of Liberty</a>. Jackson's casket was present during the memorial but no information was released about the final disposition of the body. While some unofficial reports claimed a worldwide audience as high as one billion people<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bucci_205-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-bucci-205">[206]</a></sup> the U.S. audience was estimated by Nielsen to be 31.1 million, an amount comparable to the estimated 35.1 million that watched the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan" title="Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan">2004 burial of former president Ronald Reagan</a>, and the estimated 33.1 million Americans who watched the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funeral_of_Diana,_Princess_of_Wales" title="Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales">1997 funeral for Princess Diana</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-206"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-206">[207]</a></sup><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder" title="Stevie Wonder">Stevie Wonder</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Richie" title="Lionel Richie">Lionel Richie</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariah_Carey" title="Mariah Carey">Mariah Carey</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mayer" title="John Mayer">John Mayer</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Hudson" title="Jennifer Hudson">Jennifer Hudson</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usher_%28entertainer%29" title="Usher (entertainer)">Usher</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_Jackson" title="Jermaine Jackson">Jermaine Jackson</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaheen_Jafargholi" title="Shaheen Jafargholi">Shaheen Jafargholi</a> performed at the event. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berry_Gordy" title="Berry Gordy">Berry Gordy</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_Robinson" title="Smokey Robinson">Smokey Robinson</a> gave eulogies, while <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Latifah" title="Queen Latifah">Queen Latifah</a> read, "We had him," a poem written for the occasion by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Angelou" title="Maya Angelou">Maya Angelou</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-207"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-207">[208]</a></sup> The Reverend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Sharpton" title="Al Sharpton">Al Sharpton</a> received a standing ovation with cheers when he told Jackson's children, "Wasn't nothing strange about your Daddy. It was strange what your Daddy had to deal with. But he dealt with it anyway."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-208"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-208">[209]</a></sup> Jackson's 11-year-old daughter, Paris Katherine, cried as she told the crowd, "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine ... I just wanted to say I love him ... so much."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-209"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-209">[210]</a></sup> On August 24, several news outlets quoted anonymous sources as stating that the Los Angeles coroner had decided to treat Jackson's death as a homicide; this was later confirmed by the coroner on August 28.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-210"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-210">[211]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-211"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-211">[212]</a></sup> At the time of death, Jackson had been administered <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propofol" title="Propofol">propofol</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorazepam" title="Lorazepam">lorazepam</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midazolam" title="Midazolam">midazolam</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WebMD_212-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-WebMD-212">[213]</a></sup> Law enforcement officials conducted a manslaughter investigation of his personal physician, Conrad Murray.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-213"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-213">[214]</a></sup> On February 8, 2010, Murray was charged with <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Involuntary_manslaughter" title="Involuntary manslaughter">involuntary manslaughter</a> by prosecutors in Los Angeles.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-214"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-214">[215]</a></sup> An autopsy revealed that Jackson's arms were covered with punctures, his face and neck were scarred and he had tattooed eyebrows and lips.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-215"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-215">[216]</a></sup> Jackson was buried on September 3, 2009, at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Lawn_Memorial_Park,_Glendale" title="Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale">Forest Lawn Memorial Park</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glendale,_California" title="Glendale, California">Glendale, California</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-216"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-216">[217]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Artistry">Artistry</span></h2><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Influences">Influences</span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 152px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_sculpture.jpg"><img alt="A silver color statue of a male. The status is placed standing up with its arms bent inward and both its legs spaced apart. The status clothes have wrinkles and it has two shoes with a heel. In the background, a tree and a light blue sky with multiple clouds can be seen." class="thumbimage" height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Michael_Jackson_sculpture.jpg/150px-Michael_Jackson_sculpture.jpg" width="150" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_sculpture.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>One of many identical statues, positioned throughout Europe to promote <i>HIStory</i>.</div></div></div>Jackson's music genre takes roots in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%26B" title="R&B">R&B</a>, Motown, pop and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_music" title="Soul music">soul</a>. He had been influenced by the work of contemporary musicians such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Richard" title="Little Richard">Little Richard</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown" title="James Brown">James Brown</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Wilson" title="Jackie Wilson">Jackie Wilson</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Ross" title="Diana Ross">Diana Ross</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ruffin" title="David Ruffin">David Ruffin</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Kelly" title="Gene Kelly">Gene Kelly</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Astaire" title="Fred Astaire">Fred Astaire</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Davis,_Jr." title="Sammy Davis, Jr.">Sammy Davis, Jr.</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Isley_Brothers" title="The Isley Brothers">The Isley Brothers</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_Gees" title="Bee Gees">Bee Gees</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-217"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-217">[218]</a></sup> He was also an admirer of performers from the English <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_hall" title="Music hall">music hall</a> tradition, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Hill" title="Benny Hill">Benny Hill</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin" title="Charlie Chaplin">Charlie Chaplin</a>. While Little Richard had a huge influence on Jackson,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Michael_Jackson_saved_my_life_36-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Michael_Jackson_saved_my_life-36">[37]</a></sup> James Brown was for him, since early childhood, his greatest inspiration: "the master" or "a genius" especially when he was playing with his group, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Famous_Flames" title="The Famous Flames">the Famous Flames</a>, describing his performance as "phenomenal". He declared: "Ever since I was a small child, no more than like six years old, my mother would wake me no matter what time it was, if I was sleeping, no matter what I was doing, to watch the television to see the master at work. And when I saw him move, I was mesmerized. I had never seen a performer perform like James Brown, and right then and there I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life because of James Brown."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-218"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-218">[219]</a></sup><br />
At first, the young Michael Jackson owed his vocal technique in large part to Diana Ross. In October 1969, it was decided that Michael would live with Diana Ross. Not only a mother figure to him, he often observed her in rehearsal as an accomplished performer. He later confessed: "I got to know her well. She taught me so much. I used to just sit in the corner and watch the way she moved. She was art in motion. I studied the way she moved, the way she sang – just the way she was." He told her: 'I want to be just like you, Diana'. She said: 'You just be yourself.'"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-219"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-219">[220]</a></sup> But Michael especially owed his <i>oooh'</i>s to Diana Ross. At first, Michael almost always punctuated his verses with a sudden interjection of <i>oooh</i>. Diana Ross used this effect on many of the songs recorded with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Supremes" title="The Supremes">The Supremes</a>, and young Michael was delighted to take ownership.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-220"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-220">[221]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Musical_themes_and_genres">Musical themes and genres</span></h3>Unlike many artists, Jackson did not write his songs on paper. Instead he would dictate into a sound recorder, and when recording he would sing the lyrics from memory. In most of his songs, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Is_It_%28Michael_Jackson_song%29" title="Who Is It (Michael Jackson song)">Who Is It</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean" title="Billie Jean">Billie Jean</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabloid_Junkie" title="Tabloid Junkie">Tabloid Junkie</a>, he would beatbox and imitate the instruments using his voice instead of playing the actual instruments, along with other sounds. Jackson noted that it's easier to sing a drum line, or sing a bass, instead of playing a drum line or a bass with an instrument. Several critics have said that Jackson's distinct voice is able to replace any instrument convincingly. Steve Huey of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allmusic" title="Allmusic">Allmusic</a> said that, throughout his solo career, Jackson's versatility allowed him to experiment with various themes and genres.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_221-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-allmusic-221">[222]</a></sup> As a musician, he ranged from Motown's dance fare and ballads to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Techno" title="Techno">techno</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_music" title="House music">house</a>-edged <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_jack_swing" title="New jack swing">new jack swing</a> to work that incorporates both <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk" title="Funk">funk</a> rhythms and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_rock" title="Hard rock">hard rock</a> guitar.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rollingstone_31-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-rollingstone-31">[32]</a></sup><br />
According to Huey, <i>Thriller</i> refined the strengths of <i>Off the Wall</i>; the dance and rock tracks were more aggressive, while the pop tunes and ballads were softer and more soulful.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_221-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-allmusic-221">[222]</a></sup> Notable tracks included the ballads "The Lady in My Life", "Human Nature" and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_Is_Mine" title="The Girl Is Mine">The Girl Is Mine</a>"; the funk pieces "Billie Jean" and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanna_Be_Startin%27_Somethin%27" title="Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'">Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'</a>"; and the disco set "Baby Be Mine" and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P.Y.T._%28Pretty_Young_Thing%29" title="P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)">P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)</a>".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_221-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-allmusic-221">[222]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Slant_Thriller_222-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Slant_Thriller-222">[223]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AMG_Thriller_223-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-AMG_Thriller-223">[224]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RS_Thriller_224-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RS_Thriller-224">[225]</a></sup> With <i>Thriller</i>, Christopher Connelly of <i>Rolling Stone</i> commented that Jackson developed his long association with the subliminal theme of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia" title="Paranoia">paranoia</a> and darker imagery.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RS_Thriller_224-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RS_Thriller-224">[225]</a></sup> Allmusic's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Thomas_Erlewine" title="Stephen Thomas Erlewine">Stephen Thomas Erlewine</a> noted this is evident on the songs "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AMG_Thriller_223-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-AMG_Thriller-223">[224]</a></sup> In "Billie Jean", Jackson sings about an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered a child of hers.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_221-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-allmusic-221">[222]</a></sup> In "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossip and the media.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RS_Thriller_224-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RS_Thriller-224">[225]</a></sup> The anti-gang violence rock song "Beat It" became a homage to <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Side_Story" title="West Side Story">West Side Story</a></i>, and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece, according to Huey.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rollingstone_31-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-rollingstone-31">[32]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_221-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-allmusic-221">[222]</a></sup> He also observed that the title track "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28song%29" title="Thriller (song)">Thriller</a>" began Jackson's interest with the theme of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural" title="Supernatural">supernatural</a>, a topic he revisited in subsequent years.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_221-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-allmusic-221">[222]</a></sup> In 1985, Jackson co-wrote the charity anthem "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World" title="We Are the World">We Are the World</a>"; humanitarian themes later became a recurring theme in his lyrics and public persona.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_221-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-allmusic-221">[222]</a></sup><br />
<table class="metadata plainlinks mbox-small" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170);"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="mbox-image"><div class="center"><div class="floatnone"><img alt="" height="50" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Gnome-mime-audio-openclipart.svg/50px-Gnome-mime-audio-openclipart.svg.png" width="50" /></div></div></td> <td class="mbox-text" style="line-height: 1.1em;"><div class="haudio"><div class="fn" style="padding: 2px 0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_Thriller.ogg" title="File:Michael Jackson Thriller.ogg">"Thriller"</a></div><div><div id="ogg_player_2" style="width: 220px;"><div><button onclick="if (typeof(wgOggPlayer) != 'undefined') wgOggPlayer.init(false, {"id": "ogg_player_2", "videoUrl": "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/10/Michael_Jackson_Thriller.ogg", "width": 220, "height": 35, "length": "25", "linkUrl": "/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_Thriller.ogg", "isVideo": false});" style="text-align: center; width: 220px;" title="Play sound"><img alt="Play sound" height="22" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/extensions/OggHandler/play.png" width="22" /></button></div></div></div><div class="description" style="padding: 0pt;">One of Jackson's signature pieces, "Thriller", released as a single in 1984, utilizes cinematic sound effects, horror film motifs and vocal trickery to convey a sense of danger.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_23_34-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_23-34">[35]</a></sup></div></div><hr /><div class="haudio"><div class="fn" style="padding: 2px 0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Smooth_Criminal_by_Michael_Jackson.ogg" title="File:Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson.ogg">"Smooth Criminal"</a></div><div><div id="ogg_player_3" style="width: 220px;"><div><button onclick="if (typeof(wgOggPlayer) != 'undefined') wgOggPlayer.init(false, {"id": "ogg_player_3", "videoUrl": "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/68/Smooth_Criminal_by_Michael_Jackson.ogg", "width": 220, "height": 35, "length": "28", "linkUrl": "/wiki/File:Smooth_Criminal_by_Michael_Jackson.ogg", "isVideo": false});" style="text-align: center; width: 220px;" title="Play sound"><img alt="Play sound" height="22" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/extensions/OggHandler/play.png" width="22" /></button></div></div></div><div class="description" style="padding: 0pt;">A single from the album <i>Bad</i>, released 1988, "Smooth Criminal" features digital drum sounds, keyboard-created bass lines and other percussion elements designed to give the impression of a pulsing heart.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_24_225-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_24-225">[226]</a></sup></div></div><hr /></td> </tr>
<tr> <td class="mbox-text" colspan="2" style="line-height: 1.1em;"><span style="font-size: smaller;"><i>Problems listening to these files? See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Media_help" title="Wikipedia:Media help">media help</a>.</i></span></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>In <i>Bad</i>, Jackson's concept of the predatory lover can be seen on the rock song "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Diana" title="Dirty Diana">Dirty Diana</a>".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NYT_Bad_226-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-NYT_Bad-226">[227]</a></sup> The lead single "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Just_Can%27t_Stop_Loving_You" title="I Just Can't Stop Loving You">I Just Can't Stop Loving You</a>" is a traditional love ballad, while "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_in_the_Mirror" title="Man in the Mirror">Man in the Mirror</a>" is an anthemic ballad of confession and resolution.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TIME2_74-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-TIME2-74">[75]</a></sup> "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_Criminal" title="Smooth Criminal">Smooth Criminal</a>" was an evocation of bloody assault, rape and likely murder.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TIME2_74-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-TIME2-74">[75]</a></sup> Allmusic's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Thomas_Erlewine" title="Stephen Thomas Erlewine">Stephen Thomas Erlewine</a> states that <i>Dangerous</i> presents Jackson as a stark paradoxical individual.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ALG_Dangerous_227-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-ALG_Dangerous-227">[228]</a></sup> He comments the album is more diverse than his previous <i>Bad</i>, as it appeals to an urban audience while also attracting the middle class with anthems like "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heal_the_World" title="Heal the World">Heal the World</a>".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ALG_Dangerous_227-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-ALG_Dangerous-227">[228]</a></sup> The first half of the record is dedicated to new jack swing, including songs like "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jam_%28song%29" title="Jam (song)">Jam</a>" and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remember_the_Time" title="Remember the Time">Remember the Time</a>".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NYT_Dangerous_228-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-NYT_Dangerous-228">[229]</a></sup> The album is Jackson's first where social ills become a primary theme; "Why You Wanna Trip on Me", for example, protests against world hunger, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS" title="AIDS">AIDS</a>, homelessness and drugs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NYT_Dangerous_228-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-NYT_Dangerous-228">[229]</a></sup> <i>Dangerous</i> contains sexually charged efforts like "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Closet" title="In the Closet">In the Closet</a>", a love song about desire and denial, risk and repression, solitude and connection, privacy and revelation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NYT_Dangerous_228-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-NYT_Dangerous-228">[229]</a></sup> The title track continues the theme of the predatory lover and compulsive desire.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NYT_Dangerous_228-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-NYT_Dangerous-228">[229]</a></sup> The second half includes introspective, pop-gospel anthems such as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_You_Be_There" title="Will You Be There">Will You Be There</a>", "Heal the World" and "Keep the Faith"; these songs show Jackson finally opening up about various personal struggles and worries.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NYT_Dangerous_228-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-NYT_Dangerous-228">[229]</a></sup> In the ballad "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_Too_Soon" title="Gone Too Soon">Gone Too Soon</a>", Jackson gives tribute to his friend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_White" title="Ryan White">Ryan White</a> and the plight of those with AIDS.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TWP_Dangerous_229-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-TWP_Dangerous-229">[230]</a></sup><br />
<i>HIStory</i> creates an atmosphere of paranoia.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ALG_HIStory_230-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-ALG_HIStory-230">[231]</a></sup> Its content focuses on the hardships and public struggles Jackson went through just prior to its production. In the new jack swing-funk-rock efforts "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream/Childhood" title="Scream/Childhood">Scream</a>" and "Tabloid Junkie", along with the R&B ballad "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Are_Not_Alone" title="You Are Not Alone">You Are Not Alone</a>", Jackson retaliates against the injustice and isolation he feels, and directs much of his anger at the media.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RS_HIStory_231-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RS_HIStory-231">[232]</a></sup> In the introspective ballad "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_in_Moscow" title="Stranger in Moscow">Stranger in Moscow</a>", Jackson laments over his "fall from grace", while songs like "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Song" title="Earth Song">Earth Song</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream/Childhood" title="Scream/Childhood">Childhood</a>", "Little Susie" and "Smile" are all operatic pop pieces.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ALG_HIStory_230-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-ALG_HIStory-230">[231]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RS_HIStory_231-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RS_HIStory-231">[232]</a></sup> In the track "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.S._%28song%29" title="D.S. (song)">D.S.</a>", Jackson launched a verbal attack against <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Sneddon" title="Tom Sneddon">Tom Sneddon</a>. He describes Sneddon as an antisocial, white supremacist who wanted to "get my ass, dead or alive". Of the song, Sneddon said, "I have not — shall we say — done him the honor of listening to it, but I’ve been told that it ends with the sound of a gunshot".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sneddon_profile_232-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Sneddon_profile-232">[233]</a></sup> <i>Invincible</i> found Jackson working heavily with producer Rodney Jerkins.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_221-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-allmusic-221">[222]</a></sup> It is a record made up of urban soul like "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cry_%28Michael_Jackson_song%29" title="Cry (Michael Jackson song)">Cry</a>" and "The Lost Children", ballads such as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speechless_%28Michael_Jackson_song%29" title="Speechless (Michael Jackson song)">Speechless</a>", "Break of Dawn" and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterflies_%28Michael_Jackson_song%29" title="Butterflies (Michael Jackson song)">Butterflies</a>" and mixes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_music" title="Hip hop music">Hip-Hop</a>, pop and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%26B" title="R&B">R&B</a> in "2000 Watts", "Heartbreaker" and "Invincible".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ALG_Invincible_233-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-ALG_Invincible-233">[234]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NME_Invincible_234-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-NME_Invincible-234">[235]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Vocal_style">Vocal style</span></h3>Jackson sang from childhood, and over time his voice and vocal style changed noticeably. Between 1971 and 1975, Jackson's voice descended from boy soprano to high tenor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-brac_414_235-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-brac_414-235">[236]</a></sup> Jackson first used a technique called the "vocal hiccup" in 1973, starting with the song "It's Too Late to Change the Time" from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jackson_5" title="The Jackson 5">the Jackson 5</a>'s <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I.T.:_Get_It_Together" title="G.I.T.: Get It Together">G.I.T.: Get It Together</a></i> album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-236"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-236">[237]</a></sup> Jackson did not use the hiccup technique— somewhat like a gulping for air or gasping— fully until the recording of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off_the_Wall_%28album%29" title="Off the Wall (album)">Off the Wall</a></i>: it can be seen in full force in the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shake_Your_Body_%28Down_to_the_Ground%29" title="Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)">Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)</a>" promotional video.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_22_32-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_22-32">[33]</a></sup> With the arrival of <i>Off the Wall</i> in the late 1970s, Jackson's abilities as a vocalist were well regarded. At the time, <i>Rolling Stone</i> compared his vocals to the "breathless, dreamy stutter" of Stevie Wonder. Their analysis was also that "Jackson's feathery-timbred tenor is extraordinarily beautiful. It slides smoothly into a startling <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsetto" title="Falsetto">falsetto</a> that's used very daringly".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AMG_OTW_237-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-AMG_OTW-237">[238]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RS_OTW_238-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RS_OTW-238">[239]</a></sup> 1982 saw the release of <i>Thriller</i>, and <i>Rolling Stone</i> was of the opinion that Jackson was then singing in a "fully adult voice" that was "tinged by sadness".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RS_Thriller_224-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RS_Thriller-224">[225]</a></sup><br />
<table class="metadata plainlinks mbox-small" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170);"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="mbox-image"><div class="center"><div class="floatnone"><img alt="" height="50" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Gnome-mime-audio-openclipart.svg/50px-Gnome-mime-audio-openclipart.svg.png" width="50" /></div></div></td> <td class="mbox-text" style="line-height: 1.1em;"><div class="haudio"><div class="fn" style="padding: 2px 0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_-_Black_Or_White.ogg" title="File:Michael Jackson - Black Or White.ogg">"Black or White"</a></div><div><div id="ogg_player_4" style="width: 220px;"><div><button onclick="if (typeof(wgOggPlayer) != 'undefined') wgOggPlayer.init(false, {"id": "ogg_player_4", "videoUrl": "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6f/Michael_Jackson_-_Black_Or_White.ogg", "width": 220, "height": 35, "length": "18", "linkUrl": "/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_-_Black_Or_White.ogg", "isVideo": false});" style="text-align: center; width: 220px;" title="Play sound"><img alt="Play sound" height="22" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/extensions/OggHandler/play.png" width="22" /></button></div></div></div><div class="description" style="padding: 0pt;">The lead single from <i>Dangerous</i>, the danceable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_rock" title="Hard rock">hard rock</a> song "Black or White" was one of Jackson's most successful recordings.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SM_Dangerous_239-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-SM_Dangerous-239">[240]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-240"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-240">[241]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ramage.3B_bean.3B_johnson_.282001.29_491_241-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-ramage.3B_bean.3B_johnson_.282001.29_491-241">[242]</a></sup> It contains many features of Jackson's vocal style, including the vocal hiccup he is known for.</div></div><hr /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Gritty lead vocals on the verse were displayed by the release of "Bad" in 1987 and lighter tones employed on the chorus.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_23_34-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_23-34">[35]</a></sup> A distinctive deliberate mispronunciation of "come on", used frequently by Jackson, occasionally spelt "cha'mone" or "shamone", is also a staple in impressions and caricatures of him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-242"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-242">[243]</a></sup> The turn of the 1990s saw the release of the introspective album <i>Dangerous</i>. <i>The New York Times</i> noted that on some tracks, "he gulps for breath, his voice quivers with anxiety or drops to a desperate whisper, hissing through clenched teeth" and he had a "wretched tone".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NYT_Dangerous_228-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-NYT_Dangerous-228">[229]</a></sup> When singing of brotherhood or self-esteem the musician would return to "smooth" vocals.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NYT_Dangerous_228-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-NYT_Dangerous-228">[229]</a></sup> When commenting on <i>Invincible</i>, <i>Rolling Stone</i> were of the opinion that—at the age of 43—Jackson still performed "exquisitely voiced rhythm tracks and vibrating vocal harmonies".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RS_Invincible_243-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-RS_Invincible-243">[244]</a></sup> Nelson George summed up Jackson's vocals by stating "The grace, the aggression, the growling, the natural boyishness, the falsetto, the smoothness—that combination of elements mark him as a major vocalist".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_24_225-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_24-225">[226]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Music_videos_and_choreography">Music videos and choreography</span></h3>Referred to as the King of Music Videos,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-244"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-244">[245]</a></sup> Steve Huey of Allmusic observed how Jackson transformed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_video" title="Music video">music video</a> into an art form and a promotional tool through complex story lines, dance routines, special effects and famous cameo appearances; simultaneously breaking down racial barriers.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_221-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-allmusic-221">[222]</a></sup> Before <i>Thriller</i>, Jackson struggled to receive coverage on MTV, allegedly because he was African American.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-blender_245-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-blender-245">[246]</a></sup> Pressure from CBS Records persuaded MTV to start showing "Billie Jean" and later "Beat It", leading to a lengthy partnership with Jackson, also helping other black music artists gain recognition.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jackson_changes_the_rules_of_the_music_video_246-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Jackson_changes_the_rules_of_the_music_video-246">[247]</a></sup> MTV employees deny any racism in their coverage, or pressure to change their stance. MTV maintains that they played rock music, regardless of race.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-247"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-247">[248]</a></sup> The popularity of his videos on MTV helped to put the relatively young channel "on the map"; MTV's focus shifted in favor of pop and R&B.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jackson_changes_the_rules_of_the_music_video_246-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Jackson_changes_the_rules_of_the_music_video-246">[247]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ABCNews_248-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-ABCNews-248">[249]</a></sup> His performance on <i>Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever</i> changed the scope of live stage show; "That Jackson lip-synced 'Billie Jean' is, in itself, not extraordinary, but the fact that it did not change the impact of the performance is extraordinary; whether the performance was live or lip-synced made no difference to the audience" thus creating an era in which artists re-create the spectacle of music video imagery on stage.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MT25_249-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-MT25-249">[250]</a></sup> Short films like <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson%27s_Thriller" title="Michael Jackson's Thriller">Thriller</a></i> largely remained unique to Jackson, while the group dance sequence in "Beat It" has frequently been imitated.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-The_Thriller_Special_Edition_Audio_250-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-The_Thriller_Special_Edition_Audio-250">[251]</a></sup> The choreography in <i>Thriller</i> has become a part of global pop culture, replicated everywhere from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_India" title="Cinema of India">Indian films</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28viral_video%29" title="Thriller (viral video)">prisons in the Philippines</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-251"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-251">[252]</a></sup> The <i>Thriller</i> short film marked an increase in scale for music videos, and has been named the most successful music video ever by the <i>Guinness World Records</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-World_Records_84-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-World_Records-84">[85]</a></sup><br />
In the 19-minute music video for "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_%28Michael_Jackson_song%29" title="Bad (Michael Jackson song)">Bad</a>"—directed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Scorsese" title="Martin Scorsese">Martin Scorsese</a>—Jackson began using sexual imagery and choreography not previously seen in his work. He occasionally grabbed or touched his chest, torso and crotch. When asked by Oprah in the 1993 interview about why he grabbed his crotch, he replied, "I think it happens subliminally" and he described it as something that was not planned, but rather, as something that was compelled by the music. "Bad" garnered a mixed reception from both fans and critics; <i>Time</i> magazine described it as "infamous". The video also featured <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Snipes" title="Wesley Snipes">Wesley Snipes</a>; in the future Jackson's videos would often feature famous cameo roles.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_370.E2.80.93373_68-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_370.E2.80.93373-68">[69]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Who.27s_Bad.3F_TIME_252-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Who.27s_Bad.3F_TIME-252">[253]</a></sup> For "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_Criminal" title="Smooth Criminal">Smooth Criminal</a>", Jackson experimented with an innovative "anti-gravity lean" in his performances, for which he was granted U.S. Patent No. 5,255,452.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-253"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-253">[254]</a></sup> Although the music video for "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leave_Me_Alone" title="Leave Me Alone">Leave Me Alone</a>" was not officially released in the US, in 1989, it was nominated for four <i>Billboard</i> Music Video Awards, winning three; the same year it won a Golden Lion Award for the quality of the special effects used in its production. In 1990, "Leave Me Alone" won a Grammy for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Short_Form_Music_Video" title="Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video">Best Music Video, Short Form</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_43-44_82-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_43-44-82">[83]</a></sup><br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV_Video_Vanguard_Award" title="MTV Video Vanguard Award">MTV Video Vanguard Artist of the Decade Award</a> was given to Jackson to celebrate his accomplishments in the art form in the 1980s; the following year the award was renamed in his honor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_45-46_98-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_45-46-98">[99]</a></sup> "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_or_White" title="Black or White">Black or White</a>" was accompanied by a controversial music video, which, on November 14, 1991, simultaneously premiered in 27 countries with an estimated audience of 500 million people, the largest viewing ever for a music video.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-KOP_achievements_97-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-KOP_achievements-97">[98]</a></sup> It featured scenes construed as having a sexual nature as well as depictions of violence. The offending scenes in the final half of the 14-minute version were edited out to prevent the video from being banned, and Jackson apologized.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-.27.27Dangerous.27.27_on_Film_254-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-.27.27Dangerous.27.27_on_Film-254">[255]</a></sup> Along with Jackson, it featured <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaulay_Culkin" title="Macaulay Culkin">Macaulay Culkin</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Lipton" title="Peggy Lipton">Peggy Lipton</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wendt" title="George Wendt">George Wendt</a>. It helped usher in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphing" title="Morphing">morphing</a> as an important technology in music videos.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-255"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-255">[256]</a></sup><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michaeljanetscream.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="135" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6a/Michaeljanetscream.jpg" width="180" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michaeljanetscream.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Jackson and sister Janet angrily retaliated against the media for misrepresenting them to the public. The acclaimed video for "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream/Childhood#Scream_music_video" title="Scream/Childhood">Scream</a>" was shot primarily in black and white, and at a cost of $7 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-256"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-256">[257]</a></sup></div></div></div>"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remember_the_Time" title="Remember the Time">Remember the Time</a>" was an elaborate production, and became one of his longest videos at over nine minutes. Set in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">ancient Egypt</a>, it featured groundbreaking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_effects" title="Visual effects">visual effects</a> and appearances by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Murphy" title="Eddie Murphy">Eddie Murphy</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iman_%28model%29" title="Iman (model)">Iman</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Johnson" title="Magic Johnson">Magic Johnson</a>, along with a distinct complex dance routine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-257"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-257">[258]</a></sup> The video for "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Closet" title="In the Closet">In the Closet</a>" was Jackson's most sexually provocative piece. It featured supermodel <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Campbell" title="Naomi Campbell">Naomi Campbell</a> in a courtship dance with Jackson. The video was banned in South Africa because of its imagery.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_45-46_98-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_45-46-98">[99]</a></sup><br />
The music video for "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream/Childhood" title="Scream/Childhood">Scream</a>", directed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Romanek" title="Mark Romanek">Mark Romanek</a> and production designer Tom Foden, is one of Jackson's most critically acclaimed. In 1995, it gained 11 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV_Video_Music_Awards" title="MTV Video Music Awards">MTV Video Music Award Nominations</a>—more than any other music video—and won "Best Dance Video", "Best Choreography", and "Best Art Direction".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TCI_258-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-TCI-258">[259]</a></sup> The song and its accompanying video are a response to the backlash Jackson received from the media after being accused of child molestation in 1993.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-259"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-259">[260]</a></sup> A year later, it won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form; shortly afterwards <i>Guinness World Records</i> listed it as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_expensive_music_videos" title="List of most expensive music videos">most expensive music video ever made</a> at a cost of $7 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350_122-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350-122">[123]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-260"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-260">[261]</a></sup><br />
"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Song" title="Earth Song">Earth Song</a>" was accompanied by an expensive and well-received music video that gained a Grammy nomination for Best Music Video, Short Form in 1997. The video had an environmental theme, showing images of animal cruelty, deforestation, pollution and war. Using special effects, time is reversed so that life returns, wars ends, and the forests re-grow.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350_122-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350-122">[123]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-.27.27HIStory.27.27_on_Film_volume_II_261-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-.27.27HIStory.27.27_on_Film_volume_II-261">[262]</a></sup> Released in 1997 and premiering at the 1996 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannes_Film_Festival" title="Cannes Film Festival">Cannes Film Festival</a>, <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_%28Michael_Jackson_film%29" title="Ghosts (Michael Jackson film)">Ghosts</a></i> was a short film written by Jackson and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King" title="Stephen King">Stephen King</a> and directed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Winston" title="Stan Winston">Stan Winston</a>. The video for <i>Ghosts</i> is over 38 minutes long and holds the <i>Guinness World Record</i> as the world's longest music video.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350_122-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Ultimate_booklet_48.E2.80.9350-122">[123]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_610.E2.80.93611_131-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_610.E2.80.93611-131">[132]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-262"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-262">[263]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-263"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-263">[264]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Legacy_and_influence">Legacy and influence</span></h2><div class="rellink boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Records_and_achievements_of_Michael_Jackson" title="Records and achievements of Michael Jackson">Records and achievements of Michael Jackson</a></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MJ_Star.jpg"><img alt="A pink star with a gold color rim and the writing "Michael Jackson" in the center of the star. The star is indented into the ground and is surrounded by a marble color floor." class="thumbimage" height="159" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/MJ_Star.jpg/220px-MJ_Star.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MJ_Star.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Jackson's star on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Walk_of_Fame" title="Hollywood Walk of Fame">Hollywood Walk of Fame</a>, set in 1984</div></div></div>Jackson throughout his career transformed the art of the music video and paved the way for modern pop music. <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Telegraph" title="Daily Telegraph">Daily Telegraph</a></i> writer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Utley" title="Tom Utley">Tom Utley</a> described Jackson in 2003 as "extremely important" and a "genius."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-telegraph_264-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-telegraph-264">[265]</a></sup> For much of his career, he had an "unparalleled" level of worldwide influence over the younger generation through his musical and humanitarian contributions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ADL_124-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-ADL-124">[125]</a></sup> Brazilian journalist Sergio Martins, in his article about the artist and his death in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veja_%28magazine%29" title="Veja (magazine)">Veja</a></i> magazine, wrote that after Jackson's work being a versatile dancer became a must for subsequent male stars of pop music. Michael Jackson, along with his musical style and videos, have gone onto become pop culture phenomenons.<br />
Jackson's work, distinctive musical sound and vocal style have and still do influence scores of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_music" title="Hip hop music">hip hop</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_music" title="Rock music">rock</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_music" title="Pop music">pop</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_R%26B" title="Contemporary R&B">R&B</a> artists, including the likes of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyonce" title="Beyonce">Beyonce</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-265"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-265">[266]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariah_Carey" title="Mariah Carey">Mariah Carey</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rollingstone_2_266-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-rollingstone_2-266">[267]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usher_%28entertainer%29" title="Usher (entertainer)">Usher</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CNN_267-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-CNN-267">[268]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Day" title="Green Day">Green Day</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-268"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-268">[269]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britney_Spears" title="Britney Spears">Britney Spears</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rollingstone_2_266-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-rollingstone_2-266">[267]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_%28entertainer%29" title="Madonna (entertainer)">Madonna</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-269"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-269">[270]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Timberlake" title="Justin Timberlake">Justin Timberlake</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_614.E2.80.93617_134-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_614.E2.80.93617-134">[135]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludacris" title="Ludacris">Ludacris</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-270"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-270">[271]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Cent" title="50 Cent">50 Cent</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-271"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-271">[272]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_%28rapper%29" title="Game (rapper)">The Game</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Brown_%28American_singer%29" title="Chris Brown (American singer)">Chris Brown</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The-Dream" title="The-Dream">The-Dream</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Der%C3%BClo" title="Jason Derülo">Jason Derülo</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._Kelly" title="R. Kelly">R. Kelly</a>. Jackson's music and videos, such as <i>Thriller</i>, helped <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV#Breaking_the_color_barrier" title="MTV">break down racial barriers</a> when first shown on MTV, putting the relatively new channel on the map, changing its focus from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_music" title="Rock music">rock</a> to pop music and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%26B" title="R&B">R&B</a>, and therefore shaping it to what it is today. Jackson remained a staple on MTV through the '90s.<br />
Allmusic.com's Steve Huey describes Jackson as "an unstoppable juggernaut, possessed of all the skills to dominate the charts seemingly at will: an instantly identifiable voice, eye-popping dance moves, stunning musical versatility and loads of sheer star power".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_221-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-allmusic-221">[222]</a></sup> In the mid-1980s, <i>Time</i> Magazine pop music critic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Cocks" title="Jay Cocks">Jay Cocks</a> noted "Jackson is the biggest thing since <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles" title="The Beatles">The Beatles</a>. He is the hottest single phenomenon since <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley" title="Elvis Presley">Elvis Presley</a>. He just may be the most popular black singer ever".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TIME_45-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-TIME-45">[46]</a></sup> By 1990, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_Fair_%28magazine%29" title="Vanity Fair (magazine)">Vanity Fair</a></i> had already cited Jackson as the most popular artist in the history of show business.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_43-44_82-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_43-44-82">[83]</a></sup> In late 2007, Jackson said the following of his work and future influence, "Music has been my outlet, my gift to all of the lovers in this world. Through it, my music, I know I will live forever."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-272"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-272">[273]</a></sup><br />
Shortly after his death on June 25, 2009, MTV briefly returned to its original music video format to celebrate and pay tribute to his work.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-273"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-273">[274]</a></sup> The channel aired many hours of Jackson's music videos, accompanied by live news specials featuring reactions from MTV personalities and other celebrities. The temporary shift in MTV's programming culminated the following week with the channel's live coverage of Jackson's memorial service.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-274"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-274">[275]</a></sup> At the memorial service on July 7, 2009, founder of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motown_Records" title="Motown Records">Motown Records</a> Berry Gordy proclaimed Jackson as "the greatest entertainer that ever lived."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-275"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-275">[276]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-276"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-276">[277]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-277"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-277">[278]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Honors_and_Awards">Honors and Awards</span></h2><div class="rellink boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_received_by_Michael_Jackson" title="List of awards received by Michael Jackson">List of awards received by Michael Jackson</a></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F079012-0026,_Berlin,_Michael_Jackson-Konzert,_Wartende.jpg"><img alt="Multiple people standing inline. Three women have short blonde hair, a man with curly brown hair and a man wearing a navy cap." class="thumbimage" height="136" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F079012-0026%2C_Berlin%2C_Michael_Jackson-Konzert%2C_Wartende.jpg/220px-Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F079012-0026%2C_Berlin%2C_Michael_Jackson-Konzert%2C_Wartende.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F079012-0026,_Berlin,_Michael_Jackson-Konzert,_Wartende.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Queues for a Michael Jackson concert in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Berlin" title="West Berlin">West Berlin</a> in June 1988</div></div></div>Michael Jackson was inducted onto the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Walk_of_Fame" title="Hollywood Walk of Fame">Hollywood Walk of Fame</a> in 1984. Throughout his career he received numerous honors and awards, including the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Music_Awards" title="World Music Awards">World Music Awards</a>' Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Music_Award" title="American Music Award">American Music Award</a>'s Artist of the Century Award and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bambi_%28prize%29" title="Bambi (prize)">Bambi</a> Pop Artist of the Millennium Award.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_50-53_136-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_50-53-136">[137]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-278"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-278">[279]</a></sup> He was a double-inductee of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame_inductees#Performers" title="List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a>, once as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997 and later as a solo artist in 2001. Jackson was also an inductee of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductees_of_the_Songwriters_Hall_of_Fame#J" title="Inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame">Songwriters Hall of Fame</a> in 2002.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Nelson_George_overview_50-53_136-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Nelson_George_overview_50-53-136">[137]</a></sup> His awards include many <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness_World_Records" title="Guinness World Records">Guinness World Records</a></i> (eight in 2006 alone),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-279"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-279">[280]</a></sup> 15 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award" title="Grammy Award">Grammy Awards</a> (including the "Living Legend Award" and the "Lifetime Achievement Award"), 26 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Music_Awards" title="American Music Awards">American Music Awards</a> (24 only as a solo artist, including one for "artist of the century")—more than any artist—, 13 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_artists_who_reached_number_one_on_the_Hot_100_%28U.S.%29#J" title="List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)">number one singles in the US</a> in his solo career—more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-280"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-280">[281]</a></sup>—and estimated sales of up to 750 million records worldwide, making him the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists" title="List of best-selling music artists">world's best selling male solo pop artist</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MJ_Grammy.27s_41-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-MJ_Grammy.27s-41">[42]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-World_Records_84-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-World_Records-84">[85]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-KOP_achievements_97-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-KOP_achievements-97">[98]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Living_Legend_281-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Living_Legend-281">[282]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Lifetime_Achievement_282-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Lifetime_Achievement-282">[283]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AMAs_MJ_283-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-AMAs_MJ-283">[284]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AMAs_2_MJ_284-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-AMAs_2_MJ-284">[285]</a></sup> On December 29, 2009 the American Film Institute recognized Jackson's passing as a "moment of significance" saying, "Michael Jackson's sudden death in June at age 50 was notable for the worldwide outpouring of grief and the unprecedented global eulogy of his posthumous concert rehearsal movie 'This is It'.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-285"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-285">[286]</a></sup> Recently it has been announced Michael Jackson will be inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame during events Aug. 14 and 15 at the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs, New York. The posthumous induction of the King of Pop is the first time a figure from rock and roll will be honored.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-286"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-286">[287]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Lifetime_Earnings">Lifetime Earnings</span></h2>His total lifetime earnings from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royalties" title="Royalties">royalties</a> on his solo recordings and music videos, revenue from concerts and endorsements have been estimated at $500 million; some analysts have speculated that his music catalog holdings could be worth billions of dollars.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-usatoday_finances_83-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-usatoday_finances-83">[84]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-287"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-287">[288]</a></sup> This speculation however is contradicted by financial documents obtained by the Associated Press, which showed that as of March 31, 2007, Jackson's 50 percent stake in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog (his most prized asset) was worth $390.6 million and Michael Jackson’s net worth was $236 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cbsnews1_288-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-cbsnews1-288">[289]</a></sup> As one of the world's most famous men, Jackson's highly publicized personal life, coupled with his <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Records_and_achievements_by_Michael_Jackson" title="Records and achievements by Michael Jackson">successful career</a>, made him a part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_culture" title="Popular culture">popular culture</a> for the last four decades.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-KOP_achievements_97-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-KOP_achievements-97">[98]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BBC_Tom_sneddon_289-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-BBC_Tom_sneddon-289">[290]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Discography">Discography</span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_albums_discography" title="Michael Jackson albums discography">Michael Jackson albums discography</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_singles_discography" title="Michael Jackson singles discography">Michael Jackson singles discography</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_videography" title="Michael Jackson videography">Michael Jackson videography</a></div><div class="rellink boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_5_discography" title="Jackson 5 discography">Jackson 5 discography</a></div><ul><li><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Got_to_Be_There" title="Got to Be There">Got to Be There</a></i> (1972)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_%28album%29" title="Ben (album)">Ben</a></i> (1972)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_%26_Me" title="Music & Me">Music & Me</a></i> (1973)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forever,_Michael" title="Forever, Michael">Forever, Michael</a></i> (1975)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off_the_Wall_%28album%29" title="Off the Wall (album)">Off the Wall</a></i> (1979)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28album%29" title="Thriller (album)">Thriller</a></i> (1982)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_%28album%29" title="Bad (album)">Bad</a></i> (1987)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_%28album%29" title="Dangerous (album)">Dangerous</a></i> (1991)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIStory:_Past,_Present_and_Future,_Book_I" title="HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I">HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I</a></i> (1995)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invincible_%28Michael_Jackson_album%29" title="Invincible (Michael Jackson album)">Invincible</a></i> (2001)</li>
</ul><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Filmography">Filmography</span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_videography" title="Michael Jackson videography">Michael Jackson videography</a></div><table class="wikitable sortable" id="sortable_table_id_0"><tbody>
<tr> <th>Year<a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#" onclick="ts_resortTable(this);return false;"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></th> <th>Film<a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#" onclick="ts_resortTable(this);return false;"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></th> <th>Role<a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#" onclick="ts_resortTable(this);return false;"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></th> <th>Director<a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#" onclick="ts_resortTable(this);return false;"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></th> <th class="unsortable">Ref</th> </tr>
<tr style="text-align: center;"> <td>1978</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiz_%28film%29" title="The Wiz (film)">The Wiz</a></i></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarecrow_%28Oz%29" title="Scarecrow (Oz)">Scarecrow</a></td> <td><span style="display: none;">Lumet, Sidney</span><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Lumet" title="Sidney Lumet">Sidney Lumet</a></span></span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-quincy_290-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-quincy-290">[291]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr style="text-align: center;"> <td>1986</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_EO" title="Captain EO">Captain EO</a></i></td> <td>Captain EO</td> <td><span style="display: none;">Coppola, Francis Ford</span><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Ford_Coppola" title="Francis Ford Coppola">Francis Ford Coppola</a></span></span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_355-356_291-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_355-356-291">[292]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr style="text-align: center;"> <td>1988</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonwalker" title="Moonwalker">Moonwalker</a></i></td> <td>Himself</td> <td><span style="display: none;">Kramer, Jerry</span><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Kramer" title="Jerry Kramer">Jerry Kramer</a></span></span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_413-414_292-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_413-414-292">[293]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr style="text-align: center;"> <td>1997</td> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_%281997_film%29" title="Ghosts (1997 film)">Ghosts</a></i></td> <td>Maestro/Mayor/Ghoul/Skeleton</td> <td><span style="display: none;">Winston, Stan</span><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Winston" title="Stan Winston">Stan Winston</a></span></span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tara_610_293-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-tara_610-293">[294]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr style="text-align: center;"> <td>2002</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_in_Black_II" title="Men in Black II">Men in Black II</a></i></td> <td>Agent M (cameo)</td> <td><span style="display: none;">Sonnenfeld, Barry</span><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Sonnenfeld" title="Barry Sonnenfeld">Barry Sonnenfeld</a></span></span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Defending_Earth.2C_With_Worms_and_a_Talking_Pug_294-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Defending_Earth.2C_With_Worms_and_a_Talking_Pug-294">[295]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr style="text-align: center;"> <td>2004</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Cast_Away_and_the_Island_Girls" title="Miss Cast Away and the Island Girls">Miss Cast Away and the Island Girls</a></i></td> <td>Agent MJ (cameo)</td> <td><span style="display: none;">Stoller, Bryan Michael</span><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Michael_Stoller" title="Bryan Michael Stoller">Bryan Michael Stoller</a></span></span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-.27Miss_Cast_Away.27:_You_Know_It.27s_Bad_295-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-.27Miss_Cast_Away.27:_You_Know_It.27s_Bad-295">[296]</a></sup></td> </tr>
<tr style="text-align: center;"> <td>2009</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson%27s_This_Is_It" title="Michael Jackson's This Is It">Michael Jackson's This Is It</a></i></td> <td>Himself</td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Ortega" title="Kenny Ortega">Kenny Ortega</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Michael_Jackson.27s_296-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#cite_note-Michael_Jackson.27s-296">[297]</a></sup></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Tours">Tours</span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Michael_Jackson_tours" title="List of Michael Jackson tours">List of Michael Jackson tours</a></div><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_World_Tour" title="Bad World Tour">Bad World Tour</a> (1987–89)</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_World_Tour" title="Dangerous World Tour">Dangerous World Tour</a> (1992–93)</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIStory_World_Tour" title="HIStory World Tour">HIStory World Tour</a> (1996–97)</li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-43623581987312308492010-05-16T04:34:00.000-07:002010-05-16T04:34:29.042-07:00<style type="text/css">
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</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-81684632741606584772010-05-13T05:16:00.000-07:002010-05-13T05:16:18.137-07:00TUPAC SHAKUR RECOGNIZED BY THE VATICAN AS A DISTUNGUISHED ARTIST...<a href="http://www.tasf.org/news_article.asp?id=106">http://www.tasf.org/news_article.asp?id=106</a><br />
<br />
<b>Tupac's "Changes" Named As One Of The Vatican's 12 Favorite Songs For New Myspace Music Playlist</b><br />
<br />
12/8/2009 -<br />
<br />
<div align="left"><strong>Shakur recognized by the Vatican as a distinguished artist who</strong> <strong>“aimed to reach the heart of good minded people.” </strong><br />
<br />
Almost exactly eleven years after its posthumous release, legendary rapper Tupac Shakur’s 1998 hit “Changes” has been selected by the Vatican as one of the institution’s “12 Favorite Songs” as part of a playlist for MySpace’s new streaming service MySpace Music. The distinction is the first time the Catholic Church has officially recognized the work of any popular American artist. With it, the song joins the ranks of works such as “Don Giovanni” by Mozart, the Vatican’s own “Advocata Nostra,” featuring the voice of Pope Benedict XVI, and “After The Rain,” by Dame Shirley Bassey. “The genres are very different from each other, but all these artists share the aim to reach the heart of good minded people,” the Vatican explained on its official MySpace Music page. The playlist, compiled by Father Giulio Neroni, was released Thursday, December 3 – and “Changes” has received nearly five million plays since then.<br />
<br />
“This came as such an amazing surprise – it’s not something I would have ever thought possible,” says the late rapper’s mother, Afeni Shakur. “I give thanks every day, knowing Tupac’s words and music continue to have such an incredible effect on people worldwide. My son was always striving to reach out to as many people as he could, and he changed the world in doing so.”<br />
<br />
Released two years after the rapper’s death in 1998, “Changes” has been acknowledged as one of Tupac’s all-time classics ever since, with a message that resonates just as strongly today. The song is a streetwise meditation on racism, the Middle East, drugs and gang violence coupled with a call for hope and peace. In essence, it highlights the need for change on both a personal and global level. “Let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live, let’s change the way we treat each other,” states Tupac on the track. “You see, the old way wasn’t working, so it’s on us to do what we gotta do to survive.” The acclaimed single climbed to the top of the charts upon its release and became the only posthumously released hip-hop song to receive the Grammy nomination for “Best Rap Solo Performance.” It recently confirmed its lasting power when it hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Ringtones Chart (November 7, 2009), a spot it held for a whopping 34 weeks.</div><div align="left">“It’s a testament to Tupac’s genius that his music can have this kind of impact more than ten years after the fact,” says Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine. “This is an unprecedented honor to his legacy, as well as for those who had the privilege of working with him during his lifetime.” Most of Shakur’s recordings are owned and controlled by Afeni Shakur’s Amaru Entertainment and Interscope Records. The Death Row albums “All Eyez On Me” and “Makaveli – The Don Killuminati 7 Day Theory” are owned by Death Row/Wide Awake Entertainment, but controlled by Afeni Shakur and are exclusively administered worldwide by ICG/Evergreen Copyrights. Both albums are distributed in North America by E1 Entertainment.<br />
.<br />
In September 2009, it was announced that the artist’s private writings would be added to Atlanta University Center’s Robert Woodruff Library – an institution that also houses Martin Luther King’s papers – to be made available for scholarly research. The collection features Shakur’s handwritten lyrics and track listings, personal notes, video and film concepts, fan correspondence, promotion materials and other items providing a unique insight into his creative genius. Whether known as one of the greatest rappers of all time, one of his generation’s most important writers and thinkers, or an artist whose work has been recognized by the Catholic Church, it’s clear that Tupac Shakur’s career is as relevant today as ever.</div><div align="left">Myspace/Music From the Vatican Playlist<br />
<a href="http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.singleplaylist&friendid=502108561&plid=1256850">http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.singleplaylist&friendid=502108561&plid=1256850</a></div><div align="left">Official Website<br />
<a href="http://www.2paclegacy.com/">www.2Paclegacy.com</a></div><div align="left">Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation<br />
<a href="http://www.tasf.org/">www.tasf.org</a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><br />
<strong>Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation</strong> <br />
<em>The Tupac Shakur Foundation is home to The Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts, just outside of Atlanta in Stone Mountain, Ga. The Center is dedicated to providing youth and the community with educational programs in the arts. It is a fact that early arts education improves school grades, as well as offers invaluable life lessons while building self esteem and confidence. For nearly 10 years, the Center’s programs have served youth of all social and economic backgrounds, giving countless young people the courage to get off the streets and learn vital skills that have the potential to positively impact their communities. The Center is open to the public and hosts several noteworthy events throughout the year. For more information or to make a donation visit: <a href="http://www.tasf.org/" title="http://www.tasf.org/">www.TASF.org</a></em>.<br />
<br />
For publicity enquiries, please contact:<br />
Versa Manos / Gorgeous PR<br />
<a href="mailto:versa@gorgeouspr.com">versa@gorgeouspr.com</a> <br />
323 782 9000Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-3188976415982624692010-05-13T04:32:00.001-07:002010-05-13T05:05:43.614-07:00ALWAYS LIVE ON<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur</a><h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">Tupac Shakur</h1><div class="metadata topicon" id="protected-icon" style="display: none; right: 55px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Protection_policy#semi" title="This article is semi-protected indefinitely in response to an ongoing high risk of vandalism."><img alt="This article is semi-protected indefinitely in response to an ongoing high risk of vandalism." height="20" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Padlock-silver-medium.svg/20px-Padlock-silver-medium.svg.png" width="20" /></a></div><table class="infobox vcard" style="font-size: 88%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: left; width: 22em;"><tbody>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: rgb(240, 230, 140) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-size: 125%; text-align: center;"><span class="fn">Tupac Shakur</span></th> </tr>
<tr> <td class="" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tupac_Amaru_Shakur.jpg" title="Photograph by Albert Watson"><img alt="" height="275" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/27/Tupac_Amaru_Shakur.jpg/220px-Tupac_Amaru_Shakur.jpg" width="220" /></a><br />
<div><small>Photograph by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Watson_%28photographer%29" title="Albert Watson (photographer)">Albert Watson</a></small></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="2" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: rgb(240, 230, 140) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Background information</th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;">Also known as</th> <td class="nickname">2Pac, Pac, Makaveli</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Born</th> <td>June 16, 1971<span style="display: none;">(<span class="bday">1971-06-16</span>)</span><br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Harlem" title="East Harlem">East Harlem</a>, Manhattan, New York City, New York</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Origin</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marin_City,_California" title="Marin City, California">Marin City</a>, California</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Died</th> <td>September 13, 1996 (aged 25)<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas,_Nevada" title="Las Vegas, Nevada">Las Vegas</a>, Nevada, United States</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_genre" title="Music genre">Genres</a></th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_music" title="Hip hop music">Hip hop</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangsta_rap" title="Gangsta rap">gangsta rap</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;">Occupations</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapping" title="Rapping">Rapper</a>, songwriter, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acting" title="Acting">actor</a>, record producer, poet, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenwriter" title="Screenwriter">screenwriter</a>, activist</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;">Years active</th> <td>1988–1996 (rapping)<br />
1990–1996 (acting)</td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_label" title="Record label">Labels</a></th> <td>Born Busy Records, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interscope_Records" title="Interscope Records">Interscope</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Row_Records" title="Death Row Records">Death Row</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaru_Entertainment" title="Amaru Entertainment">Amaru</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Associated acts</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Underground" title="Digital Underground">Digital Underground</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richie_Rich_%28rapper%29" title="Richie Rich (rapper)">Richie Rich</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Dre" title="Dr. Dre">Dr. Dre</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-Ci_%26_JoJo" title="K-Ci & JoJo">K-Ci & JoJo</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Hollister" title="Dave Hollister">Dave Hollister</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_%22J%22" title="Johnny "J"">Johnny "J"</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoop_Dogg" title="Snoop Dogg">Snoop Dogg</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlawz" title="Outlawz">Outlawz</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tha_Dogg_Pound" title="Tha Dogg Pound">Tha Dogg Pound</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot_Camp_Clik" title="Boot Camp Clik">Boot Camp Clik</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <th>Website</th> <td><a class="external text" href="http://www.2paclegacy.com/" rel="nofollow">www.2paclegacy.com</a></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b>Tupac Amaru Shakur</b> (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), known by his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_name" title="Stage name">stage names</a> <b>2Pac</b> (or simply <b>Pac</b>) and <b>Makaveli</b>, was an American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapping" title="Rapping">rapper</a>. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup> making him one of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists" title="List of best-selling music artists">best-selling music artists in the world</a>. <i>Rolling Stone Magazine</i> named him the 86th Greatest Artist of All Time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup> In addition to his status as a top-selling rap artist, he was a promising actor<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup> and a social activist. Most of Shakur's songs are about growing up amid violence and hardship in ghettos, racism, problems in the society and conflicts with other rappers. His work is known by many for often advocating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egalitarianism" title="Egalitarianism">egalitarianism</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup> Shakur was initially a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_crew" title="Road crew">roadie</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backup_dancer" title="Backup dancer">backup dancer</a> for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_hip_hop" title="Alternative hip hop">alternative hip hop</a> group <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Underground" title="Digital Underground">Digital Underground</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TSTA_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TSTA-4">[5]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TSHSD_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TSHSD-5">[6]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HTP-330_6-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-HTP-330-6">[7]</a></sup><br />
Shakur became the target of lawsuits and experienced other legal problems. In 1994, he was shot five times and robbed in the lobby of a recording studio in New York City. Following the event, Shakur grew suspicious that other figures in the rap industry had prior knowledge of the incident and did not warn him; the controversy helped spark the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast%E2%80%93West_Coast_hip_hop_rivalry" title="East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry">East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry</a>.<br />
He was later convicted of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_assault" title="Sexual assault">sexual assault</a> and sentenced to one-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years in prison.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup><br />
After serving eleven months of his sentence, he was released from prison on an appeal financed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suge_Knight" title="Suge Knight">Marion "Suge" Knight</a>, the CEO of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Row_Records" title="Death Row Records">Death Row Records</a>. In exchange for Suge's assistance, Shakur agreed to release three albums for the Death Row label.<br />
In September 1996, Shakur was the victim of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-by_shooting" title="Drive-by shooting">drive-by shooting</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_metropolitan_area" title="Las Vegas metropolitan area">Las Vegas metropolitan area</a> of Nevada. After being taken to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_Medical_Center_of_Southern_Nevada" title="University Medical Center of Southern Nevada">University Medical Center</a>, he died of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TSDCD_10-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TSDCD-10">[11]</a></sup><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><div id="toctitle"><h2>Contents</h2><span class="toctoggle">[<a class="internal" href="javascript:toggleToc()" id="togglelink">hide</a>]</span></div><ul><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Early_life"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Early life</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Rapping_career"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Rapping career</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Thug_Life"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Thug Life</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Legal_issues"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Legal issues</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#November_1994_shooting"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">November 1994 shooting</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Prison_sentence"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Prison sentence</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Death_Row_Records"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">Death Row Records</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#September_1996_shooting_and_death"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">September 1996 shooting and death</span></a> <br />
<ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Murder_case"><span class="tocnumber">8.1</span> <span class="toctext">Murder case</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Influences"><span class="tocnumber">9</span> <span class="toctext">Influences</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Legacy"><span class="tocnumber">10</span> <span class="toctext">Legacy</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Honors"><span class="tocnumber">11</span> <span class="toctext">Honors</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Discography"><span class="tocnumber">12</span> <span class="toctext">Discography</span></a> <br />
<ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Studio_albums"><span class="tocnumber">12.1</span> <span class="toctext">Studio albums</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Posthumous_albums"><span class="tocnumber">12.2</span> <span class="toctext">Posthumous albums</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Film"><span class="tocnumber">13</span> <span class="toctext">Film</span></a> <br />
<ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Acting_career"><span class="tocnumber">13.1</span> <span class="toctext">Acting career</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Filmography"><span class="tocnumber">13.2</span> <span class="toctext">Filmography</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Documentaries"><span class="tocnumber">13.3</span> <span class="toctext">Documentaries</span></a></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">14</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#References"><span class="tocnumber">15</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#Sources"><span class="tocnumber">16</span> <span class="toctext">Sources</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">17</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li>
</ul></td> </tr>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Early_life">Early life</span></h2>Tupac Amaru Shakur was born on the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Harlem" title="East Harlem">East Harlem</a> section of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan" title="Manhattan">Manhattan</a> in New York City.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup> He was named after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%BApac_Amaru_II" title="Túpac Amaru II">Túpac Amaru II</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup> a Peruvian revolutionary who led an indigenous uprising against Spain and was subsequently executed.<br />
His mother, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afeni_Shakur" title="Afeni Shakur">Afeni Shakur</a>, and his father, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Garland_%28Ex-Black_Panther%29" title="Billy Garland (Ex-Black Panther)">Billy Garland</a>, were active members of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_Party" title="Black Panther Party">Black Panther Party</a> in New York in the late 1960s and early 1970s; he was born just one month after his mother's acquittal on more than 150 charges of "Conspiracy against the United States government and New York landmarks" in the New York Panther 21 court case.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup><br />
Although unconfirmed by the Shakur family, several sources (including the official coroner's report) list his birth name as <b>"Lesane Parish Crooks"</b>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup> This name was supposedly entered on the birth certificate because Afeni feared her enemies would attack her son, and disguised his true identity using a different last name. She changed it later, following her separation from Garland and marriage to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutulu_Shakur" title="Mutulu Shakur">Mutulu Shakur</a>.<br />
Through Garland, his biological father, Shakur was a great descendant of the royal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garamantes" title="Garamantes">Garamantes</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup> kingdom of northern Africa. The modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuareg" title="Tuareg">Tuareg</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-16">[17]</a></sup> people of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-Saharan_Africa" title="Sub-Saharan Africa">Sub-Saharan Africa</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup> are descended from the Garamantes civilization.<br />
Struggle and incarceration surrounded Shakur from an early age. His godfather, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geronimo_Pratt" title="Geronimo Pratt">Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt</a>, a high ranking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_Party" title="Black Panther Party">Black Panther</a>, was convicted of murdering a school teacher during a 1968 robbery, although his sentence was later overturned. His stepfather, Mutulu, spent four years at large on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBI_Ten_Most_Wanted_Fugitives,_1980s" title="FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, 1980s">FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives</a> list beginning in 1982, when Shakur was a pre-teen. Mutulu was wanted in part for having helped his sister <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assata_Shakur" title="Assata Shakur">Assata Shakur</a> (also known as Joanne Chesimard) to escape from a penitentiary in New Jersey, where she had been incarcerated for allegedly shooting a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_police" title="State police">state trooper</a> to death in 1973. Mutulu was caught in 1986 and imprisoned for the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brinks_robbery_%281981%29" title="Brinks robbery (1981)">robbery of a Brinks armored truck</a> in which two police officers and a guard were killed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-labyrinth_18-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-labyrinth-18">[19]</a></sup> Shakur had a half-sister, Sekyiwa, two years his junior, and an older stepbrother, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mopreme_Shakur" title="Mopreme Shakur">Mopreme "Komani" Shakur</a>, who appeared on many of his recordings.<br />
At the age of twelve, Shakur enrolled in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem" title="Harlem">Harlem</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/127th_Street_Repertory_Ensemble" title="127th Street Repertory Ensemble">127th Street Repertory Ensemble</a> and was cast as the Travis Younger character in the play <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Raisin_in_the_Sun" title="A Raisin in the Sun">A Raisin in the Sun</a></i>, which was performed at the famous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Theater" title="Apollo Theater">Apollo Theater</a>. In 1986, the family relocated to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore,_Maryland" title="Baltimore, Maryland">Baltimore</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vibe_19-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-vibe-19">[20]</a></sup> After completing his second year at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Laurence_Dunbar_High_School_%28Baltimore,_Maryland%29" title="Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Baltimore, Maryland)">Paul Laurence Dunbar High School</a> he transferred to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_School_for_the_Arts" title="Baltimore School for the Arts">Baltimore School for the Arts</a>, where he studied <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acting" title="Acting">acting</a>, poetry, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz" title="Jazz">jazz</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballet" title="Ballet">ballet</a>. He performed in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare%27s_plays" title="Shakespeare's plays">Shakespeare plays</a>, and in the role of the Mouse King in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nutcracker" title="The Nutcracker">The Nutcracker</a></i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-labyrinth_18-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-labyrinth-18">[19]</a></sup> Shakur, accompanied by one of his friends, Dana "Mouse" Smith, as his <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatbox" title="Beatbox">beatbox</a>, won most of the many rap competitions that he participated in and was considered to be the best rapper in his school.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-20">[21]</a></sup> Although he lacked trendy clothing, he was one of the most popular kids in his school because of his sense of humor, superior rapping skills, and ability to mix in with all crowds.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup> He developed a close friendship with a young <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jada_Pinkett_Smith" title="Jada Pinkett Smith">Jada Pinkett</a> (later Jada Pinkett Smith) that lasted until his death. In the documentary <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac:_Resurrection" title="Tupac: Resurrection">Tupac: Resurrection</a></i>, Shakur says, "Jada is my heart. She will be my friend for my whole life," and Pinkett Smith calls him "one of my best friends. He was like a brother. It was beyond friendship for us. The type of relationship we had, you only get that once in a lifetime." A poem written by Shakur titled "Jada" appears in his book, <i>The Rose That Grew From Concrete</i>, which also includes a poem dedicated to Pinkett Smith called "The Tears in Cupid's Eyes". During his time in art school, Shakur began dating the daughter of the director of the Baltimore <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_USA" title="Communist Party USA">Communist Party USA</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-22">[23]</a></sup><br />
In June 1988, Shakur and his family moved once again, this time to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marin_City,_California" title="Marin City, California">Marin City</a>, California,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vibe_19-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-vibe-19">[20]</a></sup> where he attended <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamalpais_High_School" title="Tamalpais High School">Tamalpais High School</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-23">[24]</a></sup> He began attending the poetry classes of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leila_Steinberg" title="Leila Steinberg">Leila Steinberg</a> in 1989.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-24">[25]</a></sup> That same year, Steinberg organized a concert with a former group of Shakur's, Strictly Dope; the concert led to him being signed with Atron Gregory who set him up with the up-and-coming rap group <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Underground" title="Digital Underground">Digital Underground</a>. In 1990, he was hired as the band's backup dancer and roadie.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TSTA_4-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TSTA-4">[5]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TSHSD_5-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TSHSD-5">[6]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HTP-330_6-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-HTP-330-6">[7]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Rapping_career">Rapping career</span></h2>Shakur's professional entertainment career began in the early 1990s, when he debuted his rapping skills in a vocal turn in Digital Underground's "Same Song" from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_but_Trouble_%28soundtrack%29" title="Nothing but Trouble (soundtrack)">soundtrack to the 1991 film <i>Nothing but Trouble</i></a> and also appeared with the group in the film of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_but_Trouble_%281991_film%29" title="Nothing but Trouble (1991 film)">same name</a>. The song was later released as the lead song of the Digital Underground <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_play" title="Extended play">EP</a> <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_is_an_EP_Release" title="This is an EP Release">This is an EP Release</a></i>, the follow-up to their debut hit album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_Packets" title="Sex Packets">Sex Packets</a></i>. Shakur appeared in the accompanying music video. After his rap debut, he performed with Digital Underground again on the album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_the_P" title="Sons of the P">Sons of the P</a></i>. Later, he released his first solo album, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2Pacalypse_Now" title="2Pacalypse Now">2Pacalypse Now</a></i>. Initially he had trouble marketing his solo debut, but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interscope_Records" title="Interscope Records">Interscope Records</a>' executives <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Field" title="Ted Field">Ted Field</a> and Tom Whalley eventually agreed to distribute the record.<br />
<i>2Pacalypse Now</i> did not do as well on the charts as future albums, spawning no top ten hits. His second record, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strictly_4_My_N.I.G.G.A.Z." title="Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.">Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.</a></i>, was released in 1993. The album, mostly produced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stretch_%28rapper%29" title="Stretch (rapper)">Randy "Stretch" Walker</a> (Shakur's closest friend and associate at the time) and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Squad" title="Live Squad">Live Squad</a>, generated two hits, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_Ya_Head_Up" title="Keep Ya Head Up">Keep Ya Head Up</a>" and "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Get_Around_%282Pac_song%29" title="I Get Around (2Pac song)">I Get Around</a>", the latter featuring guest appearances by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_G" title="Shock G">Shock G</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money-B" title="Money-B">Money-B</a> of the Digital Underground.<br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Thug_Life">Thug Life</span></h2>In late 1993, Shakur formed the group Thug Life with a number of his friends, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Syke" title="Big Syke">Big Syke</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macadoshis" title="Macadoshis">Macadoshis</a>, his stepbrother <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mopreme_Shakur" title="Mopreme Shakur">Mopreme Shakur</a>, and Rated R. The group released their only record album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thug_Life:_Volume_1" title="Thug Life: Volume 1">Thug Life: Volume 1</a></i> on September 26, 1994, which went gold. The album featured the single "<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pour_Out_a_Little_Liquor" title="Pour Out a Little Liquor">Pour Out a Little Liquor</a>" produced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_%22J%22" title="Johnny "J"">Johnny "J" Jackson</a>, who went on to produce a large part of Shakur's album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Eyez_on_Me" title="All Eyez on Me">All Eyez on Me</a></i>. The group usually performed their concerts without Shakur.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-25">[26]</a></sup> The concept of "Thug Life", at the time, was viewed as a philosophy of life by Shakur.<br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Legal_issues">Legal issues</span></h2>Even as he garnered attention as a rapper and actor, Shakur gained notoriety for his conflicts with the law. In October 1991, he attempted to file a $10 million civil suit against the law enforcement of the Oakland Police Department, alleging they brutally beat him for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaywalking" title="Jaywalking">jaywalking</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nytimes.com_26-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-nytimes.com-26">[27]</a></sup><br />
In 1992, a Texas state trooper was killed by a teenager who was listening to <i>2Pacalypse Now</i> which included songs about killing police. This caused a swirl of media controversy. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Quayle" title="Dan Quayle">Dan Quayle</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_President_of_the_United_States" title="Vice President of the United States">Vice President of the United States</a> at the time, demanded that the album be withdrawn from music stores and media across the country; Interscope refused.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nytimes.com_26-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-nytimes.com-26">[27]</a></sup> Shakur claimed his first album was aimed at the problems facing young black males, but it was criticized for its graphic language and images of violence by and against law enforcement. Quayle publicly denounced the album as having "no place in our society."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-27">[28]</a></sup><br />
In October 1993, in <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta,_Georgia" title="Atlanta, Georgia">Atlanta</a>, two brothers and off-duty police officers, Mark and Scott Whitwell, were with their wives celebrating Mrs. Whitwell's recent passing of the state bar examination. As they crossed the street, a car with Shakur inside passed by them or "almost struck them," after which the Whitwells began an altercation with the driver, Shakur and the other passengers, which was then joined by a second passing car. Shakur shot one officer in the buttocks, and the other in the leg, back, or abdomen, according to varying news reports. There were no other injuries, but Mark Whitwell was charged with firing at Shakur's car and later lying to the police during the investigation, and Shakur with the shooting, until prosecutors decided to drop all charges against all parties.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-28">[29]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-29">[30]</a></sup><br />
In November 1993, Shakur and others were charged with sexually abusing a woman in a hotel room. According to the complaint, Shakur sodomized the woman and then encouraged his friends to sexually abuse her. Shakur completely denied the charges. According to Shakur, he had prior relations days earlier with the woman; she performed oral sex on him on a club dance floor and the two later had consensual sex in his hotel room. The allegations were made after she revisited his hotel room for the second time where she engaged in sexual activity with his friends and alleged that Shakur and his entourage had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_bang" title="Gang bang">gang banged</a> her, saying to him while leaving, "Why you let them do this to me?"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-30">[31]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-31">[32]</a></sup> Shakur stated he had fallen asleep shortly after she arrived and later awoke to her accusations and legal threats. In the ensuing trial Shakur was convicted of sexual abuse. In sentencing Shakur to one-and-a-half years in a correctional facility, the judge described the crime as "an act of brutal violence against a helpless woman."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-32">[33]</a></sup> In 1994, he was convicted of attacking a former employer while on a music video set. He was sentenced to fifteen days in jail with additional days on a highway work crew, community service, and a $2,000 fine.<br />
In 1995, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrongful_death_claim" title="Wrongful death claim">wrongful death suit</a> was brought against Shakur for a 1992 shooting that killed Qa'id Walker-Teal, a six-year old of Marin City. The child had been the victim of a stray bullet in a shootout between Shakur's entourage and a rival group, though the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistics" title="Ballistics">ballistics</a> tests proved the bullet was not from Shakur or any members of his entourage's guns. Criminal charges were not sought, and Shakur settled with the family for an amount estimated between $300,000 and $500,000.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-33">[34]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-34">[35]</a></sup> After serving part of his sentence upon a conviction, he was released on bail pending his appeal. On April 5, 1996, a judge sentenced him to serve 120 days in jail for violating terms of probation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-35">[36]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="November_1994_shooting">November 1994 shooting</span></h2>On the night of November 30, 1994, the day before the verdict in his sexual abuse trial was to be announced, Shakur was shot five times and robbed after entering the lobby of Quad Recording Studios in Manhattan by two armed men in army fatigues. He would later accuse <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Combs" title="Sean Combs">Sean Combs</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-36">[37]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Harrell" title="Andre Harrell">Andre Harrell</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Notorious_B.I.G." title="The Notorious B.I.G.">Biggie Smalls</a>—whom he saw after the shooting—of setting him up. Shakur also suspected his close friend and associate, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stretch_%28rapper%29" title="Stretch (rapper)">Randy "Stretch" Walker</a>, of being involved in the attempt. According to the doctors at Bellevue Hospital, where he was admitted immediately following the incident, Shakur had received five bullet wounds; twice in the head, twice in the groin and once through the arm and thigh. He checked out of the hospital, against doctor's orders, three hours after surgery. In the day that followed, Shakur entered the courthouse in a wheelchair and was found guilty of three counts of molestation, but innocent of six others, including sodomy. On February 6, 1995, he was sentenced to one-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years in prison on a sexual assault charge.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-37">[38]</a></sup><br />
A year later on November 30, 1995, Stretch was killed after being shot twice in the back by three men who pulled up alongside his green minivan at 112th Ave. and 209th St. in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens_Village,_Queens" title="Queens Village, Queens">Queens Village</a>, while he was driving. His minivan smashed into a tree and hit a parked car before flipping over.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-38">[39]</a></sup><br />
On March 27, 2008, the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times" title="Los Angeles Times">LA Times</a></i> issued an apology to Combs for blaming him for having a role in the November 1994 shooting. The article stated that Shakur was led to the studio by Biggie's associates to gun him down to make favor with Biggie. The newspaper relied on forged documents that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smoking_Gun" title="The Smoking Gun">The Smoking Gun</a> proved to be faked.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-39">[40]</a></sup> Combs stated that he is disgusted with the <i>LA Times</i> for printing the story.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-40">[41]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-41">[42]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-42">[43]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-43">[44]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Prison_sentence">Prison sentence</span></h2>Shakur began serving his prison sentence at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Correctional_Facility" title="Clinton Correctional Facility">Clinton Correctional Facility</a> on February 14, 1995. Shortly afterwards, he released his multi-platinum album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_Against_the_World" title="Me Against the World">Me Against the World</a></i>. Shakur is the only artist ever to have an album at number one on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_200" title="Billboard 200">Billboard 200</a> while serving a prison sentence. The album made its debut on the Billboard 200 and stayed at the top of the charts for five weeks. The record album sold 240,000 copies in its first week, setting a record for highest first week sales for a solo male rap artist at the time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-44">[45]</a></sup> While serving his sentence, he married his long-time girlfriend, Keisha Morris, on April 4, 1995; the couple later divorced in 1996.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-45">[46]</a></sup> While imprisoned, Shakur read many books by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli" title="Niccolò Machiavelli">Niccolò Machiavelli</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Tzu" title="Sun Tzu">Sun Tzu</a>'s <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_War" title="The Art of War">The Art of War</a></i> and other works of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_philosophy" title="Political philosophy">political philosophy</a> and strategy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-46">[47]</a></sup> He also wrote a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenplay" title="Screenplay">screenplay</a> titled <i>Live 2 Tell</i> while incarcerated, a story about an adolescent who becomes a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_lord" title="Drug lord">drug baron</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-47">[48]</a></sup><br />
In October 1995, Shakur's case was on appeal but due to all of his legal fees he could not raise the $1.4 million bail. After serving eleven months of his one-and-a-half year to four-and-a-half year sentence,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-48">[49]</a></sup> Shakur was released from the penitentiary due in large part to the help and influence of Suge, the CEO of Death Row Records, who posted a $1.4 million bail pending appeal of the conviction in exchange for Shakur to release three albums under the Death Row label.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-49">[50]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Death_Row_Records">Death Row Records</span></h2>Upon his release from Clinton Correctional Facility, Shakur immediately went back to song recording. He began a new group called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlawz" title="Outlawz">Outlaw Immortalz</a>. Shakur began recording his first album with Death Row and released the single "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Love" title="California Love">California Love</a>" soon after.<br />
<br />
On February 13, 1996, Shakur released his fourth solo album, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Eyez_on_Me" title="All Eyez on Me">All Eyez on Me</a></i>. This double album was the first and second of his three-album commitment to Death Row Records. It sold over nine million copies.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-50">[51]</a></sup> The record was a general departure from the introspective subject matter of <i>Me Against the World</i>, being more oriented toward a thug and gangsta mentality. Shakur continued his recordings despite increasing problems at the Death Row label. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Dre" title="Dr. Dre">Dr. Dre</a> left his post as house producer to form his own label, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftermath_Entertainment" title="Aftermath Entertainment">Aftermath</a>. Shakur continued to produce hundreds of tracks during his time at Death Row, most of which would be released on his posthumous albums <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R_U_Still_Down%3F_%28Remember_Me%29" title="R U Still Down? (Remember Me)">R U Still Down? (Remember Me)</a></i>, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_I_Rise" title="Still I Rise">Still I Rise</a></i>, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Until_the_End_of_Time_%28album%29" title="Until the End of Time (album)">Until the End of Time</a></i>, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Dayz" title="Better Dayz">Better Dayz</a></i>, and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac%27s_Life" title="Pac's Life">Pac's Life</a></i>. He also began the process of recording an album with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot_Camp_Clik" title="Boot Camp Clik">Boot Camp Clik</a> and their label Duck Down Records, both New York–based, entitled <i>One Nation</i>.<br />
On June 4, 1996, he and Outlawz released the <a class="extiw" href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/diss_song" title="wikt:diss song">diss track</a> "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hit_%27Em_Up" title="Hit 'Em Up">Hit 'Em Up</a>", a scathing lyrical assault on Biggie and others associated with him. In the track, Shakur claimed to have had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_intercourse" title="Sexual intercourse">intercourse</a> with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_Evans" title="Faith Evans">Faith Evans</a>, Biggie's wife at the time, and attacks <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Boy_Records" title="Bad Boy Records">Bad Boy</a>'s street credibility. Though no hard evidence suggests so, Shakur was convinced that some members associated with Bad Boy had known about the '94 attack on him beforehand due to their behavior that night and what his sources told him. Shakur aligned himself with Suge, Death Row's CEO, who was already bitter toward Combs over a 1995 incident at the Platinum Club in Atlanta, Georgia, which culminated in the death of Suge's friend and bodyguard, Jake Robles; Suge was adamant in voicing his suspicions of Combs involvement.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-51">[52]</a></sup> Shakur's signing with Suge and Death Row added fuel to building an East Coast-West Coast conflict. Both sides remained bitter enemies until Shakur's death.<br />
On July 4, 1996, he performed live at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Blues" title="House of Blues">House of Blues</a> with Outlawz, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tha_Dogg_Pound" title="Tha Dogg Pound">Tha Dogg Pound</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoop_Dogg" title="Snoop Dogg">Snoop "Doggy" Dogg</a> also headlining. This was Shakur's very last live performance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-52">[53]</a></sup><br />
While incarcerated in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Correctional_Facility" title="Clinton Correctional Facility">Clinton Correctional Facility</a>, Shakur read and studied <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli" title="Niccolò Machiavelli">Niccolò Machiavelli</a> and other published works, which inspired his pseudonym "Makaveli" under which he released the record album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Don_Killuminati:_The_7_Day_Theory" title="The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory">The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory</a></i>. The album presents a stark contrast to previous works. Throughout the album, Shakur continues to focus on the themes of pain and aggression, making this album one of the emotionally darker works of his career. Shakur wrote and recorded all the lyrics in only three days and the production took another four days, combining for a total of seven days to complete the album (hence the name). Shakur had plans of starting Makaveli Records which would have included Outlawz, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu-Tang_Clan" title="Wu-Tang Clan">Wu-Tang Clan</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Daddy_Kane" title="Big Daddy Kane">Big Daddy Kane</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Syke" title="Big Syke">Big Syke</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_Starr" title="Gang Starr">Gang Starr</a>.<br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="September_1996_shooting_and_death">September 1996 shooting and death</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tupac4.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="140" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b5/Tupac4.jpg/220px-Tupac4.jpg" width="220" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tupac4.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The famous photograph of Shakur taken just twenty minutes before the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-by_shooting" title="Drive-by shooting">drive-by shooting</a>, from the cover of the book <i>The Killing of Tupac Shakur</i> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathy_Scott" title="Cathy Scott">Cathy Scott</a></span></div></div></div>On the night of September 7, 1996, Shakur attended the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Tyson" title="Mike Tyson">Mike Tyson</a> – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Seldon" title="Bruce Seldon">Bruce Seldon</a> boxing match at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGM_Grand_Las_Vegas" title="MGM Grand Las Vegas">MGM Grand</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas,_Nevada" title="Las Vegas, Nevada">Las Vegas</a>. After leaving the match, one of Suge's associates spotted 21 year-old <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Anderson" title="Orlando Anderson">Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson</a>, a member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crips" title="Crips">Southside Crips</a>, in the MGM Grand lobby and informed Shakur. Shakur then attacked Anderson. Shakur's entourage, as well as Suge and his followers assisted in assaulting Anderson. The fight was captured on the hotel's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-circuit_television" title="Closed-circuit television">video surveillance</a>. Earlier that year, Anderson and a group of Crips had robbed a member of Death Row's entourage in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_Locker" title="Foot Locker">Foot Locker</a> store, precipitating Shakur's attack. After the brawl, Shakur went to rendezvous with Suge to go to Death Row-owned Club 662 (now known as restaurant/club Seven). He rode in Suge's 1996 black <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_E38" title="BMW E38">BMW 750iL</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedan_%28car%29" title="Sedan (car)">sedan</a> as part of a larger <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoy" title="Convoy">convoy</a> including many in Shakur's entourage.<br />
At 10:55 p.m., while paused at a red light, Shakur rolled down his window and a photographer took his photograph.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Thugs_Network_53-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-Thugs_Network-53">[54]</a></sup> At around 11:00–11:05 p.m., they were halted on Las Vegas Blvd. by Metro bicycle cops for playing the car stereo too loud and not having license plates. The plates were then found in the trunk of Suge's car; they were released without being fined a few minutes later.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Thugs_Network_53-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-Thugs_Network-53">[54]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-54">[55]</a></sup> At about 11:10 p.m., while stopped at a red light at Flamingo Road near the intersection of Koval Lane in front of the Maxim Hotel, a vehicle occupied by two women pulled up on their right side. Shakur, who was standing up through the sunroof, exchanged words with the two women, and invited them to go to Club 662.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Thugs_Network_53-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-Thugs_Network-53">[54]</a></sup> At approximately 11:15 p.m., a white, four-door, late-model <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac" title="Cadillac">Cadillac</a> with an unknown number of occupants pulled up to the sedan's right side, rolled down one of the windows, and rapidly fired a surfeit of gunshots at Shakur; bullets hit him in the chest, pelvis, and his right hand and thigh.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TSDCD_10-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TSDCD-10">[11]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Thugs_Network_53-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-Thugs_Network-53">[54]</a></sup> One of the rounds apparently ricocheted into Shakur's right lung.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AEOM_55-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-AEOM-55">[56]</a></sup> Suge was hit in the head by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fragmentation_%28weaponry%29" title="Fragmentation (weaponry)">shrapnel</a>, though it is thought that a bullet grazed him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-56">[57]</a></sup> According to Suge, a bullet from the gunfire had been lodged in his skull, but medical reports later contradicted this statement.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-57">[58]</a></sup><br />
At the time of the drive-by Shakur's bodyguard was following behind in a vehicle belonging to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidada_Jones" title="Kidada Jones">Kidada Jones</a>, Shakur's then-fiancée. The bodyguard, Frank Alexander, stated that when he was about to ride along with the rapper in Suge's car, Shakur asked him to drive Kidada Jones' car instead just in case they were too drunk and needed additional vehicles from Club 662 back to the hotel. Shortly after the assault, the bodyguard reported in his documentary, <i>Before I Wake</i>, that one of the convoy's cars drove off after the assailant but he never heard back from the occupants.<br />
After arriving on the scene, police and paramedics took Suge and a fatally wounded Shakur to the University Medical Center. According to an interview with one of Shakur's closest friends the music video director Gobi, while at the hospital, he received news from a Death Row marketing employee that the shooters had called the record label and were sending death threats aimed at Shakur, claiming that they were going there to "finish him off".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gobi_58-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-Gobi-58">[59]</a></sup> Upon hearing this, Gobi immediately alerted the Las Vegas police, but the police claimed they were understaffed and no one could be sent.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gobi_58-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-Gobi-58">[59]</a></sup> Nonetheless, the shooters never arrived.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gobi_58-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-Gobi-58">[59]</a></sup> At the hospital, Shakur was in and out of consciousness, was heavily <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedative" title="Sedative">sedated</a>, breathed through a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_ventilator" title="Medical ventilator">ventilator</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respirator" title="Respirator">respirator</a>, was placed on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_support" title="Life support">life support</a> machines, and was ultimately put under a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbiturate" title="Barbiturate">barbiturate</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_coma" title="Induced coma">induced coma</a> after repeatedly trying to get out of the bed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TSDCD_10-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TSDCD-10">[11]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gobi_58-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-Gobi-58">[59]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-T96SLV_59-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-T96SLV-59">[60]</a></sup><br />
Despite having been resuscitated in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trauma_center" title="Trauma center">trauma center</a> and surviving a multitude of surgeries (as well as the removal of a failed right lung), Shakur had gotten through the critical phase of the medical therapy and was given a 50% chance of pulling through.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AEOM_55-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-AEOM-55">[56]</a></sup> Gobi left the medical center after being informed that Shakur made a 13% recovery on the sixth night.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gobi_58-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-Gobi-58">[59]</a></sup> While in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intensive-care_unit" title="Intensive-care unit">critical care unit</a> on the afternoon of September 13, 1996, Shakur died of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_bleeding" title="Internal bleeding">internal bleeding</a>; doctors attempted to revive him but could not impede his hemorrhaging.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TSDCD_10-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TSDCD-10">[11]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-T96SLV_59-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-T96SLV-59">[60]</a></sup> His mother, Afeni, made the decision to tell the doctors to stop.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AEOM_55-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-AEOM-55">[56]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-T96SLV_59-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-T96SLV-59">[60]</a></sup> He was pronounced dead at 4:03 p.m. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Time_Zone" title="Pacific Time Zone">PDT</a>)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TSDCD_10-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TSDCD-10">[11]</a></sup> The official cause of death was noted as respiratory failure and cardiopulmonary arrest in connection with multiple gunshot wounds.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TSDCD_10-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TSDCD-10">[11]</a></sup> Shakur's body was cremated.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-60">[61]</a></sup> Some of his ashes were later mixed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_%28drug%29" title="Cannabis (drug)">marijuana</a> and smoked by members of Outlawz.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-61"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-61">[62]</a></sup><br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Murder_case">Murder case</span></h3>Due largely to the perceived lack of progress on the case by law enforcement, many independent investigations and theories of the murder have emerged. Because of the acrimony between him and Biggie, there was speculation from the outset about the possibility of Biggie's collaboration in the murder. He, as well as his family, relatives, and associates, have vehemently denied the accusation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-62">[63]</a></sup> In 2002, the <i>LA Times</i> writer Chuck Phillips fraudulently claimed to have uncovered evidence implicating Biggie, in addition to Anderson and the Southside Crips, in the attack.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-63">[64]</a></sup> In the article, Phillips quoted unnamed gang-member sources who claimed Biggie had ties to the Crips, often hiring them for security during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_hip_hop" title="West Coast hip hop">West Coast</a> appearances. However, in 2008, the <i>LA Times</i> printed an official front-page retraction of Phillips' story.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bs_64-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-bs-64">[65]</a></sup> The documents Phillips used were discovered by The Smoking Gun to be completely fraudulent.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bs_64-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-bs-64">[65]</a></sup> Phillips was consequently laid off less than five months later.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bs_64-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-bs-64">[65]</a></sup> Biggie was murdered in March 1997.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-65">[66]</a></sup><br />
In support of their claims, Biggie's family submitted documentation to MTV suggesting that he was working in a New York recording studio the night of the drive-by shooting. His manager Wayne Barrow and fellow rapper <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil%27_Cease" title="Lil' Cease">James "Lil' Cease" Lloyd</a> made public announcements denying Biggie's partaking in the crime and claimed further that they were both with him in the recording studio during the night of the event.<br />
The high profile nature of the killing and ensuing gang violence caught the attention of English filmmaker <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Broomfield" title="Nick Broomfield">Nick Broomfield</a>, who made the documentary film <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biggie_%26_Tupac" title="Biggie & Tupac">Biggie & Tupac</a></i> which examines the lack of progress in the case by speaking to those close to the two slain rappers and the investigation. Shakur's close childhood friend and member of Outlawz, Yafeu "Yaki Kadafi" Fula, was in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoy" title="Convoy">convoy</a> when the drive-by occurred and indicated to police that he might be able to identify the assailants, however, he was shot and killed shortly thereafter in a housing project in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irvington,_New_Jersey" title="Irvington, New Jersey">Irvington</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-66">[67]</a></sup><br />
A DVD titled <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac:_Assassination" title="Tupac: Assassination">Tupac: Assassination</a></i> was released on October 23, 2007, more than eleven years after Shakur's murder. It explores aspects surrounding the event and provides new insight about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_case_%28criminology%29" title="Cold case (criminology)">cold case</a> with details of the environment.<br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Influences">Influences</span></h2>Shakur's music and philosophy is rooted in many American, African-American, and World entities, including the Black Panther Party, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_nationalism" title="Black nationalism">Black nationalism</a>, egalitarianism, and liberty. His debut album, <i>2Pacalypse Now</i>, revealed the socially conscious side of Shakur. On this album, Shakur attacked social injustice, poverty and police brutality on songs "Brenda's Got a Baby", "Trapped" and "Part Time Mutha". His style on this album was highly influenced by the social consciousness and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrocentrism" title="Afrocentrism">Afrocentrism</a> pervading hip hop in the late 1980s and early 1990s. On this initial release, Shakur helped extend the success of such rap groups as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_Down_Productions" title="Boogie Down Productions">Boogie Down Productions</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Enemy_%28band%29" title="Public Enemy (band)">Public Enemy</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Clan" title="X-Clan">X-Clan</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash" title="Grandmaster Flash">Grandmaster Flash</a>, as he became one of the first major socially conscious rappers from the West Coast.<br />
On his second record, Shakur continued to rap about the social ills facing African-Americans, with songs like "The Streetz R Deathrow" and "Last Wordz". He also showed his compassionate side with the anthem "Keep Ya Head Up", while simultaneously putting his legendary aggressiveness on display with the title track from the album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strictly_4_My_N.I.G.G.A.Z." title="Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.">Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.</a></i> he added a salute to his former group Digital Underground by including them on the playful track "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Get_Around_%282Pac_song%29" title="I Get Around (2Pac song)">I Get Around</a>". Throughout his career, an increasingly aggressive attitude can be seen pervading Shakur's subsequent albums.<br />
The contradictory themes of social inequality and injustice, unbridled aggression, compassion, playfulness, and hope all continued to shape Shakur's work, as witnessed with the release of his incendiary 1995 album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_Against_the_World" title="Me Against the World">Me Against the World</a></i>. In 1996, Shakur released <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Eyez_on_Me" title="All Eyez on Me">All Eyez on Me</a></i>. Many of these tracks are considered by many critics to be classics, including "<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambitionz_Az_a_Ridah" title="Ambitionz Az a Ridah">Ambitionz Az a Ridah</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ain%27t_Mad_at_Cha" title="I Ain't Mad at Cha">I Ain't Mad at Cha</a>", "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Love" title="California Love">California Love</a>", "<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_Goes_On_%28song%29" title="Life Goes On (song)">Life Goes On</a>" and "Picture Me Rollin'".; <i>All Eyez on Me</i> was a change of style from his earlier works. While still containing socially conscious songs and themes, Shakur's album was heavily influenced by party tracks and tended to have a more "feel good" vibe than his first albums. Shakur described it as a celebration of life, and the record was critically and commercially successful.<br />
Shakur was a voracious reader. He was inspired by a wide variety of writers, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli" title="Niccolò Machiavelli">Niccolò Machiavelli</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Goines" title="Donald Goines">Donald Goines</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Tzu" title="Sun Tzu">Sun Tzu</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Vonnegut" title="Kurt Vonnegut">Kurt Vonnegut</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Bakunin" title="Mikhail Bakunin">Mikhail Bakunin</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Angelou" title="Maya Angelou">Maya Angelou</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Walker" title="Alice Walker">Alice Walker</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalil_Gibran" title="Khalil Gibran">Khalil Gibran</a>. In his book, Dyson describes the experience of visiting the home of Shakur's friend and promoter Leila Steinberg to find "the sea of books" once owned by Shakur.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-m_dyson_holler_67-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-m_dyson_holler-67">[68]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Legacy">Legacy</span></h2><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MARTa_Paolo_Chiasera_www.tupacproject.it.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="227" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/MARTa_Paolo_Chiasera_www.tupacproject.it.jpg/170px-MARTa_Paolo_Chiasera_www.tupacproject.it.jpg" width="170" /></a> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MARTa_Paolo_Chiasera_www.tupacproject.it.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Statue of Tupac Shakur</span></div></div></div>At a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobb_Deep" title="Mobb Deep">Mobb Deep</a> concert following the death of the famed icon and release of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Don_Killuminati:_The_7_Day_Theory" title="The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory">The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory</a></i>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormega" title="Cormega">Cormega</a> recalled in an interview that the fans were all shouting "Makaveli,"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-68">[69]</a></sup> and emphasized the influence of the <i>The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory</i> and of Shakur himself even in New York at the height of the media-dubbed 'intercoastal rivalry'.<br />
Shakur is held in high esteem by other <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC" title="MC">MCs</a> – in the book <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Rap" title="How to Rap">How to Rap</a></i>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Lamont" title="Bishop Lamont">Bishop Lamont</a> notes that Shakur “mastered every element, every aspect” of rapping<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-69"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-69">[70]</a></sup> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredro_Starr" title="Fredro Starr">Fredro Starr</a> of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onyx_%28band%29" title="Onyx (band)">Onyx</a> says Shakur, "was a master of the flow."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-70">[71]</a></sup><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/About.com" title="About.com">About.com</a> named Shakur the most influential rapper ever.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-71"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-71">[72]</a></sup><br />
To preserve Shakur's legacy, his mother founded the Shakur Family Foundation (later re-named the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation or TASF) in 1997. The TASF's stated mission is to "provide training and support for students who aspire to enhance their creative talents." The TASF sponsors essay contests, charity events, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performing_arts" title="Performing arts">performing arts</a> day camp for teenagers and undergraduate scholarships. The Foundation officially opened the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Amaru_Shakur_Center_for_the_Arts" title="Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts">Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts</a> (TASCA) in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Mountain,_Georgia" title="Stone Mountain, Georgia">Stone Mountain</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a>, on June 11, 2005. On November 14, 2003, a documentary about Shakur entitled <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac:_Resurrection" title="Tupac: Resurrection">Tupac: Resurrection</a></i> was released under the supervision of his mother and narrated entirely in his voice. It was nominated for <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Documentary_Feature" title="Academy Award for Documentary Feature">Best Documentary</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/77th_Academy_Awards" title="77th Academy Awards">2005 Academy Awards</a>. Proceeds will go to a charity set up by Shakur's mother Afeni. On April 17, 2003, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_University" title="Harvard University">Harvard University</a> co-sponsored an academic symposium entitled "All Eyez on Me: Tupac Shakur and the Search for the Modern Folk Hero." The speakers discussed a wide range of topics dealing with Shakur's impact on everything from entertainment to sociology.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-72">[73]</a></sup><br />
Many of the speakers discussed Shakur's status and public persona, including <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_University_of_New_York_at_Buffalo" title="State University of New York at Buffalo">State University of New York at Buffalo</a> English professor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Anthony_Neal" title="Mark Anthony Neal">Mark Anthony Neal</a> who gave the talk "Thug Nigga Intellectual: Tupac as Celebrity Gramscian" in which he argued that Shakur was an example of the "organic intellectual" expressing the concerns of a larger group.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-73"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-73">[74]</a></sup> Professor Neal has also indicated in his writings that the death of Shakur has left a "leadership void amongst hip-hop artists."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-74"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-74">[75]</a></sup> Neal further describes him as a "walking contradiction", a status that allowed him to "make being an intellectual accessible to ordinary people."<br />
Professor of Communications Murray Forman, of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeastern_University_%28Boston,_Massachusetts%29" title="Northeastern University (Boston, Massachusetts)">Northeastern University</a>, spoke of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythical" title="Mythical">mythical</a> status about Shakur's life and death. He addressed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbol" title="Symbol">symbolism</a> and mythology surrounding Shakur's death in his talk entitled "Tupac Shakur: O.G. (Ostensibly Gone)". Among his findings were that Shakur's fans have "succeeded in resurrecting Tupac as an ethereal life force."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-75"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-75">[76]</a></sup> In "From Thug Life to Legend: Realization of a Black Folk Hero", Professor of Music at Northeastern University, Emmett Price, compared Shakur's public image to that of the trickster-figures of African-American folklore which gave rise to the urban "bad-man" persona of the post-slavery period. He ultimately described Shakur as a "prolific artist" who was "driven by a terrible sense of urgency" in a quest to "unify mind, body, and spirit".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-76"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-76">[77]</a></sup><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Eric_Dyson" title="Michael Eric Dyson">Michael Eric Dyson</a>, University of Pennsylvania Avalon Professor of Humanities and African American Studies and author of the book <i>Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-m_dyson_holler_67-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-m_dyson_holler-67">[68]</a></sup> indicated that Shakur "spoke with brilliance and insight as someone who bears witness to the pain of those who would never have his platform. He told the truth, even as he struggled with the fragments of his identity."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_77-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-autogenerated1-77">[78]</a></sup> At one Harvard Conference the theme was Shakur's impact on entertainment, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_relations" title="Race relations">race relations</a>, politics and the "hero/martyr".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-78"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-78">[79]</a></sup> In late 1997, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_Berkeley" title="University of California, Berkeley">University of California, Berkeley</a> offered a student-led course entitled "History 98: Poetry and History of Tupac Shakur."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-79"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-79">[80]</a></sup><br />
In late 2003, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makaveli_Branded_Clothing" title="Makaveli Branded Clothing">Makaveli Branded Clothing</a> line was launched by Afeni. In 2005, Death Row released <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac:_Live_at_the_House_of_Blues" title="Tupac: Live at the House of Blues">Tupac: Live at the House of Blues</a></i>. The DVD was the final recorded performance of Shakur's career, which took place on July 4, 1996, and features a plethora of Death Row artists. In August 2006, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur_Legacy" title="Tupac Shakur Legacy">Tupac Shakur Legacy</a></i> was released. The interactive biography was written by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamal_Joseph" title="Jamal Joseph">Jamal Joseph</a>. It features unseen family photographs, intimate stories, and over 20 removable reproductions of his handwritten song lyrics, contracts, scripts, poetry, and other personal papers. Shakur's sixth posthumous studio album, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac%27s_Life" title="Pac's Life">Pac's Life</a></i>, was released on November 21, 2006. It commemorates the 10th anniversary of Shakur's death. He is still considered one of the most popular artists in the music industry as of 2006<sup class="plainlinks noprint asof-tag update" style="display: none;"><a class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tupac_Shakur&action=edit" rel="nofollow">[update]</a></sup>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-80"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-80">[81]</a></sup><br />
According to <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes" title="Forbes">Forbes</a></i>, in 2008 Shakur's estate made $15 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-81"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-81">[82]</a></sup> In 2002, they recognize him as a Top Earning Dead celebrity coming in on number ten on their list.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-82"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-82">[83]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Honors">Honors</span></h2><ul><li>He is recognized in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness_World_Records" title="Guinness World Records">Guinness Book of World Records</a> as the highest-selling rap artist, with over 75 million albums sold worldwide.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-83"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-83">[84]</a></sup></li>
<li>MTV ranked him at #2 on their list of <i>The Greatest MCs of All Time</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mtv_greatest_84-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-mtv_greatest-84">[85]</a></sup></li>
<li>Shakur was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame in 2002.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-85"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-85">[86]</a></sup></li>
<li>In 2003, MTV's "22 Greatest MCs" countdown listed Shakur as the "number 1 MC", as voted by the viewers.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-86"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-86">[87]</a></sup></li>
<li>In 2004, at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VH1" title="VH1">VH1</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_Hop_Honors" title="Hip Hop Honors">Hip Hop Honors</a> Shakur was honored along with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ_Hollywood" title="DJ Hollywood">DJ Hollywood</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kool_DJ_Herc" title="Kool DJ Herc">Kool DJ Herc</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KRS-One" title="KRS-One">KRS-One</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Enemy_%28band%29" title="Public Enemy (band)">Public Enemy</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run-D.M.C." title="Run-D.M.C.">Run-D.M.C.</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Steady_Crew" title="Rock Steady Crew">Rock Steady Crew</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sugarhill_Gang" title="The Sugarhill Gang">Sugarhill Gang</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-87"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-87">[88]</a></sup></li>
<li>A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibe_%28magazine%29" title="Vibe (magazine)"><i>Vibe</i> magazine</a> poll in 2004 rated Shakur "the greatest rapper of all time" as voted by fans.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-88"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-88">[89]</a></sup></li>
<li>At the First Annual Turks & Caicos International Film Festival held on Tuesday, October 17, 2006, Shakur was honored for his undeniable voice and talent and as a performer who crossed racial, ethnic, cultural and medium lines; his mother accepted the award on his behalf.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-89"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-89">[90]</a></sup></li>
<li>In 2008, The National Association Of Recording Merchandisers in conjunction with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame" title="Rock and Roll Hall of Fame">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a> recognized him as a very influential artist and has added him in their Definitive 200 list.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-90"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-90">[91]</a></sup></li>
</ul>His double album, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Eyez_on_Me" title="All Eyez on Me">All Eyez on Me</a></i>, is one of the highest-selling rap albums of all time, with over 5 million copies of the album sold in the United States alone by April 1996; it was eventually certified 9x platinum in June 1998 by the RIAA.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-91"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-91">[92]</a></sup><br />
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Discography">Discography</span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur_discography" title="Tupac Shakur discography">Tupac Shakur discography</a></div><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Studio_albums">Studio albums</span></h3><table border="1" class="wikitable"><tbody>
<tr> <th rowspan="2">Year</th> <th rowspan="2" width="230">Album</th> <th colspan="2">Peak chart positions<br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-92"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-92">[93]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-93"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-93">[94]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-94"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-94">[95]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-95"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-95">[96]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-amg_96-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-amg-96">[97]</a></sup></th> <th colspan="2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_recording_sales_certification" title="Music recording sales certification">Certifications</a><br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TupacShakurASearch_97-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TupacShakurASearch-97">[98]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MakaveliASearch_98-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-MakaveliASearch-98">[99]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CRIA_Gold_and_Platinum_database_99-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-CRIA_Gold_and_Platinum_database-99">[100]</a></sup></th> </tr>
<tr> <th width="50"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_200" title="Billboard 200">US</a></small></th> <th width="50"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Albums" title="Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums">US R&B</a></small></th> <th width="65"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America" title="Recording Industry Association of America">US</a></small></th> <th width="65"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Recording_Industry_Association" title="Canadian Recording Industry Association">CAN</a></small></th> </tr>
<tr> <td align="center">1991</td> <td align="left"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2Pacalypse_Now" title="2Pacalypse Now">2Pacalypse Now</a></i></td> <td align="center">64</td> <td align="center">13</td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_certification" title="RIAA certification">Gold</a></small></td> <td align="center"><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="center">1993</td> <td align="left"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strictly_4_My_N.I.G.G.A.Z." title="Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.">Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.</a></i></td> <td align="center">24</td> <td align="center">4</td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_certification" title="RIAA certification">Platinum</a></small></td> <td align="center"><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="center">1995</td> <td align="left"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_Against_the_World" title="Me Against the World">Me Against the World</a></i></td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_certification" title="RIAA certification">2× Platinum</a></small></td> <td align="center"><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="center">1996</td> <td align="left"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Eyez_on_Me" title="All Eyez on Me">All Eyez on Me</a></i></td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_certification" title="RIAA certification">9× Platinum</a></small></td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Recording_Industry_Association" title="Canadian Recording Industry Association">Platinum</a></small></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="center">1996</td> <td align="left"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Don_Killuminati:_The_7_Day_Theory" title="The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory">The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory</a></i></td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_certification" title="RIAA certification">4× Platinum</a></small></td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Recording_Industry_Association" title="Canadian Recording Industry Association">Gold</a></small></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Posthumous_albums">Posthumous albums</span></h3><table class="wikitable"><tbody>
<tr> <th rowspan="2">Year</th> <th rowspan="2" width="230">Album</th> <th colspan="2">Peak chart positions<br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-100"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-100">[101]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-101"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-101">[102]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-amg_96-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-amg-96">[97]</a></sup></th> <th colspan="2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_recording_sales_certification" title="Music recording sales certification">Certifications</a><br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TupacShakurASearch_97-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TupacShakurASearch-97">[98]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TupacShakurASearch_97-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-TupacShakurASearch-97">[98]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CRIA_Gold_and_Platinum_database_99-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-CRIA_Gold_and_Platinum_database-99">[100]</a></sup></th> </tr>
<tr> <th width="50"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_200" title="Billboard 200">US</a></small></th> <th width="50"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Albums" title="Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums">US R&B</a></small></th> <th width="65"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America" title="Recording Industry Association of America">US</a></small></th> <th width="65"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Recording_Industry_Association" title="Canadian Recording Industry Association">CAN</a></small></th> </tr>
<tr> <td align="center">1997</td> <td align="left"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R_U_Still_Down%3F_%28Remember_Me%29" title="R U Still Down? (Remember Me)">R U Still Down? (Remember Me)</a></i></td> <td align="center">2</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_certification" title="RIAA certification">4× Platinum</a></small></td> <td align="center"><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="center">2001</td> <td align="left"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Until_the_End_of_Time_%28album%29" title="Until the End of Time (album)">Until the End of Time</a></i></td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_certification" title="RIAA certification">3× Platinum</a></small></td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Recording_Industry_Association" title="Canadian Recording Industry Association">2× Platinum</a></small></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="center">2002</td> <td align="left"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Dayz" title="Better Dayz">Better Dayz</a></i></td> <td align="center">5</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_certification" title="RIAA certification">2× Platinum</a></small></td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Recording_Industry_Association" title="Canadian Recording Industry Association">3× Platinum</a></small></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="center">2004</td> <td align="left"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyal_to_the_Game" title="Loyal to the Game">Loyal to the Game</a></i></td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center"><small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_certification" title="RIAA certification">Platinum</a></small></td> <td align="center"><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="center">2006</td> <td align="left"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac%27s_Life" title="Pac's Life">Pac's Life</a></i></td> <td align="center">9</td> <td align="center">3</td> <td align="center"><br />
</td> <td align="center"><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Film">Film</span></h2><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Acting_career">Acting career</span></h3>In addition to rapping and hip hop music, Shakur acted in films. He made his first film appearance in the motion picture <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_But_Trouble_%281991_film%29" title="Nothing But Trouble (1991 film)">Nothing But Trouble</a></i>, as part of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameo_appearance" title="Cameo appearance">cameo</a> by the Digital Underground. His first starring role was in the movie <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juice_%28film%29" title="Juice (film)">Juice</a></i>. In this story, he played the character Bishop, a trigger happy teen, for which he was hailed by <i>Rolling Stone</i>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Travers" title="Peter Travers">Peter Travers</a> as "the film's most magnetic figure."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-102"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-102">[103]</a></sup> He went on to star with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Jackson" title="Janet Jackson">Janet Jackson</a> in <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetic_Justice_%281993_film%29" title="Poetic Justice (1993 film)">Poetic Justice</a></i> (for which he was nominated outstanding actor in 1994, but did not win)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-103"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-103">[104]</a></sup> and with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_Martin" title="Duane Martin">Duane Martin</a> in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Above_the_Rim" title="Above the Rim">Above the Rim</a></i>. After his death, three of Shakur's completed films, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_%28film%29" title="Bullet (film)">Bullet</a></i>, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gridlock%27d" title="Gridlock'd">Gridlock'd</a></i> and <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_Related_%28film%29" title="Gang Related (film)">Gang Related</a></i>, were posthumously released.<br />
He had also been slated to star in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_Brothers" title="Hughes Brothers">Hughes brothers</a>' film <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menace_II_Society" title="Menace II Society">Menace II Society</a></i> but was replaced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larenz_Tate" title="Larenz Tate">Larenz Tate</a> after assaulting Allen Hughes as a result of a quarrel. Director <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Singleton" title="John Singleton">John Singleton</a> mentioned that he wrote the script for <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Boy_%28film%29" title="Baby Boy (film)">Baby Boy</a></i> with Shakur in mind for the leading role.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-104"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-104">[105]</a></sup> It was eventually filmed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrese_Gibson" title="Tyrese Gibson">Tyrese Gibson</a> in his place and released in 2001, five years after Shakur's death. The movie features a mural of Shakur in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protagonist" title="Protagonist">protagonist</a>'s bedroom as well as featuring the song "<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary_%282Pac_song%29" title="Hail Mary (2Pac song)">Hail Mary</a>" in the movie's score.<br />
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Filmography">Filmography</span></h3><table border="1" class="wikitable"><tbody>
<tr> <th>Year</th> <th>Title</th> <th>Role</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">1991</td> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_But_Trouble_%281991_film%29" title="Nothing But Trouble (1991 film)">Nothing But Trouble</a></i></td> <td>Himself</td> <td>(Brief appearance)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">1992</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juice_%28film%29" title="Juice (film)">Juice</a></i></td> <td>Bishop</td> <td>First starring role</td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">1992</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drexell%27s_Class" title="Drexell's Class">Drexell's Class</a></i></td> <td>Himself</td> <td>Season 1: "Cruisin'"</td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">1993</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Different_World_%28TV_series%29" title="A Different World (TV series)">A Different World</a></i></td> <td>Piccolo</td> <td>Season 6: "Homie, Don't You Know Me?"</td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">1993</td> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetic_Justice_%281993_film%29" title="Poetic Justice (1993 film)">Poetic Justice</a></i></td> <td>Lucky</td> <td>Co-starred with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Jackson" title="Janet Jackson">Janet Jackson</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">1993</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Living_Color" title="In Living Color">In Living Color</a></i></td> <td>Himself</td> <td>Season 5: "Ike Turner and Hooch"</td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">1994</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Above_the_Rim" title="Above the Rim">Above the Rim</a></i></td> <td>Birdie</td> <td>Co-starred with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_Martin" title="Duane Martin">Duane Martin</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">1995</td> <td><i>Murder Was the Case: The Movie</i></td> <td>Himself</td> <td>(Uncredited)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">1996</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_%28film%29" title="Bullet (film)">Bullet</a></i></td> <td>Tank</td> <td>Released one month after Shakur's death</td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">1997</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gridlock%27d" title="Gridlock'd">Gridlock'd</a></i></td> <td>Ezekiel 'Spoon' Whitmore</td> <td>Released several months after Shakur's death</td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">1997</td> <td><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_Related_%28film%29" title="Gang Related (film)">Gang Related</a></i></td> <td>Detective Rodríguez</td> <td>Shakur's last performance in a film</td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">2003</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac:_Resurrection" title="Tupac: Resurrection">Tupac: Resurrection</a></i></td> <td>Himself</td> <td>Official documentary film</td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">2009</td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notorious_%282009_film%29" title="Notorious (2009 film)">Notorious</a></i></td> <td>Himself (archive footage)</td> <td>Portrayed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Mackie" title="Anthony Mackie">Anthony Mackie</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td rowspan="1">20??</td> <td><i>Live 2 Tell</i></td> <td>Screenwriter</td> <td>(Written in 1995)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-105"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#cite_note-105">[106]</a></sup></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Documentaries">Documentaries</span></h3>Shakur's life has been recognized in big and small documentaries each trying capture the many different events during his short lifetime, most notably the Academy Award–nominated <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac:_Resurrection" title="Tupac: Resurrection">Tupac: Resurrection</a></i>, released in 2003.<br />
<ul><li>1997: <i>Tupac Shakur: Thug Immortal</i></li>
<li>1997: <i>Tupac Shakur: Words Never Die (TV)</i></li>
<li>2001: <i>Tupac Shakur: Before I Wake...</i></li>
<li>2001: <i>Welcome to Deathrow</i></li>
<li>2002: <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur:_Thug_Angel:_The_Life_of_an_Outlaw" title="Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel: The Life of an Outlaw">Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel: The Life of an Outlaw</a></i></li>
<li>2002: <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biggie_%26_Tupac" title="Biggie & Tupac">Biggie & Tupac</a></i></li>
<li>2002: <i>Tha Westside</i></li>
<li>2003: <i>2Pac 4 Ever</i></li>
<li>2003: <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac:_Resurrection" title="Tupac: Resurrection">Tupac: Resurrection</a></i></li>
<li>2004: <i>Tupac vs.</i></li>
<li>2004: <i>Tupac: The Hip Hop Genius (TV)</i></li>
<li>2006: <i>So Many Years, So Many Tears</i></li>
<li>2007: <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac:_Assassination" title="Tupac: Assassination">Tupac: Assassination</a></i></li>
<li>2009: <i>Tupac: Assassination II: Reckoning</i></li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957235131742329282.post-81423970410415335712010-05-11T05:15:00.000-07:002010-05-13T03:21:09.567-07:00THE GREATEST OF HIS GENERATION<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>Abraham Lincoln</b> (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) served as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States" title="List of Presidents of the United States">16th President of the United States</a> from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through its greatest internal crisis, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War" title="American Civil War">American Civil War</a>, preserving the Union and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolitionism" title="Abolitionism">ending</a> slavery. Before his election in 1860 as the first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_Republican_Party" title="History of the United States Republican Party">Republican</a> president, Lincoln had been a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_lawyer" title="Country lawyer">country lawyer</a>, an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois" title="Illinois">Illinois</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_House_of_Representatives" title="Illinois House of Representatives">state legislator</a>, a member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives">United States House of Representatives</a>, and twice an unsuccessful candidate for election to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate">U.S. Senate</a>. As an outspoken opponent of the expansion of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_States" title="Slavery in the United States">slavery in the United States</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup> Lincoln won the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Republican_Party_%28United_States%29" title="History of the Republican Party (United States)">Republican Party</a> nomination in 1860 and was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1860" title="United States presidential election, 1860">elected president</a> later that year. His tenure in office was occupied primarily with the defeat of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secession_in_the_United_States" title="Secession in the United States">secessionist</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States_of_America" title="Confederate States of America">Confederate States of America</a> in the American Civil War. He introduced measures that resulted in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolitionism" title="Abolitionism">abolition</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery" title="Slavery">slavery</a>, issuing his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation" title="Emancipation Proclamation">Emancipation Proclamation</a> in 1863 and promoting the passage of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" title="Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution">Thirteenth Amendment</a> to the Constitution. Six days after the large-scale surrender of Confederate forces under General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee" title="Robert E. Lee">Robert E. Lee</a>, Lincoln became the first American president to be <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_assassination" title="Abraham Lincoln assassination">assassinated</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln had closely supervised the victorious war effort, especially the selection of top generals, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant" title="Ulysses S. Grant">Ulysses S. Grant</a>. Historians have concluded that he handled the factions of the Republican Party well, bringing leaders of each faction into his cabinet and forcing them to cooperate. Lincoln successfully defused the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Affair" title="Trent Affair"><i>Trent</i> affair</a>, a war scare with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland" title="United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland">Britain</a> late in 1861. Under his leadership, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_%28American_Civil_War%29" title="Union (American Civil War)">Union</a> took control of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_states_%28American_Civil_War%29" title="Border states (American Civil War)">border slave states</a> at the start of the war. Additionally, he managed his own reelection in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1864" title="United States presidential election, 1864">1864 presidential election</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperheads_%28politics%29" title="Copperheads (politics)">Copperheads</a> and other opponents of the war criticized Lincoln for refusing to compromise on the slavery issue. Conversely, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_Republicans" title="Radical Republicans">Radical Republicans</a>, an abolitionist faction of the Republican Party, criticized him for moving too slowly in abolishing slavery. Even with these opponents, Lincoln successfully rallied public opinion through his rhetoric and speeches; his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address" title="Gettysburg Address">Gettysburg Address</a> (1863) became an iconic symbol of the nation's duty. At the close of the war, Lincoln held a moderate view of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_era_of_the_United_States" title="Reconstruction era of the United States">Reconstruction</a>, seeking to speedily reunite the nation through a policy of generous reconciliation. Lincoln has consistently been <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_United_States_Presidents#Scholar_survey_results" title="Historical rankings of United States Presidents">ranked by scholars</a> as one of the greatest of all U.S. Presidents.</span><br />
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tbody>
<tr> <td><div id="toctitle"><h2><span style="font-size: 85%;">Contents</span></h2><div style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="toctoggle">[<a class="internal" href="javascript:toggleToc()" id="togglelink">hide</a>]</span></span></div></div><ul style="background-color: cyan;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Personal_life"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Personal life</span></a></span> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Childhood_and_education"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Childhood and education</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Marriage_and_family"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Marriage and family</span></a></span></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Early_political_career_and_military_service"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Early political career and military service</span></a></span> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#National_politics"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">National politics</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Prairie_lawyer"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Prairie lawyer</span></a></span></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Republican_politics_1854.E2.80.931860"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Republican politics 1854–1860</span></a></span> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Lincoln.E2.80.93Douglas_debates_of_1858"><span class="tocnumber">3.1</span> <span class="toctext">Lincoln–Douglas debates of 1858</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Preparing_for_the_1860_elections"><span class="tocnumber">3.2</span> <span class="toctext">Preparing for the 1860 elections</span></a></span></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#1860_Presidential_election"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">1860 Presidential election</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Presidency_and_the_Civil_War"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Presidency and the Civil War</span></a></span> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-12"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Secession_winter_1860.E2.80.931861"><span class="tocnumber">5.1</span> <span class="toctext">Secession winter 1860–1861</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Fighting_begins"><span class="tocnumber">5.2</span> <span class="toctext">Fighting begins</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Conducting_the_war_effort"><span class="tocnumber">5.3</span> <span class="toctext">Conducting the war effort</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Grant"><span class="tocnumber">5.4</span> <span class="toctext">Grant</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-16"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Emancipation_Proclamation"><span class="tocnumber">5.5</span> <span class="toctext">Emancipation Proclamation</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Gettysburg_Address"><span class="tocnumber">5.6</span> <span class="toctext">Gettysburg Address</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-18"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#1864_election"><span class="tocnumber">5.7</span> <span class="toctext">1864 election</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-19"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Second_Inaugural_Address"><span class="tocnumber">5.8</span> <span class="toctext">Second Inaugural Address</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-20"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Reconstruction"><span class="tocnumber">5.9</span> <span class="toctext">Reconstruction</span></a></span></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-21"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Home_front"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Home front</span></a></span> <ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-22"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Redefining_Republicanism"><span class="tocnumber">6.1</span> <span class="toctext">Redefining Republicanism</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-23"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Civil_liberties_suspended"><span class="tocnumber">6.2</span> <span class="toctext">Civil liberties suspended</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-24"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Domestic_measures"><span class="tocnumber">6.3</span> <span class="toctext">Domestic measures</span></a></span></li>
</ul></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-25"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Assassination"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">Assassination</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-26"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Administration.2C_Cabinet_and_Supreme_Court_appointments_1861.E2.80.931865"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">Administration, Cabinet and Supreme Court appointments 1861–1865</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-27"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#States_admitted_to_the_Union"><span class="tocnumber">9</span> <span class="toctext">States admitted to the Union</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-28"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Religious_and_philosophical_beliefs"><span class="tocnumber">10</span> <span class="toctext">Religious and philosophical beliefs</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-29"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Legacy_and_memorials"><span class="tocnumber">11</span> <span class="toctext">Legacy and memorials</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-30"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">12</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-31"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#References"><span class="tocnumber">13</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-32"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Bibliography"><span class="tocnumber">14</span> <span class="toctext">Bibliography</span></a></span></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-33"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">15</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></span></li>
</ul></td> </tr>
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<h2><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Personal_life">Personal life</span></span></h2><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Childhood_and_education">Childhood and education</span></span></h3><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HinghamSign.jpeg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="170" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/HinghamSign.jpeg/170px-HinghamSign.jpeg" width="170" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HinghamSign.jpeg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Samuel Lincoln, firstAmerican ancestor of Abraham, worshipped at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Ship_Church" title="Old Ship Church">Old Ship Church</a>, Hingham, Massachusetts</span></span></div></div></div></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Lincoln" title="Thomas Lincoln">Thomas Lincoln</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Lincoln" title="Nancy Lincoln">Nancy Hanks</a>, two farmers, in a one-room <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Log_cabin" title="Log cabin">log cabin</a> on the 348-acre (1.4 km<sup>2</sup>) Sinking Spring Farm, in southeast <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardin_County,_Kentucky" title="Hardin County, Kentucky">Hardin County, Kentucky</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup> (now part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaRue_County,_Kentucky" title="LaRue County, Kentucky">LaRue County</a>), making him the first president born in the west. Lincoln was not given a middle name.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup> His ancestor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Lincoln" title="Samuel Lincoln">Samuel Lincoln</a> had arrived in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hingham,_Massachusetts" title="Hingham, Massachusetts">Hingham, Massachusetts</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk" title="Norfolk">England</a> in the 17th century.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup> His grandfather, also named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_%28captain%29" title="Abraham Lincoln (captain)">Abraham Lincoln</a>, had moved to Kentucky, where he owned over 5,000 acres (20 km<sup>2</sup>), and was ambushed and killed by an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States" title="Native Americans in the United States">Indian raid</a> in 1786.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Thomas Lincoln was a respected citizen of rural Kentucky. He owned several farms, including the Sinking Spring Farm, although he was not wealthy. The family belonged to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separate_Baptists" title="Separate Baptists">Separate Baptists</a> church, which had high moral standards, frowning on alcohol consumption and dancing, and many church members were opposed to slavery.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup> Abraham himself never joined their church, or any other church.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">In 1816, the Lincoln family left Kentucky to avoid the expense of fighting for one of their properties in court, and made a new start in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_County,_Indiana" title="Perry County, Indiana">Perry County</a>, Indiana (now in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_County,_Indiana" title="Spencer County, Indiana">Spencer County</a>). Lincoln later noted that this move was "partly on account of slavery", and partly because of difficulties with land deeds in Kentucky. Abraham's father disapproved of slavery on religious grounds and it was hard to compete economically with farms operated by slaves. Unlike land in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Territory" title="Northwest Territory">Northwest Territory</a>, Kentucky never had a proper U.S. survey, and farmers often had difficulties proving title to their property.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup></span><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abe-Lincoln-Birthplace-2.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="171" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Abe-Lincoln-Birthplace-2.jpg/220px-Abe-Lincoln-Birthplace-2.jpg" width="220" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abe-Lincoln-Birthplace-2.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Symbolic log cabin at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Birthplace_National_Historical_Park" title="Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park">Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park</a></span></span></div></div></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">When Lincoln was nine, his mother, then 34 years old, died of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_sickness" title="Milk sickness">milk sickness</a>. Soon afterwards, his father remarried, to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Bush_Lincoln" title="Sarah Bush Lincoln">Sarah Bush Johnston</a>. Lincoln and his stepmother were close; he called her "Mother" for the rest of his life, but he became increasingly distant from his father. Abraham felt his father was not a success, and did not want to be like him. In later years, he would occasionally lend his father money.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup> In 1830, fearing a milk sickness outbreak, the family settled on public land in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macon_County,_Illinois" title="Macon County, Illinois">Macon County, Illinois</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">The next year, when his father relocated the family to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Log_Cabin_State_Historic_Site" title="Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site">new homestead</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coles_County,_Illinois" title="Coles County, Illinois">Coles County, Illinois</a>, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on his own, canoeing down the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangamon_River" title="Sangamon River">Sangamon River</a> to the village of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Salem,_Menard_County,_Illinois" title="New Salem, Menard County, Illinois">New Salem</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangamon_County,_Illinois" title="Sangamon County, Illinois">Sangamon County</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup> Later that year, hired by New Salem businessman <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denton_Offutt" title="Denton Offutt">Denton Offutt</a> and accompanied by friends, he took goods from New Salem to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans" title="New Orleans">New Orleans</a> via flatboat on the Sangamon, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_River" title="Illinois River">Illinois</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_River" title="Mississippi River">Mississippi</a> rivers.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln's formal education consisted of about 18 months of schooling; but he was an avid reader and largely self-educated. He was also skilled with an axe and a talented local wrestler, the latter of which helped give him self-confidence.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup> Lincoln avoided hunting and fishing because he did not like killing animals, even for food.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Marriage_and_family">Marriage and family</span></span></h3><div class="rellink boilerplate further"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Further information: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Todd_Lincoln" title="Mary Todd Lincoln">Mary Todd Lincoln</a>; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexuality_of_Abraham_Lincoln" title="Sexuality of Abraham Lincoln">Sexuality of Abraham Lincoln</a>; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_and_mental_health_of_Abraham_Lincoln" title="Medical and mental health of Abraham Lincoln">Medical and mental health of Abraham Lincoln</a></span></div><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Todd_Lincoln_1846-1847_restored_cropped.png"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="207" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Mary_Todd_Lincoln_1846-1847_restored_cropped.png/170px-Mary_Todd_Lincoln_1846-1847_restored_cropped.png" width="170" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Todd_Lincoln_1846-1847_restored_cropped.png" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Todd_Lincoln" title="Mary Todd Lincoln">Mary Todd Lincoln</a>, wife of Abraham Lincoln, age 28</span></div></div></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln's first love was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Rutledge" title="Ann Rutledge">Ann Rutledge</a>. He met her when he first moved to New Salem, and by 1835 they had reached a romantic understanding. Rutledge, however, died on August 25, probably of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoid_fever" title="Typhoid fever">typhoid fever</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-16">[17]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Earlier, in either 1833 or 1834, he had met Mary Owens, the sister of his friend Elizabeth Abell, when she was visiting from her home in Kentucky. Late in 1836, Lincoln agreed to a match proposed by Elizabeth between him and her sister, if Mary ever returned to New Salem. Mary did return in November 1836 and Lincoln courted her for a time; however they both had second thoughts about their relationship. On August 16, 1837, Lincoln wrote Mary a letter from Springfield, to which he had moved that April to begin his law practice, suggesting he would not blame her if she ended the relationship. She never replied, and the courtship was over.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">In 1840, Lincoln became engaged to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Todd_Lincoln" title="Mary Todd Lincoln">Mary Todd</a>, from a wealthy slaveholding family based in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington,_Kentucky" title="Lexington, Kentucky">Lexington, Kentucky</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-19">[20]</a></sup> They met in Springfield in December 1839,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ReferenceB_20-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-ReferenceB-20">[21]</a></sup> and were engaged sometime around that Christmas.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-21">[22]</a></sup> A wedding was set for January 1, 1841, but the couple split as the wedding approached.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ReferenceB_20-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-ReferenceB-20">[21]</a></sup> They later met at a party, and then married on November 4, 1842, in the Springfield mansion of Mary's married sister.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-22">[23]</a></sup> In 1844, the couple bought a house on Eighth and Jackson in Springfield, near Lincoln's law office.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-23">[24]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">The Lincolns soon had a budding family, with the birth of son <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Todd_Lincoln" title="Robert Todd Lincoln">Robert Todd Lincoln</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield,_Illinois" title="Springfield, Illinois">Springfield, Illinois</a> on August 1, 1843, and second son <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Baker_Lincoln" title="Edward Baker Lincoln">Edward Baker Lincoln</a> on March 10, 1846, also in Springfield.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Whitep126_24-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Whitep126-24">[25]</a></sup> According to a house girl, Abraham "was remarkably fond of children".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Whitep126_24-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Whitep126-24">[25]</a></sup> The Lincolns did not believe in strict rules and tight boundaries when it came to their children.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-25">[26]</a></sup></span><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26TLincoln.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="188" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/A%26TLincoln.jpg/170px-A%26TLincoln.jpg" width="170" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26TLincoln.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">An 1864 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathew_Brady" title="Mathew Brady">Mathew Brady</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tad_Lincoln" title="Tad Lincoln">Tad</a></span></span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo depicts President Lincoln reading a book with his youngest son, </span></div></div></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Robert, however, would be the only one of the Lincolns' children to survive into adulthood. Edward Lincoln died on February 1, 1850 in Springfield, likely of tuberculosis.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-26">[27]</a></sup> The Lincolns' grief over this loss was somewhat assuaged by the birth of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wallace_Lincoln" title="William Wallace Lincoln">William "Willie" Wallace Lincoln</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C." title="Washington, D.C.">Washington, D.C.</a>, during President Lincoln's first term.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-27">[28]</a></sup> The Lincolns' fourth son <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tad_Lincoln" title="Tad Lincoln">Thomas "Tad" Lincoln</a> was born on April 4, 1853, and, although he outlived his father, died at the age of eighteen on July 16, 1871 in Chicago.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-28">[29]</a></sup> Robert Lincoln eventually went on to attend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillips_Exeter_Academy" title="Phillips Exeter Academy">Phillips Exeter Academy</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_College" title="Harvard College">Harvard College</a>. His (and by extension, his father's) last known lineal descendant, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Todd_Lincoln_Beckwith" title="Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith">Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith</a>, died December 24, 1985.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-29">[30]</a></sup> nearly eleven months later, on December 21. But Willie himself died of a fever at the age of eleven on February 20, 1862, in </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">The death of the Lincolns' sons had profound effects on both Abraham and Mary. Later in life, Mary Todd Lincoln found herself unable to cope with the stresses of losing her husband and sons, and this (in conjunction with what some historians consider to have been pre-existing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder" title="Bipolar disorder">bipolar disorder</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-30">[31]</a></sup>) eventually led Robert Lincoln to involuntarily commit her to a mental health asylum in 1875.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-31">[32]</a></sup> Abraham Lincoln himself was contemporaneously described as suffering from "melancholy" throughout his legal and political life, a condition which modern mental health professionals would now typically characterize as <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_depression" title="Clinical depression">clinical depression</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-32">[33]</a></sup></span><br />
<h2><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Early_political_career_and_military_service">Early political career and military service</span></span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main articles: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln%27s_early_life_and_career" title="Abraham Lincoln's early life and career">Abraham Lincoln's early life and career</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_in_the_Black_Hawk_War" title="Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hawk War">Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hawk War</a></span></div><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abe_Lincoln_young.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="212" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Abe_Lincoln_young.jpg/170px-Abe_Lincoln_young.jpg" width="170" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abe_Lincoln_young.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sketch of a young Abraham Lincoln</span></span></div></div></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln began his political career in March 1832 at age 23 when he announced his candidacy for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_General_Assembly" title="Illinois General Assembly">Illinois General Assembly</a>. He was esteemed by the residents of New Salem, but he didn't have an education, powerful friends, or money. The centerpiece of his platform was the undertaking of navigational improvements on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beardstown_and_Sangamon_Canal" title="Beardstown and Sangamon Canal">Sangamon River</a>. Before the election he served as a captain in a company of the Illinois militia during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hawk_War" title="Black Hawk War">Black Hawk War</a>, although he never saw combat. Lincoln returned from the militia after a few months and was able to campaign throughout the county before the August 6 election. At 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m), he was tall and "strong enough to intimidate any rival." At his first political speech, he grabbed a man accosting a supporter by his "neck and the seat of his trousers", and threw him. When the votes were counted, Lincoln finished eighth out of thirteen candidates (only the top four were elected), but he did manage to secure 277 out of the 300 votes cast in the New Salem precinct.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-33">[34]</a></sup></span><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Young_Lincoln-1c.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="265" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Young_Lincoln-1c.jpg/180px-Young_Lincoln-1c.jpg" width="180" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Young_Lincoln-1c.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">US Postage Stamp, depicting the young Abe Lincoln, 1959 issue. 1c</span>.</span></div></div></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">In 1834, he won an election to the state legislature. He was labeled a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whig_Party_%28United_States%29" title="Whig Party (United States)">Whig</a>, but ran a bipartisan campaign.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-34">[35]</a></sup> He then decided to become a lawyer, and began teaching himself law by reading <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commentaries_on_the_Laws_of_England" title="Commentaries on the Laws of England">Commentaries on the Laws of England</a></i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-35">[36]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admission_to_the_bar_in_the_United_States" title="Admission to the bar in the United States">Admitted to the bar</a> in 1837, he moved to Springfield, Illinois, that April,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-36">[37]</a></sup> and began to practice law with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_T._Stuart" title="John T. Stuart">John T. Stuart</a>, Mary Todd's cousin, who let Lincoln have the run of his law library while studying to be a lawyer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-37">[38]</a></sup> With a reputation as a formidable adversary during cross-examinations and closing arguments, Lincoln became an able and successful lawyer. In 1841, Lincoln entered law practice with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Herndon_%28lawyer%29" title="William Herndon (lawyer)">William Herndon</a>, whom Lincoln thought "a studious young man".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-38">[39]</a></sup> He served four successive terms in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_House_of_Representatives" title="Illinois House of Representatives">Illinois House of Representatives</a> as a representative from Sangamon County, affiliated with the Whig party.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-39">[40]</a></sup> In 1837, he and another legislator declared that slavery was "founded on both injustice and bad policy"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-40">[41]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-41">[42]</a></sup> the first time he had publicly opposed slavery. In the 1835–1836 legislative session he'd voted to restrict <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffrage" title="Suffrage">suffrage</a> to whites only.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-42">[43]</a></sup> He would later say<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from November 2009">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a></i>]</sup> that he had been against slavery since he was a boy, but being labelled an abolitionist was "political suicide" in Sangamon County in those years, and so he chose his words carefully when discussing the issue publicly.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-43">[44]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="National_politics">National politics</span></span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abelincoln1846.jpeg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="235" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Abelincoln1846.jpeg/170px-Abelincoln1846.jpeg" width="170" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abelincoln1846.jpeg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lincoln in 1846 or 1847</span></span></div></div></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln was a Whig, and since the early 1830s had strongly admired the policies and leadership of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Clay" title="Henry Clay">Henry Clay</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-44">[45]</a></sup> "I have always been an old-line Henry Clay Whig" he professed to friends in 1861.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-45">[46]</a></sup> The party favored economic expansion such as improving roads and increasing trade.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-46">[47]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">In 1846, Lincoln was elected to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives">U.S. House of Representatives</a>, where he served one two-year term.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-47">[48]</a></sup> As a House member, Lincoln was a dedicated Whig, showing up for most votes and giving speeches that echoed the party line.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-48">[49]</a></sup> He used his office as an opportunity to speak out against the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican%E2%80%93American_War" title="Mexican–American War">Mexican–American War</a>, which he attributed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_K._Polk" title="James K. Polk">President Polk</a>'s desire for "military glory — that attractive rainbow, that rises in showers of blood".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-49">[50]</a></sup> Lincoln's main stand against Polk occurred in his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spot_Resolutions" title="Spot Resolutions">Spot Resolutions</a>: The war had begun with a violent confrontation on territory disputed by Mexico and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-50">[51]</a></sup> but as Lincoln pointed out, Polk had insisted that Mexican soldiers had "invaded <i>our territory</i> and shed the blood of our fellow-citizens on our <i>own soil</i>".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Basler1pp199-202_51-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Basler1pp199-202-51">[52]</a></sup> Lincoln demanded that Polk show Congress the exact spot on which blood had been shed, and prove that the spot was on American soil.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Basler1pp199-202_51-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Basler1pp199-202-51">[52]</a></sup> Congress never enacted the resolution or even debated it,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-McGovern.2C_p._33_52-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-McGovern.2C_p._33-52">[53]</a></sup> and its introduction resulted in a loss of political support for Lincoln in his district;<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-53">[54]</a></sup> one Illinois newspaper derisively nicknamed him "spotty Lincoln."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-54">[55]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Despite his admiration for Henry Clay, Lincoln was a key early supporter of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zachary_Taylor" title="Zachary Taylor">Zachary Taylor</a>'s candidacy for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1848" title="United States presidential election, 1848">1848 presidential election</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-McGovern.2C_p._33_52-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-McGovern.2C_p._33-52">[53]</a></sup> When Lincoln's term ended, the incoming Taylor administration offered him the governorship of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Territory" title="Oregon Territory">Oregon Territory</a>. The territory leaned heavily Democratic, and Lincoln doubted they would elect him as governor or as a senator after they were admitted to the union, so he returned to Springfield.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-55">[56]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Prairie_lawyer">Prairie lawyer</span></span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Back in Springfield, Lincoln turned most of his energies to making a living practicing law, handling "every kind of business that could come before a prairie lawyer."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-56">[57]</a></sup> He "rode the circuit"—that is, appeared in county seats in the mid-state region when the county courts were in session.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-57">[58]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-58">[59]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">His reputation grew, and he appeared before the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States" title="Supreme Court of the United States">Supreme Court of the United States</a>, arguing a case involving a canal boat that sank after hitting a bridge.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-59">[60]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln represented numerous transportation interests, such as the river <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barge" title="Barge">barges</a> and the railroads. As a riverboat man, Lincoln had initially favored riverboat interests, but ultimately he represented whoever hired him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-60">[61]</a></sup> In 1849, he had received a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent" title="Patent">patent</a> for a "device to buoy vessels over shoals". Lincoln's goal had been to lessen the draft of a river craft by pushing horizontal floats into the water alongside the hull. The floats would have served as temporary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballast_tank" title="Ballast tank">ballast tanks</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NMAH_61-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-NMAH-61">[62]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-62">[63]</a></sup> The idea was never commercialized, but Lincoln is still the only person to hold a patent and serve as President of the United States.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-63">[64]</a></sup> In 1851, he represented the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alton_Railroad" title="Alton Railroad">Alton & Sangamon Railroad</a> in a dispute with one of its shareholders, James A. Barret, who had refused to pay the balance on his pledge to the railroad on the grounds that it had changed its originally planned route.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Donald_p._155_64-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Donald_p._155-64">[65]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-65">[66]</a></sup> Lincoln argued that as a matter of law a corporation is not bound by its original charter when that charter can be amended in the public interest, that the newer proposed Alton & Sangamon route was superior and less expensive, and that accordingly the corporation had a right to sue Mr. Barret for his delinquent payment. He won this case, and the decision by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Illinois" title="Supreme Court of Illinois">Illinois Supreme Court</a> was eventually cited by 25 other courts throughout the United States.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Donald_p._155_64-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Donald_p._155-64">[65]</a></sup> Lincoln appeared in front of the Illinois Supreme Court 175 times, 51 times as sole counsel, of which, 31 were decided in his favor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-66">[67]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln's most notable criminal trial came in 1858 when he defended <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_%22Duff%22_Armstrong" title="William "Duff" Armstrong">William "Duff" Armstrong</a>, who was on trial for the murder of James Preston Metzker.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_67-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-ReferenceA-67">[68]</a></sup> The case is famous for Lincoln's use of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_notice" title="Judicial notice">judicial notice</a> to show an eyewitness had lied on the stand. After the witness testified to having seen the crime in the moonlight, Lincoln produced a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmers%27_Almanac" title="Farmers' Almanac">Farmers' Almanac</a> to show that the moon on that date was at such a low angle it could not have produced enough illumination to see anything clearly. Based on this evidence, Armstrong was acquitted.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_67-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-ReferenceA-67">[68]</a></sup></span><br />
<h2><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Republican_politics_1854.E2.80.931860">Republican politics 1854–1860</span></span></h2><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_by_Alexander_Helser,_1860-crop.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="213" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Abraham_Lincoln_by_Alexander_Helser%2C_1860-crop.jpg/170px-Abraham_Lincoln_by_Alexander_Helser%2C_1860-crop.jpg" width="170" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_by_Alexander_Helser,_1860-crop.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lincoln in 1860</span></span></div></div></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln returned to politics in response to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas-Nebraska_Act" title="Kansas-Nebraska Act">Kansas-Nebraska Act</a> (1854), which expressly repealed the limits on slavery's extent as established by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Compromise" title="Missouri Compromise">Missouri Compromise</a> (1820). Illinois Democrat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_A._Douglas" title="Stephen A. Douglas">Stephen A. Douglas</a>, the most powerful man in the Senate, proposed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_sovereignty" title="Popular sovereignty">popular sovereignty</a> as the solution to the slavery impasse, and incorporated it into the Kansas–Nebraska Act. Douglas argued that in a democracy the people should have the right to decide whether to allow slavery in their territory, rather than have such a decision imposed on them by the national Congress.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-68">[69]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">In the October 16, 1854, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Peoria_speech" title="Abraham Lincoln Peoria speech">Peoria Speech</a>",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-69"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-69">[70]</a></sup> Lincoln outlined his position on slavery that he would repeat over the next six years on the route to the presidency.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-70">[71]</a></sup></span><br />
<blockquote class="templatequote"><div><span style="font-size: 85%;">[The Act has a] <i>declared</i> indifference, but as I must think, covert <i>real</i> zeal for the spread of slavery, I cannot but hate it. I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself. I hate it because it deprives our republican example of its just influence in the world — enables the enemies of free institutions, with plausibility, to taunt us as hypocrites — causes the real friends of freedom to doubt our sincerity, and especially because it forces so many really good men amongst ourselves into an open war with the very fundamental principles of civil liberty — criticizing the Declaration of Independence, and insisting that there is no right principle of action but <i>self-interest</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-71"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-71">[72]</a></sup></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: 85%;">According to a newspaper account of the speech, Lincoln spoke with "a thin high-pitched falsetto voice of much carrying power, that could be heard a long distance in spite of the hustle and bustle of the crowd ... [with] the accent and pronunciation peculiar to his native state, Kentucky."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-72">[73]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">In late 1854, Lincoln decided to run for the United States Senate as a Whig.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-73"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-73">[74]</a></sup> Despite leading in the first six rounds of voting in the state legislature, Lincoln instructed his backers to vote for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyman_Trumbull" title="Lyman Trumbull">Lyman Trumbull</a> to prevent pro-Nebraska candidate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Aldrich_Matteson" title="Joel Aldrich Matteson">Joel Aldrich Matteson</a> from winning. Trumbull beat Matteson in the tenth round of voting.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-74"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-74">[75]</a></sup> The Whigs had been irreparably split by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. "I think I am a Whig, but others say there are not Whigs, and I am an abolitionist, even though I do no more than oppose the expansion of slavery" he said. Drawing on remnants of the old Whig party, and on disenchanted Free Soil, Liberty, and Democratic party members, he was instrumental in forging the shape of the new Republican Party.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-75"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-75">[76]</a></sup> At the Republican convention in 1856, Lincoln placed second in the contest to become the party's candidate for Vice-President.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-76"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-76">[77]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">In 1857–58, Douglas broke with President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Buchanan" title="James Buchanan">Buchanan</a>, leading to a fight for control of the Democratic Party. Some eastern Republicans even favored the reelection of Douglas in 1858, since he had led the opposition to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecompton_Constitution" title="Lecompton Constitution">Lecompton Constitution</a>, which would have admitted Kansas as a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_state" title="Slave state">slave state</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-77"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-77">[78]</a></sup> Accepting the Republican nomination for Senate in 1858, Lincoln delivered <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln%27s_House_Divided_Speech" title="Lincoln's House Divided Speech">his famous speech</a>: "'A house divided against itself cannot stand.'(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Mark" title="Gospel of Mark">Mark</a> 3:25) I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-78"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-78">[79]</a></sup> The speech created an evocative image of the danger of disunion caused by the slavery debate, and rallied Republicans across the north.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-79"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-79">[80]</a></sup></span><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 212px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_Douglas_Debates_1958_issue-4c.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="137" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Lincoln_Douglas_Debates_1958_issue-4c.jpg/210px-Lincoln_Douglas_Debates_1958_issue-4c.jpg" width="210" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_Douglas_Debates_1958_issue-4c.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">US Postage Stamp, 1958 issue, 4c, commemorating the Lincoln and Douglas debates.</span></span></div></div></div><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Lincoln.E2.80.93Douglas_debates_of_1858">Lincoln–Douglas debates of 1858</span></span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln%E2%80%93Douglas_debates_of_1858" title="Lincoln–Douglas debates of 1858">Lincoln–Douglas debates of 1858</a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">The 1858 campaign featured the Lincoln–Douglas debates, generally considered the most famous political debate in American history.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-80"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-80">[81]</a></sup> Lincoln warned that "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Slave_Power" title="The Slave Power">The Slave Power</a>" was threatening the values of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republicanism_in_the_United_States" title="Republicanism in the United States">republicanism</a>, while <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_A._Douglas" title="Stephen A. Douglas">Stephen A. Douglas</a> emphasized the supremacy of democracy, as set forth in his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeport_Doctrine" title="Freeport Doctrine">Freeport Doctrine</a>, which said that local settlers should be free to choose whether to allow slavery or not and could overrule the Supreme Courts <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dred_Scott_v._Sandford" title="Dred Scott v. Sandford">Dred Scott v. Sandford</a> decision.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-81"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-81">[82]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Though the Republican legislative candidates won more popular votes, the Democrats won more seats, and the legislature reelected Douglas to the Senate. Nevertheless, Lincoln's definition of the issues gave him a national political reputation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-82"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-82">[83]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Preparing_for_the_1860_elections">Preparing for the 1860 elections</span></span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">In May 1859, Lincoln purchased the <i>Illinois Staats-Anzeiger,</i> a German-language newspaper in Springfield that sang his praises; most of the state's 130,000 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Americans" title="German Americans">German Americans</a> voted Democratic but there was Republican support that a German-language paper could mobilize.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-83"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-83">[84]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">On February 27, 1860, New York party leaders invited Lincoln to give a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Union_speech" title="Cooper Union speech">speech at Cooper Union</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Brooks" title="Noah Brooks">Noah Brooks</a> reported, "No man ever before made such an impression on his first appeal to a New York audience."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-84"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-84">[85]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-85"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-85">[86]</a></sup> to group of powerful Republicans. In one of the most important speeches of his career, Lincoln showed that he was a contender for the Republican's presidential nomination. Journalist </span><br />
<h2><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="1860_Presidential_election">1860 Presidential election</span></span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1860" title="United States presidential election, 1860">United States presidential election, 1860</a></span></div><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Rail_Candidate.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/The_Rail_Candidate.jpg/220px-The_Rail_Candidate.jpg" width="220" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Rail_Candidate.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">"The Rail Candidate" – Lincoln's 1860 candidacy is held up by the slavery issue (slave on left) and party organization (<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Tribune" title="New York Tribune">New York Tribune</a></i> editor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Greeley" title="Horace Greeley">Horace Greeley</a>) on right.</span></span></div></div></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">On May 9–10, 1860, the Illinois Republican State Convention was held in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decatur,_Illinois" title="Decatur, Illinois">Decatur</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-86"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-86">[87]</a></sup> At this convention, Lincoln received his first endorsement to run for the presidency.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-87"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-87">[88]</a></sup> On May 18, at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1860_Republican_National_Convention" title="1860 Republican National Convention">1860 Republican National Convention</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago" title="Chicago">Chicago</a>, Lincoln emerged as the Republican candidate on the third ballot, beating candidates such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Seward" title="William H. Seward">William H. Seward</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_P._Chase" title="Salmon P. Chase">Salmon P. Chase</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-88"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-88">[89]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Why Lincoln won the nomination has been subject of much debate. His expressed views on slavery were seen as more moderate than those of rivals Seward and Chase.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-89"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-89">[90]</a></sup> Some feel that Seward lost more than Lincoln won, including Seward himself. Others attribute it to luck, and the fact that the convention was held in Lincoln's home state. Historian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Kearns_Goodwin" title="Doris Kearns Goodwin">Doris Kearns Goodwin</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-90"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-90">[91]</a></sup> Most Republicans agreed with Lincoln that the North was the aggrieved party<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-91"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-91">[92]</a></sup> as the Slave Power tightened its grasp on the national government with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dred_Scott" title="Dred Scott">Dred Scott</a> decision and the presidency of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Buchanan" title="James Buchanan">James Buchanan</a>. Throughout the 1850s Lincoln denied that there would ever be a civil war, and his supporters repeatedly rejected claims that his election would incite secession.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-92"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-92">[93]</a></sup> believes the real reason was Lincoln's skill as a politician.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Meanwhile, Douglas was selected as the candidate of the northern Democrats, with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herschel_Vespasian_Johnson" title="Herschel Vespasian Johnson">Herschel Vespasian Johnson</a> as the vice-presidential candidate. Delegates from eleven slave states walked out of the Democratic convention, disagreeing with Douglas's position on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_sovereignty" title="Popular sovereignty">Popular sovereignty</a>, and ultimately selected <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Breckinridge" title="John C. Breckinridge">John C. Breckinridge</a> as their candidate.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-93"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-93">[94]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">As Douglas stumped the country, Lincoln was the only one of the four major candidates to give no speeches whatever. Instead he monitored the campaign closely but relied on the enthusiasm of the Republican Party. It did the leg work that produced majorities across the North. It produced tons of campaign posters and leaflets, and thousands of newspaper editorials. There were thousands of Republican speakers who focused first on the party platform, and second on Lincoln's life story, emphasizing his childhood poverty. The goal was to demonstrate the superior power of "free labor", whereby a common farm boy could work his way to the top by his own efforts. The Republican Party's production of campaign literature dwarfed the combined opposition. A <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribune" title="Chicago Tribune">Chicago Tribune</a></i> writer produced a pamphlet that detailed Lincoln's life, and sold one million copies.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-94"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-94">[95]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-95"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-95">[96]</a></sup> It was during this campaign that Lincoln became the first President to have placed his photo on a campaign button.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-96"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-96">[97]</a></sup></span><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ElectoralCollege1860.svg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="128" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/ElectoralCollege1860.svg/220px-ElectoralCollege1860.svg.png" width="220" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ElectoralCollege1860.svg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> 1860 presidential election results</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">On November 6, 1860, Lincoln was elected as the 16th President of the United States, beating Democrat Stephen A. Douglas, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Breckinridge" title="John C. Breckinridge">John C. Breckinridge</a> of the Southern Democrats, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bell_%28Tennessee_politician%29" title="John Bell (Tennessee politician)">John Bell</a> of the new <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Union_Party_%28United_States%29" title="Constitutional Union Party (United States)">Constitutional Union Party</a>. He was the first Republican president, winning entirely on the strength of his support in the North: he was not even on the ballot in ten states in the South, and won only two of 996 counties in all the Southern states.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-97"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-97">[98]</a></sup> Lincoln received 1,866,452 votes, Douglas 1,376,957 votes, Breckinridge 849,781 votes, and Bell 588,789 votes. The electoral vote was decisive: Lincoln had 180 and his opponents added together had only 123. Turnout was 82.2%, with Lincoln winning the free northern states. Douglas won Missouri, and split New Jersey with Lincoln.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-98"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-98">[99]</a></sup> Bell won Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, and Breckinridge won the rest of the South.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-99"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-99">[100]</a></sup> There were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_fusion" title="Electoral fusion">fusion tickets</a> in which all of Lincoln's opponents combined to form one ticket in New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island, but even if the anti-Lincoln vote had been combined in every state, Lincoln still would have won because he would still have had a majority in the electoral college.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-100"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-100">[101]</a></sup></span><br />
<h2><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Presidency_and_the_Civil_War">Presidency and the Civil War</span></span></h2><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 187px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_1896_issue-4c.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="212" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Lincoln_1896_issue-4c.jpg/185px-Lincoln_1896_issue-4c.jpg" width="185" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_1896_issue-4c.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><br />
<center><span style="font-size: 85%;">US Postage</span></center> <center><span style="font-size: 85%;">Issue of 1896.</span></center> </div></div></div><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main articles: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_the_American_Civil_War" title="Origins of the American Civil War">Origins of the American Civil War</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_and_the_Civil_War" title="Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War">Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War</a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">With the emergence of the Republicans as the nation's first major sectional party by the mid-1850s, the old <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Party_System" title="Second Party System">Second Party System</a> collapsed and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realigning_election" title="Realigning election">realignment</a> created the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Party_System" title="Third Party System">Third Party System</a>. It became the stage on which <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectionalism" title="Sectionalism">sectional tensions</a> were played out. Although little of the West–the focal point of sectional tensions– was fit for cotton cultivation, Southern secessionists read the political fallout as a sign that their power in national politics was rapidly weakening. The slave system had been buttressed by the Democratic Party, which was increasingly seen by anti-slavery elements as representing a more pro-Southern position that unfairly permitted the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_Power" title="Slave Power">Slave Power</a> to prevail in the nation's territories and to dominate national policy before the Civil War. Yet the Democrats suffered a significant reverse in the electoral realignment of the mid-1850s; they lost the dominance they had achieved over the Whig Party and, indeed, were the minority party in most of the northern states. The 1854 election was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realigning_election" title="Realigning election">Realigning election</a> or "critical election" that saw a realignment of voting patterns.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-101"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-101">[102]</a></sup> Abraham Lincoln's election was a watershed in the balance of power of competing national and parochial interests and affiliations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-102"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-102">[103]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Secession_winter_1860.E2.80.931861">Secession winter 1860–1861</span></span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main articles: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_Plot" title="Baltimore Plot">Baltimore Plot</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornerstone_Speech" title="Cornerstone Speech">Cornerstone Speech</a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">As Lincoln's election became more likely, secessionists made clear their intent to leave the Union.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-103"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-103">[104]</a></sup> On December 20, 1860, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina" title="South Carolina">South Carolina</a> took the lead; by February 1, 1861, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Donald.2C_p._267_104-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Donald.2C_p._267-104">[105]</a></sup> and Texas had followed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-105"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-105">[106]</a></sup> The seven states soon declared themselves to be a new nation, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States_of_America" title="Confederate States of America">Confederate States of America</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Donald.2C_p._267_104-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Donald.2C_p._267-104">[105]</a></sup> The upper South (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and Arkansas) listened to, but initially rejected, the secessionist appeal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-106"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-106">[107]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-107"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-107">[108]</a></sup> President Buchanan and President-elect Lincoln refused to recognize the Confederacy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-108"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-108">[109]</a></sup> Attempts at compromise, such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crittenden_Compromise" title="Crittenden Compromise">Crittenden Compromise</a> which would have extended the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Compromise" title="Missouri Compromise">Missouri line of 1820</a>, were discussed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-White360-361_109-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-White360-361-109">[110]</a></sup> Despite support for the Crittenden Compromise among some Republicans, Lincoln denounced it in private letters,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-White360-361_109-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-White360-361-109">[110]</a></sup> saying "either the Missouri line extended, or ... Pop. Sov. would lose us everything we gained in the election; that filibustering for all South of us, and making slave states of it, would follow in spite of us, under either plan",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-110"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-110">[111]</a></sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tierra_del_Fuego" title="Tierra del Fuego">Tierra del Fuego</a>."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-111"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-111">[112]</a></sup> while another Republican Congressman warned it "would amount to a perpetual covenant of war against every people, tribe, and state owning a foot of land between here and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">The Confederate States of America selected <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Davis" title="Jefferson Davis">Jefferson Davis</a> on February 9, 1861, as their provisional President.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-112"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-112">[113]</a></sup></span><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_lincoln_inauguration_1861.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="219" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Abraham_lincoln_inauguration_1861.jpg/220px-Abraham_lincoln_inauguration_1861.jpg" width="220" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_lincoln_inauguration_1861.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> A photograph of the March 4, 1861 inauguration of Abraham Lincoln in front of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Capitol" title="United States Capitol">United States Capitol</a></span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">President-elect Lincoln <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_Plot" title="Baltimore Plot">evaded possible assassins in Baltimore</a>, and on February 23, 1861, arrived in disguise in Washington, D.C.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-113"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-113">[114]</a></sup> At his inauguration on March 4, 1861, sharpshooters watched the inaugural platform, while soldiers on horseback patrolled the surrounding area.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-114"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-114">[115]</a></sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln%27s_first_inaugural_address" title="Lincoln's first inaugural address">first inaugural address</a>, Lincoln declared, "I hold that in contemplation of universal law and of the Constitution the Union of these States is perpetual. Perpetuity is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments," arguing further that the purpose of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution" title="United States Constitution">United States Constitution</a> was "to form a more perfect union" than the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articles_of_Confederation" title="Articles of Confederation">Articles of Confederation</a><i>explicitly</i> perpetual, thus the Constitution too was perpetual. He asked rhetorically that even were the Constitution a simple contract, would it not require the agreement of all parties to rescind it?<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-115"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-115">[116]</a></sup> In his which were </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Also in his inaugural address, in a final attempt to reunite the states and prevent certain war, Lincoln supported the pending <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corwin_Amendment" title="Corwin Amendment">Corwin Amendment</a> to the Constitution, which had passed Congress the previous day. This amendment, which explicitly protected slavery in those states in which it already existed, was considered by Lincoln to be a possible way to stave off secession.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-116"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-116">[117]</a></sup> A few short weeks before the war he went so far as to pen a letter to every governor asking for their support in ratifying the Corwin Amendment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-117"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-117">[118]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">By the time Lincoln took office, the Confederacy was an established fact,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Donald.2C_p._267_104-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Donald.2C_p._267-104">[105]</a></sup> and no leaders of the insurrection proposed rejoining the Union on any terms. The failure of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Conference_of_1861" title="Peace Conference of 1861">Peace Conference of 1861</a> rendered legislative compromise virtually impossible. Buchanan might have allowed the southern states to secede, and some members of his cabinet recommended that. However, conservative Democratic nationalists, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_S._Black" title="Jeremiah S. Black">Jeremiah S. Black</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Holt" title="Joseph Holt">Joseph Holt</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_M._Stanton" title="Edwin M. Stanton">Edwin M. Stanton</a> had taken control of Buchanan's cabinet in early January, and refused to accept secession.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-118"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-118">[119]</a></sup> Lincoln and nearly every Republican leader adopted this position by March 1861: the Union could not be dismantled. Believing that a peaceful solution was still possible, Lincoln decided to not take any action against the South unless the Unionists themselves were attacked first.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from October 2009">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a></i>]</sup> This finally happened in April 1861.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Donald.2C_p._292_119-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Donald.2C_p._292-119">[120]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Historian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Nevins" title="Allan Nevins">Allan Nevins</a> argues that Lincoln made three miscalculations in believing that he could preserve the Union, hold government property, and still avoid war. He "temporarily underrated the gravity of the crisis", overestimated the strength of Unionist sentiment in the South and border states, and misunderstood the conditional support of Unionists in the border states.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-120"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-120">[121]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Fighting_begins">Fighting begins</span></span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War" title="American Civil War">American Civil War</a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">On April 12, 1861, Union troops at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Sumter" title="Battle of Fort Sumter">Fort Sumter</a> were fired upon and forced to surrender.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Donald.2C_p._292_119-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Donald.2C_p._292-119">[120]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Oates.2C_p._226_121-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Oates.2C_p._226-121">[122]</a></sup> to recapture forts, protect the capital, and "preserve the Union", which in his view still existed intact despite the actions of the seceding states.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-122"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-122">[123]</a></sup> These events forced the states to choose sides. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a> declared its secession, after which the Confederate capital was moved from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery,_Alabama" title="Montgomery, Alabama">Montgomery</a> to Richmond. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas" title="Arkansas">Arkansas</a> also voted for secession over the next two months. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky" title="Kentucky">Kentucky</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a> threatened secession,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Oates.2C_p._226_121-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Oates.2C_p._226-121">[122]</a></sup> but neither they nor the slave state of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware" title="Delaware">Delaware</a> seceded. Lincoln urgently negotiated with state leaders there, promising not to interfere with slavery.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from November 2009">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a></i>]</sup> Troops headed south towards Washington, D.C. to protect the capital in response to Lincoln's call. On April 19, angry secessionist mobs in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore" title="Baltimore">Baltimore</a>, a Maryland city to the north of Washington that controlled the rail links, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_riot_of_1861" title="Baltimore riot of 1861">attacked Union troops</a> traveling to the capital. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_William_Brown" title="George William Brown">George William Brown</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mayors_of_Baltimore,_Maryland" title="List of mayors of Baltimore, Maryland">Mayor of Baltimore</a>, and other suspect Maryland politicians were arrested and imprisoned at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_McHenry" title="Fort McHenry">Fort McHenry</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-123"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-123">[124]</a></sup> Rebel leaders were also arrested in other border areas<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from November 2009">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a></i>]</sup> and held in military prisons without trial. Over 18,000 were arrested. One, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement_Vallandigham" title="Clement Vallandigham">Clement Vallandigham</a>, was exiled, but the remainder were released, usually after two or three months (<i>see</i>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_parte_Merryman" title="Ex parte Merryman">Ex parte Merryman</a>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-124"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-124">[125]</a></sup> On April 15, Lincoln called on the states to send detachments totaling 75,000 troops,</span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Conducting_the_war_effort">Conducting the war effort</span></span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_and_the_Civil_War" title="Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War">Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War</a></span></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 242px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RunningtheMachine-LincAdmin.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="176" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/64/RunningtheMachine-LincAdmin.jpg/240px-RunningtheMachine-LincAdmin.jpg" width="240" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RunningtheMachine-LincAdmin.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> "Running the 'Machine'": An 1864 political cartoon featuring Lincoln; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Fessenden" title="William P. Fessenden">William Fessenden</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_M._Stanton" title="Edwin M. Stanton">Edwin Stanton</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Seward" title="William H. Seward">William Seward</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_Welles" title="Gideon Welles">Gideon Welles</a> take a swing at the Lincoln administration</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">The war was a source of constant frustration for the president and occupied nearly all of his time. He had a contentious relationship with General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_B._McClellan" title="George B. McClellan">McClellan</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-125"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-125">[126]</a></sup> who became general-in-chief of all the Union armies in the wake of the embarrassing Union defeat at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Bull_Run" title="First Battle of Bull Run">First Battle of Bull Run</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winfield_Scott" title="Winfield Scott">Winfield Scott</a> in late 1861.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-126"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-126">[127]</a></sup> Despite his inexperience in military affairs, Lincoln immediately took an active part in determining war strategy. His priorities were twofold: to ensure that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C." title="Washington, D.C.">Washington</a> was well defended; and to conduct an aggressive war effort that would satisfy the demand in the North for prompt, decisive victory.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-127"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-127">[128]</a></sup> McClellan, a youthful <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Military_Academy" title="United States Military Academy">West Point</a> graduate and railroad executive called back to active military service,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-128"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-128">[129]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_67-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-ReferenceA-67">[68]</a></sup> He took several months to plan and execute his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsula_Campaign" title="Peninsula Campaign">Peninsula Campaign</a>, with the objective of capturing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia" title="Richmond, Virginia">Richmond</a> by moving the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_the_Potomac" title="Army of the Potomac">Army of the Potomac</a> by boat to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Peninsula" title="Virginia Peninsula">peninsula</a> and then traveling by land to Richmond. McClellan's delay concerned Lincoln, as did his insistence that no troops were needed to defend Washington, Lincoln insisted on holding some of McClellan's troops to defend the capital, a decision McClellan blamed for the ultimate failure of the Peninsula Campaign.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_67-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-ReferenceA-67">[68]</a></sup> McClellan, a conservative <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Democratic_Party_%28United_States%29" title="History of the Democratic Party (United States)">Democrat</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-129"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-129">[130]</a></sup> was passed over for general-in-chief (that is, chief strategist) in favor of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Wager_Halleck" title="Henry Wager Halleck">Henry Wager Halleck</a>, after giving Lincoln his <i>Harrison's Landing Letter</i>, where he offered unsolicited political advice to Lincoln urging caution in the war effort.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-130"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-130">[131]</a></sup> McClellan's letter incensed Radical Republicans, who successfully pressured Lincoln to appoint <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pope_%28military_officer%29" title="John Pope (military officer)">John Pope</a>, a Republican, as head of the new <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_Virginia" title="Army of Virginia">Army of Virginia</a>. Pope complied with Lincoln's strategic desire to move toward Richmond from the north, thus protecting the capital from attack. However, Pope was soundly defeated at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Bull_Run" title="Second Battle of Bull Run">Second Battle of Bull Run</a> in the summer of 1862, forcing the Army of the Potomac to defend Washington for a second time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-131"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-131">[132]</a></sup> In response to his failure, Pope was sent to Minnesota to fight the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sioux" title="Sioux">Sioux</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-132"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-132">[133]</a></sup> and after the retirement of took a more cautious approach.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Despite his dissatisfaction with McClellan's failure to reinforce Pope, Lincoln restored him to command of all forces around Washington, to the dismay of his cabinet (all save Seward), who wished McClellan gone.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-133"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-133">[134]</a></sup> Two days after McClellan's return to command, General Lee's forces crossed the Potomac River into Maryland, leading to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Antietam" title="Battle of Antietam">Battle of Antietam</a> (September 1862).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-134"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-134">[135]</a></sup> The ensuing Union victory, one of the bloodiest in American history, enabled Lincoln to give notice that he would issue an Emancipation Proclamation in January,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-135"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-135">[136]</a></sup> but he relieved McClellan of his command after waiting for the conclusion of the 1862 midterm elections and appointed Republican <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrose_Burnside" title="Ambrose Burnside">Ambrose Burnside</a> to head the Army of the Potomac.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-136"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-136">[137]</a></sup> Burnside was politically neutral, which Lincoln desired, and for the most part supported the President's aims.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Donald.2C_p._390_137-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Donald.2C_p._390-137">[138]</a></sup> Burnside had promised to follow through on Lincoln's strategic vision for a strong offensive against Lee and Richmond. After Burnside was stunningly defeated at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fredericksburg" title="Battle of Fredericksburg">Fredericksburg</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-138"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-138">[139]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Hooker" title="Joseph Hooker">Joseph Hooker</a> took command, despite his history of "loose talk" and criticizing former commanders.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-139"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-139">[140]</a></sup> Hooker was routed by Lee at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chancellorsville" title="Battle of Chancellorsville">Battle of Chancellorsville</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-140"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-140">[141]</a></sup> but continued to command his troops for roughly two months. Hooker did not agree with Lincoln's desire to divide his troops, and possibly force Lee to do the same, and tendered his resignation, which was accepted. During the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Campaign" title="Gettysburg Campaign">Gettysburg Campaign</a> he was replaced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Meade" title="George Meade">George Meade</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-141"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-141">[142]</a></sup> in December,</span> in May, 1863,<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Using black troops and former slaves was official government policy after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. At first Lincoln was reluctant to fully implement this program, but by the spring of 1863 he was ready to initiate "a massive recruitment of Negro troops." In a letter to Andrew Johnson, the military governor of Tennessee, encouraging him to lead the way in raising black troops, Lincoln wrote, "The bare sight of fifty thousand armed, and drilled black soldiers on the banks of the Mississippi would end the rebellion at once."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-142"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-142">[143]</a></sup> By the end of 1863, at Lincoln's direction, General Lorenzo Thomas had recruited twenty regiments of African Americans from the Mississippi Valley.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-143"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-143">[144]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Grant">Grant</span></span></h3><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PinkertonLincolnMcClernand.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="238" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/PinkertonLincolnMcClernand.jpg/170px-PinkertonLincolnMcClernand.jpg" width="170" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PinkertonLincolnMcClernand.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> Lincoln, in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_hat" title="Top hat">top hat</a>, with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Pinkerton" title="Allan Pinkerton">Allan Pinkerton</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Alexander_McClernand" title="John Alexander McClernand">John Alexander McClernand</a> and Major General at Antietam</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">After the Union victory at Gettysburg, Meade's failure to pursue Lee and months of inactivity for the Army of the Potomac persuaded Lincoln that a change was needed. McClellan was seeking the Democratic nomination for President, and Lincoln worried that Grant might also have political aspirations. Lincoln convinced himself that Grant didn't have political aspirations, in the immediate at least, and made <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant" title="Ulysses S. Grant">Ulysses S. Grant</a> commander of the Union Army.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-144"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-144">[145]</a></sup> Grant already had a solid string of victories in the Western Theater, including the battles of Vicksburg and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Battle_of_Chattanooga" title="Third Battle of Chattanooga">Chattanooga</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-145"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-145">[146]</a></sup> Responding to criticism of Grant, Lincoln replied, "I can't spare this man. He fights."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-146"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-146">[147]</a></sup> Grant waged his bloody <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overland_Campaign" title="Overland Campaign">Overland Campaign</a> in 1864 with a strategy of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attrition_warfare" title="Attrition warfare">war of attrition</a>, characterized by high Union losses at battles such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Wilderness" title="Battle of the Wilderness">Wilderness</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cold_Harbor" title="Battle of Cold Harbor">Cold Harbor</a>, but by proportionately higher Confederate losses.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from October 2009">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a></i>]</sup> The high casualty figures alarmed the nation, and, after Grant lost a third of his army, Lincoln asked what Grant's plans were. "I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer," replied Grant. Lincoln and the Republican party mobilized support throughout the North, backed Grant to the hilt, and replaced his losses.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-147"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-147">[148]</a></sup> The Confederacy was out of replacements, so Lee's army shrank with every battle, forcing it back to trenches outside <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Petersburg" title="Siege of Petersburg">Petersburg</a>. In April 1865, Lee's army finally crumbled under Grant's pounding, and Richmond fell.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-148"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-148">[149]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln authorized Grant to target the Confederate infrastructure – such as plantations, railroads, and bridges – hoping to destroy the South's morale and weaken its economic ability to continue fighting. This strategy allowed Generals <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tecumseh_Sherman" title="William Tecumseh Sherman">Sherman</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Sheridan" title="Philip Sheridan">Sheridan</a> to destroy plantations and towns in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenandoah_Valley" title="Shenandoah Valley">Shenandoah Valley</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a>, and South Carolina. The damage caused by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman%27s_March_to_the_Sea" title="Sherman's March to the Sea">Sherman's March to the Sea</a> through Georgia totaled more than $100 million by the general's own estimate.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-149"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-149">[150]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln grasped the need to control strategic points (such as the Mississippi River and the fortress city of Vicksburg) and understood the importance of defeating the enemy's army, rather than simply capturing territory. He had, however, limited success in motivating his commanders to adopt his strategies until late 1863, when he found a man who shared his vision of the war in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant" title="Ulysses S. Grant">Ulysses S. Grant</a>. Only then could he relentlessly pursue a series of coordinated offensives in multiple theaters, and have a top commander who agreed on the use of black troops.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-150"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-150">[151]</a></sup> Two days a week, Lincoln would meet with his cabinet in the afternoon, and occasionally his wife would force him to take a carriage ride because she was concerned he was working too hard. Throughout the war, Lincoln showed an intense interest with the military campaigns. He spent hours at the War Department telegraph office, reading dispatches from the field.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-151"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-151">[152]</a></sup> He visited battle sites frequently, and seemed fascinated by scenes of war.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from October 2009">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a></i>]</sup> During <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubal_Anderson_Early" title="Jubal Anderson Early">Jubal Anderson Early</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Stevens" title="Battle of Fort Stevens">raid on Washington, D.C.</a> in 1864, Lincoln was watching the combat from an exposed position; captain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Wendell_Holmes,_Jr." title="Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.">Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.</a> shouted at him, "Get down, you damn fool, before you get shot!"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-152"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-152">[153]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Emancipation_Proclamation">Emancipation Proclamation</span></span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main articles: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_on_slavery" title="Abraham Lincoln on slavery">Abraham Lincoln on slavery</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation" title="Emancipation Proclamation">Emancipation Proclamation</a></span></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 302px;"><div><span style="font-size: 85%;"><map id="ImageMap_1_1333112875" name="ImageMap_1_1333112875"> <area alt="Edwin Stanton (Secretary of War)" coords="2,93,12,85,13,76,17,69,24,69,28,71,29,80,31,89,37,100,58,123,71,134,74,153,71,164,58,167,47,151,32,146,25,118,7,114" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_M._Stanton" shape="poly" title="Edwin Stanton (Secretary of War)"></area> <area alt="Salmon Chase (Treasury secretary)" coords="38,92,37,71,35,48,47,40,47,36,46,33,49,24,57,21,61,26,61,30,59,39,61,42,61,45,66,48,76,63,75,68,68,77,68,81,74,102,67,129,39,102" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_P._Chase" shape="poly" title="Salmon Chase (Treasury secretary)"></area> <area alt="President Lincoln" coords="74,117,76,101,78,81,90,75,93,71,94,66,90,66,90,58,95,51,103,51,110,56,108,60,105,64,108,72,108,76,116,83,126,97,138,105,142,109,139,110,139,114,136,112,134,110,123,110,119,121,139,125,142,131,128,172,108,172,108,137" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln" shape="poly" title="President Lincoln"></area> <area alt="Gideon Welles (Secretary of the navy)" coords="138,103,148,87,158,81,157,72,157,62,165,60,170,61,173,67,174,79,185,85,190,99,176,100,170,106" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_Welles" shape="poly" title="Gideon Welles (Secretary of the navy)"></area> <area alt="William Seward (Secretary of State)" coords="139,155,151,155,167,123,187,123,191,111,166,111,178,100,196,100,210,82,210,76,209,76,209,71,211,67,211,64,218,62,223,67,223,75,223,83,229,98,230,107,214,154,196,158,188,141,182,141,178,172,153,177,152,175,159,167,160,160,140,160" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Seward" shape="poly" title="William Seward (Secretary of State)"></area> <area alt="Caleb B. Smith (Cabinet)" coords="188,65,200,57,197,53,197,43,202,39,207,40,210,44,211,57,216,60,216,69,204,102,183,103,182,84" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Blood_Smith" shape="poly" title="Caleb B. Smith (Cabinet)"></area> <area alt="Montgomery Blair (Cabinet)" coords="216,59,221,52,220,47,219,39,219,34,222,32,228,32,232,35,234,40,234,46,237,52,245,59,247,80,245,101,241,103,225,100,215,66" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Blair" shape="poly" title="Montgomery Blair (Cabinet)"></area> <area alt="Edward Bates (Attorney General)" coords="246,102,246,95,261,83,261,80,260,71,260,66,266,60,275,66,277,72,276,78,282,82,284,92,284,97,292,111,285,107,274,107,272,110" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bates" shape="poly" title="Edward Bates (Attorney General)"></area> <area alt="Emancipation Proclamation draft" coords="123,110,118,122,141,124,144,117,148,120,166,115,160,107,146,109,139,109,139,114,137,115,134,110" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation" shape="poly" title="Emancipation Proclamation draft"></area> <area alt="Unknown Painting" coords="156,1,156,32,187,32,186,0" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#Victuallers" shape="poly" title="Unknown Painting"></area> <area alt="use cursor to explore or button to enlarge" coords="0,0,299,180" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bicknell_Carpenter" shape="rect" title="use cursor to explore or button to enlarge"></area></map><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="181" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Emancipation_proclamation.jpg/300px-Emancipation_proclamation.jpg" usemap="#ImageMap_1_1333112875" width="300" /></span></div><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Emancipation_proclamation.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> Lincoln met with his cabinet on July 22, 1862 for the first reading of a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln maintained that the powers of his administration to end slavery were limited by the Constitution. He expected to cause the eventual extinction of slavery by stopping its further expansion into any U.S. territory, and by persuading states to accept <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compensated_emancipation" title="Compensated emancipation">compensated emancipation</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-153"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-153">[154]</a></sup> if the state would outlaw slavery (an offer that took effect only in Washington, D.C.). Guelzo says Lincoln believed that shrinking slavery in this way would make it uneconomical, and place it back on the road to eventual extinction that the Founders had envisioned.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">In July 1862, Congress passed the Second <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confiscation_Acts" title="Confiscation Acts">Confiscation Act</a>, which freed the slaves of anyone convicted of aiding the rebellion. Although Lincoln believed it wasn't in Congress's remit to free any slaves, he approved the bill. He felt freeing the slaves could only be done by the Commander in Chief during wartime, and that signing the bill would help placate those in Congress who wanted to do it through legislation. In that month, Lincoln discussed a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation with his cabinet. In it, he stated that "as a fit and necessary military measure" (and according to Donald not for moral reasons) on January 1, 1863, "all persons held as a slaves" in the Confederate states will " thenceforward, and forever, be free."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-154"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-154">[155]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">In a shrewdly penned August reply to an editorial by Horace Greeley in the influential <i>New York Tribune</i>, with a draft of the Proclamation already on Lincoln's desk, the president subordinated the goal of ending slavery to the cause of preserving the Union, while, at the same time, preparing the public for emancipation being incomplete at first. Lincoln had decided at this point that he could not win the war without freeing the slaves, and so it was a necessity "to do more to help the cause":<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from October 2009">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a></i>]</sup></span><br />
<blockquote class="templatequote"><div><span style="font-size: 85%;">I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be "the Union as it was." ... My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views. I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-155"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-155">[156]</a></sup></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: 85%;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation" title="Emancipation Proclamation">Emancipation Proclamation</a>, announced on September 22, 1862 and put into effect on January 1, 1863, freed slaves in territories not already under Union control. As Union armies advanced south, more slaves were liberated until all of them in Confederate territory (over three million) were freed. Lincoln later said: "I never, in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right, than I do in signing this paper." The proclamation made the abolition of slavery in the rebel states an official war goal. Lincoln then threw his energies into passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to permanently abolish slavery throughout the nation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-156"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-156">[157]</a></sup> He personally lobbied individual Congressmen for the Amendment, which was passed by the Congress in early 1865, shortly before his death.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-157"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-157">[158]</a></sup> A few days after the Emancipation was announced, thirteen Republican governors met at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Governors%27_Conference" title="War Governors' Conference">War Governors' Conference</a>; they supported the president's Proclamation, but suggested the removal of General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_B._McClellan" title="George B. McClellan">George B. McClellan</a> as commander of the Union's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_the_Potomac" title="Army of the Potomac">Army of the Potomac</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-158"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-158">[159]</a></sup> For some time, Lincoln continued earlier plans to set up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_on_slavery#Colonization" title="Abraham Lincoln on slavery">colonies</a> for the newly freed slaves. He commented favorably on colonization in the Emancipation Proclamation, but all attempts at such a massive undertaking failed. As <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass" title="Frederick Douglass">Frederick Douglass</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-159"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-159">[160]</a></sup> observed, Lincoln was, "The first great man that I talked with in the United States freely who in no single instance reminded me of the difference between himself and myself, of the difference of color."</span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Gettysburg_Address">Gettysburg Address</span></span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address" title="Gettysburg Address">Gettysburg Address</a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">Although the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg" title="Battle of Gettysburg">Battle of Gettysburg</a> was a Union victory, it was also the bloodiest battle of the war and dealt a blow to Lincoln's war effort. As the Union Army decreased in numbers due to casualties, more soldiers were needed to replace the ranks. Lincoln's 1863 military drafts were considered "odious" among many in the north, particularly immigrants. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Draft_Riots" title="New York Draft Riots">New York Draft Riots</a> of July 1863 were the most notable manifestation of this discontent. Writing to Lincoln in September 1863, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Governors_of_Pennsylvania" title="List of Governors of Pennsylvania">Governor of Pennsylvania</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Gregg_Curtin" title="Andrew Gregg Curtin">Andrew Gregg Curtin</a>, warned that political sentiments were turning against Lincoln and the war effort:</span><br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: 85%;"><i>If the election were to occur now, the result would be extremely doubtful, and although most of our discreet friends are sanguine of the result, my impression is, the chances would be against us. The draft is very odious in the State ... the Democratic leaders have succeeded in exciting prejudice and passion, and have infused their poison into the minds of the people to a very large extent, and the changes are against us.</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-160"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-160">[161]</a></sup></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: 85%;">Therefore, in the fall of 1863, Lincoln's principal aim was to sustain public support for the war effort. This goal became the focus of his address at the Gettysburg battlefield cemetery on November 19.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">The <i>Gettysburg Address</i> is one of the most quoted speeches in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States" title="History of the United States">United States history</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-161"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-161">[162]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-162"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-162">[163]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-163"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-163">[164]</a></sup> It was delivered at the dedication of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_National_Cemetery" title="Gettysburg National Cemetery">Soldiers' National Cemetery</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg,_Pennsylvania" title="Gettysburg, Pennsylvania">Gettysburg, Pennsylvania</a>, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War" title="American Civil War">American Civil War</a>, four and a half months after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_%28American_Civil_War%29" title="Union (American Civil War)">Union</a> armies defeated those of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States_of_America" title="Confederate States of America">Confederacy</a> at the decisive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg" title="Battle of Gettysburg">Battle of Gettysburg</a>. Abraham Lincoln's carefully crafted address, secondary to other presentations that day, came to be regarded as one of the greatest speeches in American history. In just over two minutes, Lincoln invoked the principles of human equality espoused by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence" title="United States Declaration of Independence">Declaration of Independence</a> and redefined the Civil War as a struggle not merely for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">Union</a>, but as "a new birth of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_freedom" title="Political freedom">freedom</a>" that would bring true equality to all of its citizens, and that would also create a unified nation in which <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States%27_rights" title="States' rights">states' rights</a> were no longer dominant. Beginning with the now-iconic phrase, <i>Four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_%28number%29" title="20 (number)">score</a> and seven years ago ...</i>, Lincoln referred to the events of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War" title="American Civil War">Civil War</a> and described the ceremony at Gettysburg as an opportunity not only to consecrate the grounds of a cemetery, but also to dedicate the living to the struggle to ensure that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-164"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-164">[165]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="1864_election">1864 election</span></span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1864" title="United States presidential election, 1864">United States presidential election, 1864</a></span></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ElectoralCollege1864.svg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="128" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/ElectoralCollege1864.svg/220px-ElectoralCollege1864.svg.png" width="220" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ElectoralCollege1864.svg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> 1864 Presidential election results</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">After Union victories at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg" title="Battle of Gettysburg">Gettysburg</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Vicksburg" title="Siege of Vicksburg">Vicksburg</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga_Campaign" title="Chattanooga Campaign">Chattanooga</a> in 1863, overall victory seemed at hand, and Lincoln promoted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant" title="Ulysses S. Grant">Ulysses S. Grant</a> General-in-Chief on March 12, 1864. When the spring campaigns turned into bloody stalemates, Lincoln supported Grant's strategy of wearing down <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee" title="Robert E. Lee">Lee's</a> Confederate army at the cost of heavy Union casualties. With an election looming, he easily defeated efforts to deny his renomination. At the Convention, the Republican Party selected <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson" title="Andrew Johnson">Andrew Johnson</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Democrats" title="War Democrats">War Democrat</a> from the Southern state of Tennessee, as his running mate to form a broader coalition. They ran on the new <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Union_Party_%28United_States%29" title="National Union Party (United States)">Union Party</a> ticket uniting Republicans and War Democrats.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Nevertheless, Republicans across the country feared that Lincoln would be defeated. Acknowledging this fear, Lincoln wrote and signed a pledge that, if he should lose the election, he would still defeat the Confederacy before turning over the White House:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-165"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-165">[166]</a></sup></span><br />
<blockquote class="templatequote"><div><span style="font-size: 85%;">This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so co-operate with the President elect, as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration; as he will have secured his election on such ground that he cannot possibly save it afterwards.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-166"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-166">[167]</a></sup></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln did not show the pledge to his cabinet, but asked them to sign the sealed envelope. While the Democratic platform followed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperheads_%28politics%29" title="Copperheads (politics)">Peace wing</a> of the party and called the war a "failure," their candidate, General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_B._McClellan" title="George B. McClellan">George B. McClellan</a>, supported the war and repudiated the platform. Lincoln provided Grant with new replacements and mobilized his party to support Grant and win local support for the war effort. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tecumseh_Sherman" title="William Tecumseh Sherman">Sherman's</a> capture of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta" title="Atlanta">Atlanta</a> in September ended defeatist jitters; the Democratic Party was deeply split, with some leaders and most soldiers openly for Lincoln; the Union party was united and energized, and Lincoln was easily reelected in a landslide. He won all but three states, including 78% of the Union soldiers' vote.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-167"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-167">[168]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-168"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-168">[169]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Second_Inaugural_Address">Second Inaugural Address</span></span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln%27s_second_inaugural_address" title="Lincoln's second inaugural address">Lincoln's second inaugural address</a></span></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_second.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="174" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Lincoln_second.jpg/220px-Lincoln_second.jpg" width="220" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_second.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> The only known photographs of Lincoln giving a speech were taken as he delivered his second inaugural address. Here, he stands in the center, with papers in his hand.</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">On March 4, 1865, Lincoln delivered his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln%27s_second_inaugural_address" title="Lincoln's second inaugural address">second inaugural address</a>, his favorite of all his speeches. At this time, a victory over the rebels was at hand, slavery was dead, and Lincoln was looking to the future.</span><br />
<blockquote class="templatequote"><div><span style="font-size: 85%;">Fondly do we hope — fervently do we pray — that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether." With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-169"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-169">[170]</a></sup></span></div></blockquote><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Reconstruction">Reconstruction</span></span></h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_era_of_the_United_States" title="Reconstruction era of the United States">Reconstruction era of the United States</a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">Reconstruction began during the war as Lincoln and his associates pondered questions of how to reintegrate the Southern states and what to do with Confederate leaders and the freed slaves. Lincoln led the "moderates" regarding Reconstruction policy, and was usually opposed by the Radical Republicans, under <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaddeus_Stevens" title="Thaddeus Stevens">Thaddeus Stevens</a> in the House and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Sumner" title="Charles Sumner">Charles Sumner</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Wade" title="Benjamin Wade">Benjamin Wade</a> in the Senate (though he cooperated with these men on most other issues). Determined to find a course that would reunite the nation and not alienate the South, Lincoln urged that speedy elections under generous terms be held throughout the war in areas behind Union lines. His <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_percent_plan" title="Ten percent plan">Amnesty Proclamation</a> of December 8, 1863, offered pardons to those who had not held a Confederate civil office, had not mistreated Union prisoners, and would sign an oath of allegiance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-170"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-170">[171]</a></sup> Critical decisions had to be made as state after state was reconquered. Of special importance were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a>, where Lincoln appointed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson" title="Andrew Johnson">Andrew Johnson</a> as governor, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana" title="Louisiana">Louisiana</a>, where Lincoln attempted a plan that would restore statehood when 10% of the voters agreed to it. The Radicals thought this policy too lenient, and passed their own plan, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade-Davis_Bill" title="Wade-Davis Bill">Wade-Davis Bill</a>, in 1864. When Lincoln <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket_veto" title="Pocket veto">pocket vetoed</a> the bill, the Radicals retaliated by refusing to seat representatives elected from Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-171"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-171">[172]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Near the end of the war, Lincoln made an extended visit to Grant's headquarters at City Point, Virginia. This allowed the president to confer in person with Grant and Sherman about ending hostilities (as Sherman managed a hasty visit to Grant from his forces in North Carolina at the same time).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-172"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-172">[173]</a></sup> Lincoln also was able to visit Richmond after it was taken by the Union forces and to make a public gesture of sitting at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Davis" title="Jefferson Davis">Jefferson Davis'</a> own desk, symbolically saying to the nation that the President of the United States held authority over the entire land. He was greeted at the city as a conquering hero by freed slaves, whose sentiments were epitomized by one admirer's quote, "I know I am free for I have seen the face of Father Abraham and have felt him." When a general asked Lincoln how the defeated Confederates should be treated, Lincoln replied, "Let 'em up easy."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-173"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-173">[174]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-174"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-174">[175]</a></sup> Lincoln arrived back in Washington on the evening of April 9, 1865, the day Lee surrendered at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appomattox_Court_House_National_Historical_Park" title="Appomattox Court House National Historical Park">Appomattox Court House</a> in Virginia. The war was effectively over. The other rebel armies surrendered soon after, and there was no subsequent guerrilla warfare.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-175"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-175">[176]</a></sup></span><br />
<h2><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Home_front">Home front</span></span></h2><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 172px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln-Warren-1865-03-06.jpeg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="215" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Lincoln-Warren-1865-03-06.jpeg/170px-Lincoln-Warren-1865-03-06.jpeg" width="170" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln-Warren-1865-03-06.jpeg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> The last known high-quality photograph of Lincoln, taken March 1865</span></div></div></div><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Redefining_Republicanism">Redefining Republicanism</span></span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric" title="Rhetoric">rhetoric</a> defined the issues of the war for the nation, the world, and posterity. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address" title="Gettysburg Address">Gettysburg Address</a> defied Lincoln's own prediction that "the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here." His second inaugural address is also greatly admired and often quoted. In recent years, historians have stressed Lincoln's use of and redefinition of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republicanism_in_the_United_States" title="Republicanism in the United States">republican values</a>. As early as the 1850s, a time when most political rhetoric focused on the sanctity of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution" title="United States Constitution">Constitution</a>, Lincoln shifted emphasis to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence" title="United States Declaration of Independence">Declaration of Independence</a> as the foundation of American political values—what he called the "sheet anchor" of republicanism.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-176"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-176">[177]</a></sup> The Declaration's emphasis on freedom and equality for all, rather than the Constitution's tolerance of slavers, shifted the debate. As Diggins concludes regarding the highly influential <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Union_speech" title="Cooper Union speech">Cooper Union speech</a>, "Lincoln presented Americans a theory of history that offers a profound contribution to the theory and destiny of republicanism itself."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-177"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-177">[178]</a></sup> His position gained strength because he highlighted the moral basis of republicanism, rather than its legalisms.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-178"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-178">[179]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-179"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-179">[180]</a></sup> Nevertheless, in 1861 Lincoln justified the war in terms of legalisms (the Constitution was a contract, and for one party to get out of a contract all the other parties had to agree), and then in terms of the national duty to guarantee a "republican form of government" in every state.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-180"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-180">[181]</a></sup> That duty was also the principle underlying federal intervention in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_era_of_the_United_States" title="Reconstruction era of the United States">Reconstruction</a>. In his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address" title="Gettysburg Address">Gettysburg Address</a> Lincoln redefined the American nation, arguing that it was born not in 1789 but in 1776, "conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." He declared that the sacrifices of battle had rededicated the nation to the propositions of democracy and equality, "that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." By emphasizing the centrality of the nation, he rebuffed the claims of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereignty" title="Sovereignty">state sovereignty</a>. While some critics say Lincoln moved too far and too fast, they agree that he dedicated the nation to values that marked "a new founding of the nation."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-181"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-181">[182]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Civil_liberties_suspended">Civil liberties suspended</span></span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">During the Civil War, Lincoln appropriated powers no previous President had wielded: he used his war powers to proclaim a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_blockade" title="Union blockade">blockade</a>, suspended the writ of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpus" title="Habeas corpus">habeas corpus</a>, spent money before Congress appropriated it, and imprisoned between 15,000 and 18,000 suspected Confederate sympathizers without trial.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-182"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-182">[183]</a></sup></span><br />
<h3><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Domestic_measures">Domestic measures</span></span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln believed in the Whig theory of the presidency, which left Congress to write the laws while he signed them; Lincoln exercised his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veto" title="Veto">veto power</a> only four times, the only significant instance being his pocket veto of the Wade-Davis Bill.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-183"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-183">[184]</a></sup> Thus, he signed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_Act" title="Homestead Act">Homestead Act</a> in 1862, making millions of acres of government-held land in the West available for purchase at very low cost. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrill_Land-Grant_Colleges_Act" title="Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act">Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act</a>, also signed in 1862, provided government grants for state agricultural colleges in each state. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Railway_Acts" title="Pacific Railway Acts">Pacific Railway Acts</a> of 1862 and 1864 granted federal support for the construction of the United States' <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Transcontinental_Railroad" title="First Transcontinental Railroad">First Transcontinental Railroad</a>, which was completed in 1869.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-184"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-184">[185]</a></sup> The passage of the Homestead Act and the Pacific Railway Acts was made possible by the absence of Southern congressmen and senators who had opposed the measures in the 1850s.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-185"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-185">[186]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Other important legislation involved two measures to raise revenues for the Federal government: tariffs (a policy with long precedent), and a Federal income tax (which was new). In 1861, Lincoln signed the second and third <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrill_Tariff" title="Morrill Tariff">Morrill Tariff</a> (the first had become law under <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Buchanan" title="James Buchanan">James Buchanan</a>). In 1861, Lincoln signed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue_Act_of_1861" title="Revenue Act of 1861">Revenue Act of 1861</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-186"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-186">[187]</a></sup> creating the first U.S. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_tax" title="Income tax">income tax</a>. This created a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_tax" title="Flat tax">flat tax</a> of 3% on incomes above $800 ($19,307 in current dollars), which was later changed by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue_Act_of_1862" title="Revenue Act of 1862">Revenue Act of 1862</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-187"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-187">[188]</a></sup> to a progressive rate structure.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-188"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-188">[189]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln also presided over the expansion of the federal government's economic influence in several other areas. The creation of the system of national banks by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Banking_Act" title="National Banking Act">National Banking Acts</a> of 1863, 1864, and 1865 allowed the creation of a strong national financial system. In 1862, Congress created, with Lincoln's approval, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Agriculture" title="United States Department of Agriculture">Department of Agriculture</a>, although that institution would not become a Cabinet-level department until 1889. The Legal Tender Act of 1862 established the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Note" title="United States Note">United States Note</a>, the first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknote" title="Banknote">paper currency</a> in United States history since the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_%28currency%29" title="Continental (currency)">Continentals</a> that were issued during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War" title="American Revolutionary War">Revolution</a>. This was done to increase the money supply to pay for fighting the war.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">In 1862, Lincoln sent a senior general, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pope_%28military_officer%29" title="John Pope (military officer)">John Pope</a>, to put down the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakota_War_of_1862" title="Dakota War of 1862">Sioux Uprising</a>" in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a>. Presented with 303 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_warrant" title="Execution warrant">death warrants</a> for convicted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sioux#Santee_.28Is.C3.A1.C5.8Byathi_or_Eastern_Dakota.29" title="Sioux">Santee Dakota</a> who were accused of killing innocent farmers, Lincoln ordered a personal review of these warrants, eventually approving 39 of these for <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_penalty" title="Death penalty">execution</a> (one was later <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardon" title="Pardon">reprieved</a>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-189"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-189">[190]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Abraham Lincoln is largely responsible for the institution of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_%28United_States%29" title="Thanksgiving (United States)">Thanksgiving holiday</a> in the United States. Prior to Lincoln's presidency, Thanksgiving, while a regional holiday in New England since the 17th century, had only been proclaimed by the federal government sporadically, and on irregular dates. The last such proclamation was during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Madison" title="James Madison">James Madison's</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-190"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-190">[191]</a></sup> presidency fifty years before. In 1863, Lincoln declared the final Thursday in November to be a day of Thanksgiving, and the holiday has been celebrated annually then ever since.</span><br />
<h2><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Assassination">Assassination</span></span></h2><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Main article: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_assassination" title="Abraham Lincoln assassination">Abraham Lincoln assassination</a></span></div><div class="rellink boilerplate further"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Further information: <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln%27s_burial_and_exhumation" title="Abraham Lincoln's burial and exhumation">Abraham Lincoln's burial and exhumation</a></span></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Assassination_of_President_Lincoln_-_Currier_and_Ives_2.png"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="154" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/The_Assassination_of_President_Lincoln_-_Currier_and_Ives_2.png/220px-The_Assassination_of_President_Lincoln_-_Currier_and_Ives_2.png" width="220" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Assassination_of_President_Lincoln_-_Currier_and_Ives_2.png" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> The assassination of Abraham Lincoln. From left to right: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Rathbone" title="Henry Rathbone">Henry Rathbone</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Harris" title="Clara Harris">Clara Harris</a>, Mary Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilkes_Booth" title="John Wilkes Booth">John Wilkes Booth</a></span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">Originally, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilkes_Booth" title="John Wilkes Booth">John Wilkes Booth</a>, a well-known actor and a Confederate spy from Maryland, had formulated a plan to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping" title="Kidnapping">kidnap</a> Lincoln in exchange for the release of Confederate prisoners. After attending an April 11 speech in which Lincoln promoted voting rights for blacks, an incensed Booth changed his plans and determined to assassinate the president.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-191"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-191">[192]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Learning that the President and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady_of_the_United_States" title="First Lady of the United States">First Lady</a> would be attending <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford%27s_Theatre" title="Ford's Theatre">Ford's Theatre</a>, he laid his plans, assigning his co-conspirators to assassinate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_President_of_the_United_States" title="Vice President of the United States">Vice President</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson" title="Andrew Johnson">Andrew Johnson</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_State" title="United States Secretary of State">Secretary of State</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Seward" title="William H. Seward">William H. Seward</a>. Without his main bodyguard <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_Hill_Lamon" title="Ward Hill Lamon">Ward Hill Lamon</a>, to whom he related his famous dream regarding his own assassination, Lincoln left to attend the play <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_American_Cousin" title="Our American Cousin">Our American Cousin</a></i> on April 14, 1865.</span><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_1866_Issue-15c.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="255" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Abraham_Lincoln_1866_Issue-15c.jpg/200px-Abraham_Lincoln_1866_Issue-15c.jpg" width="200" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_1866_Issue-15c.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> On April 14, 1866, one year to the day after Lincoln's assassination, the US Post Office issued its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stamps_and_postal_history_of_the_United_States#Abraham_Lincoln_on_the_US_Postage_Issues" title="Postage stamps and postal history of the United States">first postage stamp</a> honoring the fallen President</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">As a lone bodyguard wandered, and Lincoln sat in his state box (Box 7) in the balcony, Booth crept up behind the President and waited for what he thought would be the funniest line of the play ("You sock-dologizing old man-trap"), hoping the laughter would muffle the noise of the gunshot. When the laughter began, Booth jumped into the box and aimed a single-shot, round-ball .44 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliber" title="Caliber">caliber</a> (11 mm) <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deringer" title="Deringer">Deringer</a> at his head, firing at point-blank range. Major <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Rathbone" title="Henry Rathbone">Henry Rathbone</a> momentarily grappled with Booth but was cut by Booth's knife. Booth then leaped to the stage and shouted "<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sic_semper_tyrannis" title="Sic semper tyrannis">Sic semper tyrannis</a>!</i>" (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_language" title="Latin language">Latin</a>: <span lang="la"><i>Thus always to tyrants</i></span>) and escaped, despite suffering a broken leg in the leap.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-192"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-192">[193]</a></sup> A twelve-day manhunt ensued, in which Booth was chased by Federal agents (under the direction of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_War" title="United States Secretary of War">Secretary of War</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_M._Stanton" title="Edwin M. Stanton">Edwin M. Stanton</a>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-193"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-193">[194]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-194"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-194">[195]</a></sup> He was eventually cornered in a Virginia barn house and shot, dying of his wounds soon after.</span><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LincolnTrain.jpeg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/LincolnTrain.jpeg/220px-LincolnTrain.jpeg" width="220" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LincolnTrain.jpeg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> Lincoln's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funeral_train" title="Funeral train">funeral train</a> carried his remains, as well as 300 mourners and the casket of his son, William, 1,654 miles (2,662 km) to Illinois</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">An army surgeon, Doctor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Leale" title="Charles Leale">Charles Leale</a>, initially assessed Lincoln's wound as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_wound" title="Mortal wound">mortal</a>. The President was taken across the street from the theater to the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petersen_House" title="Petersen House">Petersen House</a>, where he lay in a coma for nine hours before dying. Several physicians attended Lincoln, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgeon_General_of_the_United_States_Army" title="Surgeon General of the United States Army">U.S. Army Surgeon General</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Barnes" title="Joseph Barnes">Joseph K. Barnes</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Health_and_Medicine" title="National Museum of Health and Medicine">Army Medical Museum</a>. Using a probe, Barnes located some fragments of Lincoln's skull and the ball lodged 6 inches (15 cm) inside his brain. Lincoln never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at 7:22:10 a.m. April 15, 1865. He was the first president to be assassinated or to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lying_in_state" title="Lying in state">lie in state</a>. Lincoln's body was carried by train in a grand funeral procession through several states on its way back to Illinois.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-195"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-195">[196]</a></sup> While much of the nation mourned him as the savior of the United States, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperheads_%28politics%29" title="Copperheads (politics)">Copperheads</a> celebrated the death of a man they considered a tyrant. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Tomb" title="Lincoln Tomb">Lincoln Tomb</a> in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, is 177 feet (54 m) tall and, by 1874, was surmounted with several bronze statues of Lincoln. To prevent repeated attempts to steal Lincoln's body and hold it for ransom, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Todd_Lincoln" title="Robert Todd Lincoln">Robert Todd Lincoln</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burial#Exhumation" title="Burial">exhumed</a> and reinterred in concrete several feet thick in 1901.<br />
had it </span><br />
<h2><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Administration.2C_Cabinet_and_Supreme_Court_appointments_1861.E2.80.931865">Administration, Cabinet and Supreme Court appointments 1861–1865</span></span></h2><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="multicol" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"><div class="center"><div class="thumb tnone"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Al16.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="292" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Al16.jpg/220px-Al16.jpg" width="220" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Al16.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> Official White House portrait of Abraham Lincoln by <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_P.A._Healy" title="George P.A. Healy">George Peter Alexander Healy</a></span></div></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln appointed the following Justices to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States" title="Supreme Court of the United States">Supreme Court of the United States</a>:</span><br />
<table class="sortable wikitable" id="sortable_table_id_0" style="height: 248px; width: 426px;"><tbody>
<tr bg="" style="color: #ececec;"> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>Judge</b><a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#" onclick="ts_resortTable(this);return false;"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>Seat</b><a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#" onclick="ts_resortTable(this);return false;"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>State</b><a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#" onclick="ts_resortTable(this);return false;"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>Began active<br />
service</b><a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#" onclick="ts_resortTable(this);return false;"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>Ended active<br />
service</b><a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#" onclick="ts_resortTable(this);return false;"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Haynes_Swayne" title="Noah Haynes Swayne">Noah Haynes Swayne</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">Seat 7</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></span></td> <td><span style="display: none;">18620127</span><span style="font-size: 85%;">January 27, 1862</span></td> <td><span style="display: none;">18810124</span><span style="font-size: 85%;">January 24, 1881</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Freeman_Miller" title="Samuel Freeman Miller">Samuel Freeman Miller</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">Seat 8</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine" title="Maine">Maine</a></span></td> <td><span style="display: none;">18620721</span><span style="font-size: 85%;">July 21, 1862</span></td> <td><span style="display: none;">18901013</span><span style="font-size: 85%;">October 13, 1890</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Davis_%28Supreme_Court_justice%29" title="David Davis (Supreme Court justice)">David Davis</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">Seat 9</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></span></td> <td><span style="display: none;">18621210</span><span style="font-size: 85%;">December 10, 1862</span></td> <td><span style="display: none;">18770304</span><span style="font-size: 85%;">March 4, 1877</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Johnson_Field" title="Stephen Johnson Field">Stephen Johnson Field</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">Seat 10</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></span></td> <td><span style="display: none;">18630520</span><span style="font-size: 85%;">May 20, 1863</span></td> <td><span style="display: none;">18971201</span><span style="font-size: 85%;">December 1, 1897</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_P._Chase" title="Salmon P. Chase">Salmon P. Chase</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">Seat 1</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire" title="New Hampshire">New Hampshire</a></span></td> <td><span style="display: none;">18641215</span><span style="font-size: 85%;">December 15, 1864</span></td> <td><span style="display: none;">18730507</span><span style="font-size: 85%;">May 7, 1873</span></td> </tr>
</tbody></table></td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"><table cellpadding="1" cellspacing="4" style="border: 2px solid Black; float: left; height: 428px; margin: 3px; width: 397px;"><tbody>
<tr> <th bg="" colspan="3" style="color: gainsboro;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">The Lincoln Cabinet</span></th> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>OFFICE</b></span></td> <td align="left"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>NAME</b></span></td> <td align="left"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>TERM</b></span></td> </tr>
<tr> <th bg="" colspan="3" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
</span></th> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">President</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>Abraham Lincoln</b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1861–1865</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_President_of_the_United_States" title="Vice President of the United States">Vice President</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal_Hamlin" title="Hannibal Hamlin">Hannibal Hamlin</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1861–1865</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson" title="Andrew Johnson">Andrew Johnson</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1865</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <th bg="" colspan="3" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
</span></th> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_State" title="United States Secretary of State">State</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Seward" title="William H. Seward">William H. Seward</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1861–1865</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_War" title="United States Secretary of War">War</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Cameron" title="Simon Cameron">Simon Cameron</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1861–1862</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_M._Stanton" title="Edwin M. Stanton">Edwin M. Stanton</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1862–1865</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_the_Treasury" title="United States Secretary of the Treasury">Treasury</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_P._Chase" title="Salmon P. Chase">Salmon P. Chase</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1861–1864</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Fessenden" title="William P. Fessenden">William P. Fessenden</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1864–1865</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_McCulloch" title="Hugh McCulloch">Hugh McCulloch</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1865</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attorney_General_of_the_United_States" title="Attorney General of the United States">Justice</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bates" title="Edward Bates">Edward Bates</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1861–1864</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Speed" title="James Speed">James Speed</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1864–1865</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postmaster_General" title="United States Postmaster General">Post</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Blair" title="Montgomery Blair">Montgomery Blair</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1861–1864</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dennison,_Jr." title="William Dennison, Jr.">William Dennison, Jr.</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1864–1865</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_the_Navy" title="United States Secretary of the Navy">Navy</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_Welles" title="Gideon Welles">Gideon Welles</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1861–1865</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_the_Interior" title="United States Secretary of the Interior">Interior</a></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_B._Smith" title="Caleb B. Smith">Caleb B. Smith</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1861–1862</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_P._Usher" title="John P. Usher">John P. Usher</a></b></span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 85%;">1863–1865</span></td> </tr>
</tbody></table></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 85%;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-196"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-196">[197]</a></sup></span><br />
<h2><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="States_admitted_to_the_Union">States admitted to the Union</span></span></h2><ul><li><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia" title="West Virginia">West Virginia</a> – June 20, 1863</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada" title="Nevada">Nevada</a> – October 31, 1864</span></li>
</ul><h2><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Religious_and_philosophical_beliefs">Religious and philosophical beliefs</span></span></h2><div class="rellink"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Further information: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_and_religion" title="Abraham Lincoln and religion">Abraham Lincoln and religion</a></span></div><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 227px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_William_Morris_Hunt.jpeg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Abraham_Lincoln_William_Morris_Hunt.jpeg/225px-Abraham_Lincoln_William_Morris_Hunt.jpeg" style="height: 342px; width: 233px;" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_William_Morris_Hunt.jpeg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> Lincoln in 1865, portrait by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Morris_Hunt" title="William Morris Hunt">William Morris Hunt</a></span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">In March 1860 in a speech in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Haven,_Connecticut" title="New Haven, Connecticut">New Haven</a>, Connecticut, Lincoln said, regarding slavery, "Whenever this question shall be settled, it must be settled on some philosophical basis. No policy that does not rest upon some philosophical public opinion can be permanently maintained." The philosophical basis for Lincoln's beliefs regarding slavery and other issues of the day require that Lincoln be examined "seriously as a man of ideas." Lincoln was a strong supporter of the American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whig_Party_%28United_States%29" title="Whig Party (United States)">Whig</a> version of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism" title="Liberalism">liberal</a> capitalism.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-197"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-197">[198]</a></sup> More than any political leader of the day he fashioned public policy into the mold of religious language, especially a kind of Old School Calvinism that avoided the evangelical, revivalistic fervor of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Great_Awakening" title="Second Great Awakening">Second Great Awakening</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-198"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-198">[199]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">There were few people who strongly or directly influenced Lincoln's moral and intellectual development and perspectives. There was no teacher, mentor, church leader, community leader, or peer that Lincoln would credit in later years as a strong influence on his intellectual development. Lacking a formal education, Lincoln's personal philosophy was shaped by "an amazingly retentive memory and a passion for reading and learning." It was Lincoln's reading, rather than his relationships, that were most influential in shaping his personal beliefs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-zsafth_199-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-zsafth-199">[200]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-200"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-200">[201]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Even as a child, Lincoln largely rejected organized religion, but the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism" title="Calvinism">Calvinistic</a> "doctrine of necessity" would remain a factor throughout his life. In 1846 Lincoln described the effect of this doctrine as "that the human mind is impelled to action, or held in rest by some power, over which the mind itself has no control."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-201"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-201">[202]</a></sup> In April 1864, in justifying his actions regarding Emancipation, Lincoln wrote, "I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me. Now, at the end of three years struggle the nation's condition is not what either party, or any man devised, or expected. God alone can claim it."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-202"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-202">[203]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">As Lincoln matured, and especially during his term as president, the idea of a divine will somehow interacting with human affairs increasingly influenced his public expressions. On a personal level, the death of his son Willie in February 1862 may have caused Lincoln to look towards religion for answers and solace.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-203"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-203">[204]</a></sup> After Willie's death, in the summer or early fall of 1862, Lincoln attempted to put on paper his private musings on why, from a divine standpoint, the severity of the war was necessary:</span><br />
<blockquote class="templatequote"><div><span style="font-size: 85%;">The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be, wrong. God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time. In the present civil war it is quite possible that God's purpose is something different from the purpose of either party—and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaptation to effect his purpose. I am almost ready to say this is probably true—that God wills this contest, and wills that it shall not end yet. By his mere quiet power, on the minds of the now contestants, He could have either saved or destroyed the Union without a human contest. Yet the contest began. And having begun He could give the final victory to either side any day. Yet the contest proceeds.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-204"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-204">[205]</a></sup></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln's religious skepticism was fueled by his readings in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment" title="Age of Enlightenment">Enlightenment</a> and classical liberalism, especially <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_liberalism" title="Economic liberalism">economic liberalism</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-zsafth_199-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-zsafth-199">[200]</a></sup> Consistent with the common practice of the Whig party, Lincoln would often use the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence" title="United States Declaration of Independence">Declaration of Independence</a> as the philosophical and moral expression of these two philosophies.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-205"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-205">[206]</a></sup> In a February 22, 1861 speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia Lincoln said,</span><br />
<blockquote class="templatequote"><div><span style="font-size: 85%;">I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence. ... It was not the mere matter of the separation of the Colonies from the motherland; but that sentiment in the Declaration of Independence which gave liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but, I hope, to the world, for all future time. It was that which gave promise that in due time the weight would be lifted from the shoulders of all men. This is a sentiment embodied in the Declaration of Independence.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-206"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-206">[207]</a></sup></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: 85%;">He found in the Declaration justification for Whig economic policy and opposition to territorial expansion and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativism_%28politics%29" title="Nativism (politics)">nativist</a> platform of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_Nothing" title="Know Nothing">Know Nothings</a>. In claiming that all men were created free, Lincoln and the Whigs argued that this freedom required economic advancement, expanded education, territory to grow, and the ability of the nation to absorb the growing immigrant population.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-207"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-207">[208]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">It was the "Declaration of Independence", rather than the <i>Bible</i>, that Lincoln most relied on to oppose any further territorial expansion of slavery. He saw the Declaration as more than a political document. To him, as well as to many abolitionists and other antislavery leaders, it was, foremost, a moral document that had forever determined valuable principles for the future shaping of the nation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-208"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-208">[209]</a></sup></span><br />
<h2><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Legacy_and_memorials">Legacy and memorials</span></span></h2><div class="rellink"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Further information: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_depictions_of_Abraham_Lincoln" title="Cultural depictions of Abraham Lincoln">Cultural depictions of Abraham Lincoln</a></span></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TheApotheosisLincolnAndWashington1860s.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="285" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/TheApotheosisLincolnAndWashington1860s.jpg/200px-TheApotheosisLincolnAndWashington1860s.jpg" width="200" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TheApotheosisLincolnAndWashington1860s.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"><i>The Apotheosis</i> of Abraham Lincoln, greeted by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington" title="George Washington">George Washington</a> in heaven (an 1860s work)</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln's death made the President a national <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyr" title="Martyr">martyr</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-209"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-209">[210]</a></sup> regarded by historians in numerous polls as among the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_United_States_Presidents" title="Historical rankings of United States Presidents">greatest presidents in U.S. history</a>, usually in the top three, along with George Washington and Franklin D. Roosevelt.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-210"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-210">[211]</a></sup> A study published in 2004, found that scholars in the fields of history and politics ranked Lincoln number one, while law scholars placed him second after Washington.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-211"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-211">[212]</a></sup> Among contemporary admirers, Lincoln is usually seen as personifying classical values of honesty and integrity, as well as respect for individual and minority rights, and human freedom in general. Many American organizations of all purposes and agendas continue to cite his name and image, with interests ranging from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_United_States" title="LGBT rights in the United States">gay rights</a>-supporting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Log_Cabin_Republicans" title="Log Cabin Republicans">Log Cabin Republicans</a> to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance" title="Insurance">insurance</a> corporation <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_National_Corporation" title="Lincoln National Corporation">Lincoln National Corporation</a>. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_%28automobile%29" title="Lincoln (automobile)">Lincoln automobile brand</a> is also named after him.</span><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_Memorial-4c.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="141" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Lincoln_Memorial-4c.jpg/200px-Lincoln_Memorial-4c.jpg" width="200" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_Memorial-4c.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> US Postage Stamp, 1959 issue, 4c, with image of Lincoln taken from the Lincoln Memorial.</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_missile_submarine" title="Ballistic missile submarine">ballistic missile submarine</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28SSBN-602%29" title="USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602)"><i>Abraham Lincoln</i> (SSBN-602)</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carrier</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_%28CVN-72%29" title="USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)"><i>Abraham Lincoln</i> (CVN-72)</a> were named in his honor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-212"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-212">[213]</a></sup> During the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_War" title="Spanish Civil War">Spanish Civil War</a>, the American faction of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Brigades" title="International Brigades">International Brigades</a> named themselves the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Brigade" title="Abraham Lincoln Brigade">Abraham Lincoln Brigade</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-213"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-213">[214]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Dennis.2C_p._194_214-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Dennis.2C_p._194-214">[215]</a></sup> including the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_Nebraska" title="Lincoln, Nebraska">capital of Nebraska</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ReferenceC_215-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-ReferenceC-215">[216]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_Illinois" title="Lincoln, Illinois">Lincoln, Illinois</a>, is the only city to be named for Abraham Lincoln before he became President.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-216"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-216">[217]</a></sup> Lincoln has been memorialized in many town, city, and county names,</span><br />
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AL_Westminster.JPG"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="271" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e6/AL_Westminster.JPG/180px-AL_Westminster.JPG" width="180" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AL_Westminster.JPG" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> The statue of Lincoln in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_Square" title="Parliament Square">Parliament Square</a>, London</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln's name and image appear in numerous places. These include the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Memorial" title="Lincoln Memorial">Lincoln Memorial</a> in Washington, D.C.,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ReferenceC_215-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-ReferenceC-215">[216]</a></sup> the U.S. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_five-dollar_bill" title="United States five-dollar bill">Lincoln $5 bill</a> and the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_cent" title="Lincoln cent">Lincoln cent</a>, and Lincoln's sculpture on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rushmore" title="Mount Rushmore">Mount Rushmore</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Birthplace_National_Historical_Park" title="Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park">Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodgenville,_Kentucky" title="Hodgenville, Kentucky">Hodgenville, Kentucky</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-217"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-217">[218]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Boyhood_National_Memorial" title="Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial">Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_City,_Indiana" title="Lincoln City, Indiana">Lincoln City, Indiana</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-218"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-218">[219]</a></sup> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Home_National_Historic_Site" title="Lincoln Home National Historic Site">Lincoln Home National Historic Site</a> in Springfield, Illinois,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-219"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-219">[220]</a></sup> commemorate the president.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-220"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-220">[221]</a></sup> In addition, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Salem,_Menard_County,_Illinois" title="New Salem, Menard County, Illinois">New Salem, Illinois</a> (a reconstruction of Lincoln's early adult hometown),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-221"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-221">[222]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford%27s_Theatre" title="Ford's Theatre">Ford's Theatre</a>, and Petersen House (where he died) are all preserved as museums.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-222"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-222">[223]</a></sup></span><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Head_of_Abraham_Lincoln_in_WY.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="206" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Head_of_Abraham_Lincoln_in_WY.jpg/200px-Head_of_Abraham_Lincoln_in_WY.jpg" width="200" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Head_of_Abraham_Lincoln_in_WY.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> Head of Lincoln statue (1974 photograph) on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_80" title="Interstate 80">Interstate 80</a> between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheyenne,_Wyoming" title="Cheyenne, Wyoming">Cheyenne</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laramie,_Wyoming" title="Laramie, Wyoming">Laramie</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming" title="Wyoming">Wyoming</a></span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_nicknames" title="List of U.S. state nicknames">state nickname</a> for Illinois is <i>Land of Lincoln</i>; the slogan has appeared continuously on nearly all <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Illinois" title="Vehicle registration plates of Illinois">Illinois license plates</a> issued since 1954.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-223"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-223">[224]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Abraham Lincoln's birthday, February 12, was never a national holiday, but it was observed by 30 states.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Dennis.2C_p._194_214-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-Dennis.2C_p._194-214">[215]</a></sup> In 1971, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidents_Day_%28United_States%29" title="Presidents Day (United States)">Presidents Day</a> became a national holiday, combining Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays, and replacing most states' celebration of his birthday.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-224"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-224">[225]</a></sup> As of 2005, Lincoln's Birthday is a legal holiday in 10 states.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-225"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-225">[226]</a></sup> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Association" title="Abraham Lincoln Association">Abraham Lincoln Association</a> was formed in 1908 to commemorate the centennial of Lincoln's birth.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-226"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-226">[227]</a></sup> The Association is now the oldest group dedicated to the study of Lincoln.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-227"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-227">[228]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">To commemorate his 200th birthday in February 2009, Congress established the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Bicentennial_Commission" title="Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission">Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission</a> (ALBC) in 2000 to honor Lincoln.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-228"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-228">[229]</a></sup> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Presidential_Library_and_Museum" title="Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum">Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum</a> is located in Springfield and is run by the State of Illinois.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-229"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-229">[230]</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Lincoln owned a model 1857 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltham_Watch_Company" title="Waltham Watch Company">Waltham</a> William Ellery watch, with serial number 67613. This watch is now in the custody of the Smithsonian Museum.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-230"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-230">[231]</a></sup> On March 11, 2009, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_American_History" title="National Museum of American History">National Museum of American History</a> found a message engraved inside Lincoln's watch by a watchmaker named Jonathan Dillon who was repairing it at the outbreak of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War" title="American Civil War">American Civil War</a>. The engraving reads (in part): "<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sumpter" title="Fort Sumpter">Fort Sumpter</a> was attacked by the rebels" and "thank God we have a government."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-231"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-231">[232]</a></sup></span><br />
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_Airmail_1960_Issue-25c.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="137" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Abraham_Lincoln_Airmail_1960_Issue-25c.jpg/220px-Abraham_Lincoln_Airmail_1960_Issue-25c.jpg" width="220" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_Airmail_1960_Issue-25c.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"> Abraham Lincoln is the only President whose portrait appears on U.S.Air Mail <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stamps_and_postal_history_of_the_United_States#Abraham_Lincoln_on_the_US_Postage_Issues" title="Postage stamps and postal history of the United States">Postage</a></span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 85%;">Motorists on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_80" title="Interstate 80">Interstate 80</a> between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheyenne,_Wyoming" title="Cheyenne, Wyoming">Cheyenne</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laramie,_Wyoming" title="Laramie, Wyoming">Laramie</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming" title="Wyoming">Wyoming</a> pass a roadside park with the depiction of Lincoln's head on the top of a rock monument. The head was sculpted by Robert Russin, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Wyoming" title="University of Wyoming">University of Wyoming</a> art professor and an admirer of Lincoln. When Russin died in 2007, his ashes were interred in the hollow monumeny. The statue originally stood at Sherman Summit, 8,878 feet above sea level, the highest point along the former Lincoln Highway. When I-80 was completed in 1969, the head was moved to the current site. Though it was reduced in height, it attracted a wider viewing audience.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-232"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_lincoln#cite_note-232">[233]</a></sup></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0