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George Washington
Federalist.
Known for setting a standard of a “two term limit as president at most”. (However this wasn’t made into law until after F.D.R.)
Kept United States neutral.
Warned against multiple political parties and long term alliances. -
John Adams
Federalist.
Known for getting the U.S. involved in a sea war with France.
Dealt with French impressments and a trade/sea war with France. Caused a political divide within the Federalist party. -
Thomas Jefferson
Democratic-Republican.
Known for the Louisiana Purchase.
Expanded the United States further Westward.
Dealt with British and French impressments, and called for an embargo on all foreign nations until impressments stopped. -
James Madison
Democratic Republican.
Known for being the president during the War of 1812.
Due to Thomas Jefferson´s embargo act, James Madison dealt with an economic decline in the country due to no trade.
Also, Britain refused to stop impressments, so Congress declared war on Britain. -
James Monroe
Democratic-Republican.
Known for bringing about an ¨Era of Good Feelings¨ to a portion of the Northern populous.
Called for political peace.
Pushed for internal improvement in the states, with railroads and factories.
Had many patriotic feelings throughout the nation due to the ¨victory¨ of the War of 1812
Seemed to have more Federalist ideals than Democratic-Republican. -
John Quincy Adams
Republican.
Known for being elected due to the ¨Corrupt Baragain¨
Wrote the Monroe Doctrine, establishing that not only was the United States going to remain out of European affairs, but that Europe needed to remain out of American affairs. (Stay off the U.S. land and claimed land.) -
Andrew Jackson
Democrat.
Known for beating John Quincy Adams due to the "Corrupt Bargain".
Opposed Bank Of the U.S.
Installed state "pet" banks (failures)
Hated Native Americans, and because of this relocated them.
Forced South Carolina to drop nullification on a tariff. -
Martin Van Buren
Democrat.
Known for being in office during the "Panic of 1837".
Due to Andrews Jackson's destruction of the Second Bank of the United States, the U.S. faces an economic crisis under Martin Van Buren.
Buren applied Jackson's policies, furthering the crisis.
Opposed the expansion of slavery.
Blocked the annexation of Texas. -
William Henry Harrison
Whig.
Known for being the first president to die in office.
Was only in office for a month, and wasn't able to accomplish much as a president due to this.
However, the Whig party collapsed after his death. -
John Tyler
Whig/Democrat.
Known for being the first Vice President to take the office of President, after a president died in office.
Continually vetoed Calhoun's bill for the Second Bank of the United States.
(Except for one) Entire presidential cabinet resigns, and Whig party expels John Tyler.
Replaced cabinet with Southern Conservatives.
John Quincy Adams proposes first Presidential Impeachment against Tyler (fails). -
James K. Polk
Democrat.
Known for being pro-U.S. expansion.
By the time he's in office, congress has annexed Texas.
Wants U.S. to control Oregon bellow 49th parallel.
These cause U.S. to be at risk of war with Britain and Mexico.
Wants to acquire California and New Mexico.
Mexico declares war.
Mexico loses. -
Zachary Taylor
Whig/Free Soiler.
Known for causing further tensions between the North and South while in office.
Proposed California and New Mexico become states.
Ignored Washington D.C. Slave Market issue, and abuse of the Fugitive Slave Act.
Died in office in 1850. -
Millard Fillmore
Whig.
Known for favoring the Compromise of 1850.
Zachary Taylor's cabinet resigns.
Also wants California as a state.
Forced Texas to abandon its claims to New Mexico.
Works with Douglass to present Compromise of 1850 as five separate bills.
This ended proposition of the Wilmot Proviso.
Whigs angry for Millard Fillmore signing the Fugitive Slave Act. -
Franklin Pierce
Democrat.
Known for being pro-United States expansion.
Enacted the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
This repeals Missouri Compromise, and reopens idea of slavery in the West.
Along with Senator Stephen A. Douglass, wanted U.S. trans-continental railroad, and purchased present day Arizona and Southern New Mexico for land to build it. -
James Buchanan
Democrat.
Known for proposing Kansas become a slave state, leading to the division of his party into the Northern and Southern Whigs.
Kansas remains a territory.
When Southern States threaten secession if Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, is elected, James Buchanan makes the secession of states illegal.
Stephen Douglas and Franklin Pierce's Trans-continental railroad plan further escalates "Bleeding Kansas". -
Abraham Lincoln
Republican.
Known for opposing the spread of slavery past the Southern States.
Southern States secede due to his election, since they believed he was an abolitionist, and Civil War erupts.
Once Union begins to win the war, he drafts the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in all states. (Except the Union border/slave states.)
Gives courage to Union troops with Gettysburg address and other battle appearances.
Union wins war.
Plans to reconstruct and reunite U.S.
Assassinated in 1865. -
Andrew Johnson
Democrat.
Known for plans to reconstruct South.
Pardons Confederates who swore allegiance to the Union.
"Black Codes" begin appearing in the South.
Congress passes bill saying former slaves have same rights as U.S. citizens, Johnson vetoes it, Congress votes enough to over-ride veto. (1st time)
Most former Confederate states refuse to ratify 14th Amendment, race riots in South.
Johnson violates Tenure of Office Act, and is almost impeached. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Republican.
Known for "accepting handsome presents".
Wrecks U.S. economy in gold scandal.
Opposed by Republicans during re-election.
Allows South to run its radical Reconstruction, opposes it with military force at times. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Democrat.
Known for serving four terms as President, the only President to serve more than two terms.
Lead the nation through the Great Depression and World War Two.
He impacts society today because his New Deal Programs, enacted during the Great Depression, are still in affect today. -
John F. Kennedy
Democrat.
Known for stopping the Cuban Missile crisis.
Impacted the present by pushing the United State’s space program to be the first nation to put a man on the moon. -
Ronald Reagan
Republican.
Known for forcing Russia to tear down the Berlin Wall.
Impacted the present by being the leader of the United States when the U.S. won the Cold War. -
Barack Obama
Democrat.
Known for his health care plan.
Impacted today's society by being the first Black President, breaking the stereotype that only the white elites run the nation.
