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President George Washington
George Washington was the first president of the United States of America. He previously led the Continental army to independence against Britain. He famously did not like political parties and advised his successors against them. Washington also supported the first Bank of the United States, as well as focused on foreign affairs in an effort to keep America, a very young country, stable in its early years. Washington served 2 terms as president. -
President John Adams
John Adams was the 2nd president of the United States. Before becoming president, Adams was apart of the Massachusetts bar, Continental Congress, as well as serving as vice president under George Washington. He helped to write the Declaration of Independence and was a British minister. He sided with the Federalists and is well known for maintaining a good relationship with France, which he once was a diplomat for. -
President Thomas Jefferson
Before serving as the third president of the United States, Jefferson was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, as well as the Continental Congress where he famously wrote the Declaration of Independence. He had many political roles before his presidency including trade commissioner, secretary of state, and vice president. He finally won the presidential election as the Democratic-Republican candidate. He is also famous for setting up the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson served two terms. -
President James Madison
James Madison served as the fourth president of the United states, as well as a member of the Continental Congress prior to his presidency. Often called the Father of the Constitution, Madison played a huge role in the creation of the Constitution, as well as the Bill of Rights. He served as secretary of state before winning the presidential election as a Democratic-Republican. During his presidency, tensions with Great Britain increased, leading the the War of 1812. Madison served 2 terms. -
James Monroe
James Monroe served as the fifth president of the United States and is known for prioritizing expansion and foreign affairs. Monroe fought in the Revolutionary war and was a member of the Continental Congress. After serving many roles such as governor and senator, he won the presidential election as the Democratic-Republican candidate. During his presidency, he famously negotiated the Louisiana Purchase and Florida, and made the Monroe Doctrine and the Missouri Compromise. Monroe served 2 terms. -
President John Quincy Adams
Before serving as the 6th president of the United States, Adams practiced law and served as a minister in the Netherlands, Prussia, and Great Britain. He also was secretary of state. While running for president, a majority winner could not be decided so the House of Representatives eventually voted Adams in. During his presidency, Adams is best known for signing the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812. After serving one term as president, Adams was apart of the House of Representatives. -
President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was a member of the Democrat party. Going into his presidency he was liked for being a war hero and a "common man". He is very well known for his use of the veto as well as expanding executive powers. He was also the founder of the Democratic party. -
President Martin Van Buren
Van Buren was a Democrat. During his political days, many opponents nicknamed him Martin Van Ruin, although any citizens did not agree with this negative view of him. Van Buren also helped found and develop the American political system. Before his presidency, he served as vice president. -
President William Harrison
Harrison is famous for his 32 day-long presidency. The first ever Whig party president passed away due to pneumonia after giving a long speech in the cold. Before his short time in office, he was known as a tough general who led forces to defeat hostile Natives, earning him the nickname Old Tip. -
President John Tyler
This Democrat/Whig candidate entered the white house after the death of Harrison. Tyler served briefly in the War of 1812 before using his family resources to secure him political seats such as that in the House of Representatives. Throughout his political career he was known for fighting the Bank of America and fighting for nationalist power. -
President James K. Polk
James K. Polk was a Democrat. He is also most known for being responsible for a huge expansion of America through various treaties. He was a big believer in "Manifest Destiny". Polk also successfully led a war against Mexico, gaining the U.S. even more land. -
President Zachary Taylor
Entering his presidency as a Whig candidate, Taylor was a famous war hero of the Mexican American war, loved by all. He did not accomplish much, for he was most well know as a war hero, but he did face a growing issue on the spread of slavery. He himself however was a wealthy slave owner. Taylor died 16 months into his presidency leaving Fillmore in charge. -
President Millard Fillmore
Fillmore inherited the presidency during a time when America was falling apart over the issue of slavery. He did his best to prevent further separation of the north and south but the lines were still drawn and his Whig party just about died in his hands. Sadly Fillmore is known as not our best president. -
Franklin Pierce
Pierce, a Democrat, entered the office during a very tense time. The north and south were more divided than ever and his job was to keep them together. He is most well known for being president when the Kansas-Nebraska Act was put in place. He wasn't the author but he did encourage it. That pushed America further into war. -
President James Buchanan
Nicknamed Old Buck, this Democrat was the new hope for keeping America together. He is known a the man who failed at that. Not only was he unable to keep the Union from breaking apart, but the threat of civil war was stronger than every when he left. -
Abraham Lincoln
As soon as Lincoln was elected, seven states immediately left the union because a Republican candidate was elected and they feared their way of life being ruined. Now America was two different nations and Lincoln had a civil war on his hands. Lincoln is famous for a lot but one of the main things is the Emancipation Proclamation he released 3 years into the war that set all slaves free. A week after the surrender of the Confederacy, Lincoln was sadly assassinated. -
Andrew Johnson
Johnson took over the presidency after the assassination of Lincoln. Johnson is a Democrat. He is famous for being president during the purchase of Alaska from Russia. He is even more famous for being impeached but not removed from office. -
President Ulysses S. Grant
Grant is better known as the Union general who led the Union to win the Civil war. This Republican was seen as an extremely good general but not as effective president. Grant mainly focused on reconstruction and taking away all pieces left of slavery and racial discrimination that existed before the war.
