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Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. The Declaration was passed on July 2 with no opposing votes. A committee of five had drafted it to be ready when Congress voted on independence. John Adams a leader in pushing for independence, had persuaded the committee to select Thomas Jefferson to compose the original draft of the document,which Congress edited to produce the final version. -
George Washington
He was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Washington served as a general and commander-in-chief of the colonial armies during the American Revolution, and later became the first president of the United States. The Electoral College unanimously elected Washington as the first president in 1789 and again in 1792, serving from 1789 to 1797. He died on December 14, 1799, -
Thomas Jefferson
He was an American Founding Father who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and later served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809. Previously, he was elected the second Vice President of the United States, serving under John Adams from 1797 to 1801. -
James Madison
He is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. ... After Jefferson won the 1800 presidential election, Madison served as Jefferson's Secretary of State from 1801 to 1809. -
James Monroe
The fifth President of the United States (1817–1825) and the last President from the Founding Fathers. ... Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, in 1758, Monroe attended the College of William and Mary, fought with distinction in the Continental Army, and practiced law in Fredericksburg, Virginia. -
Abraham Lincoln
Elected as the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln came to lead the nation during arguably its most trying years. As fomenting societal issues centering around slavery led to the eruption of the American Civil war in 1861, Lincoln led the nation politically and militarily over the course of the next 4 years until his tragic assassination in 1864. -
Theodore Roosevelt
With the assassination of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, not quite 43, became the youngest President in the Nation's history. He brought new excitement and power to the Presidency, as he vigorously led Congress and the American public toward progressive reforms and a strong foreign policy. -
Woodrow Wilson
(1856-1924), the 28th U.S. president, served in office from 1913 to 1921 and led America through World War I (1914-1918). An advocate for democracy and world peace, Wilson is often ranked by historians as one of the nation's greatest presidents. Wilson was a college professor and university president. -
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World War I
World War I (WWI or WW1), also known as the First World War, the Great War, or the War to End All Wars, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Reelected by comfortable margins in 1936, 1940 and 1944, FDR led the United States from isolationism to victory over Nazi Germany and its allies in World War II. He spearheaded the successful wartime alliance between Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States and helped lay the groundwork for the post-war peace. -
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World War II
Also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, although related conflicts began earlier. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Vice President Henry A. Wallace won the election of 1940, and were at the helm of the nation as it prepared for and entered World War II. It was the most global war in history; it directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. -
Harry S. Truman
In the White House from 1945 to 1953, he became America's 33rd President. Truman made the decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan, helped rebuild postwar Europe, worked to contain communism and led the United States into the Korean War (1950-1953) -
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Bringing to the Presidency his prestige as commanding general of the victorious forces in Europe during World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower obtained a truce in Korea and worked incessantly during his two terms (1953-1961) to ease the tensions of the Cold War. -
Ronald Reagan
Reagan proposes increased defense spending, and decreased taxes and domestic spending in speech to Congress. Reagan sends budget proposal for fiscal year 1982 to Congress. The budget calls for spending $695.3 billion with a projected deficit of $45 billion. It includes funding cuts for 200 programs in addition to those cuts already proposed by President Carter. -
George H. W. Bush
As the 41st President (1989-1993), brought to the White House a dedication to traditional American values and a determination to direct them toward making the United States “a kinder and gentler nation” in the face of a dramatically changing world. -
Bill Clinton
President Clinton ordered the Federal Government to make it easier for states to receive waivers from government regulations in order to implement innovative welfare reform projects. Between 1993 and the signing of the Welfare Reform bill in 1996, the Administration granted waivers to a record 43 states. -
George W. Bush
Bush had originally outlined an ambitious domestic agenda, but his priorities were significantly altered following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Over an eight-year period, Bush's once-high approval ratings steadily declined, while his disapproval numbers increased significantly. In 2007, the United States entered the longest post-World War II recession. -
Barack Obama
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act become law. The bill makes it easier for people to challenge unequal pay complaints and is designed to help address the wage gap between men and women. Obama forces companies receiving federal bailout money from the federal government to set a cap on executive pay at $500,000.
