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Posted By: Anonymous

Cockfighting has been part
of American culture for a very long time. In the United States, famous presidents, who were lovers of the
game, were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln (“The
History of Cockfighting”). Abraham Lincoln got his nickname “Honest Abe” not for his politics, but
because of his honesty as a cockfighting referee (Berger). It was socially acceptable and encouraged for a
gentleman to have a flock of gamecocks and to be an expert on the sport. At one point, the U.S. became a
center for cockfighting activities and events. Cockfights were even held in the committee rooms of the
President. It is said that the fighting-cock almost became the national emblem. It lost by one vote to the
American eagle. However, cockfighting declined when the civil war started.