ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Presidents of the United States on U.S. postage stamps

Okay kiddo, let's talk about presidents of the United States and how they get put onto something called a postage stamp. You know what a stamp is, right? It's a little piece of paper with a special design on it that you put on an envelope when you mail a letter or package.

Now, the United States has had a lot of presidents over the years, and some of them have been really important in our country's history. So, sometimes the people who make the stamps decide to put a picture of one of those president's faces on the stamp. They do this to honor the president and commemorate their time in office.

But, not all presidents get to be on stamps. Only certain ones are chosen, usually ones who are widely recognized and liked. For example, George Washington, who was the very first President of the United States, is almost always on stamps because he is a very well-known and important figure in American history.

It's also important to know that stamps are not just for collecting, they actually have a job to do. When you put a stamp on an envelope and mail it, the stamp helps to pay for the cost of sending the letter or package. So, it's kind of like a little piece of money that you use to pay the post office for their service.

Overall, having a president's face on a postage stamp is a way to show respect for their important role in leading our country, while also serving a practical purpose of helping to pay for the mail service.