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America's history dates back almost 300 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed, to the time when Christopher Columbus set sail to India and accidentally landed on the present day Americas. After Columbus claimed parts of Latin America, South America and the Bahamas it gave way for other countries such as Britain and France to set forth and colonize the "New World." Then in 1620 a group of people boarded the Mayflower to head for America, after 3 months they landed on Plymouth Rock these were the first people to establish Massachusetts and helped to set a foundation for the modern day United States. As the people established territories and set boundaries and reported back to the kings, the kings were happy. It was not until the 1700's that the King George III started making the people of the British colonies upset, he forced stamp acts, taxed everything and forced the people of these colonies to pay, he even taxed their cup of tea, these acts plus the Boston Massacre cause the people of the states to demand their independence. The push for an independence from Great Britain started 1774 when the first delegates were chosen for the Continental Congress, these 56 men represented every state except Georgia. Then in 1776 the same congress met and elected several men to write the Declaration of Independence the men included in this were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman, though the main writer of this document was Jefferson and the others helped revise and edit this document. The document stated that the colonies wanted independence from Britain and stated the crimes that King George III had committed on them. The best words of this document were and still are today "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. …That among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" This quote is what America is based on and has been since congress approved this document in July of 1776, then five months later the United States was recognized by France. France's monarchy contributed a lot to America and its early success, though with France's modern day president Jacques Chirac, France has been an attacker rather then a well-wisher. Through this time the American Revolution continued, with the Redcoats getting beat and retreating and the battles were finally halted and America had won. In April of 1776 the first president took office. George Washington was a leader of the Continental Army and a soldier in the French and Indian Wars. Washington showed such resistance towards Britain he was chosen as the first leader of our country. After much hesitation Washington accepted the position as leader, though the Continental Congress unanimously voted him in there was much disagreement to what his newfound position was to be called, there was a great debate as the title that should be given, King or President. After many days of debate the congress reached the conclusion that since the United States had just been ruled by a monarchy the title king was discarded that thus left the title President as the new word so on April 6th 1789 George Washington became the first president. Washington belonged to no political party, he believed that this achieved fairness; his concern lay with the good of the country. After serving two terms, Washington refused to serve a third, two years after he left office he died. At his funeral General Henry Lee said that Washington was "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen, there really is no other sentence to sum up this man, he was and is still considered the Father of our Country. John Adams, the second president of the United States. Adams was a top lawyer in Boston, he helped form the militia, wrote the Massachusetts state constitution; Adams also severed as a diplomat in Europe, and was elected the vice president under Washington. IN 1796 Adams was nominated as a Federalist candidate for presidency, and he beat Thomas Jefferson. Adams believed that the job of the government was to keep people happy but that the support of the people was what made that possible. Thomas Jefferson was the third president of this great country. Before taking office Jefferson was a congress member, he also served as minister to France, and became vice president under Adams. Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated, and believed that the best government was the least government. The rein of Jefferson is considered to stand as freedom of speech and religion and for the rights of individual states rather than authority centered in the federal government, he died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the same day as John Adams died. The fourth president of the United States was James Madison. Madison was called the father of the constitution, because he played an important role in the creation of the document. Madison also drew up the document the bill of rights. Before presidency Madison served secretary of state under Jefferson. Madison was the last president of the continental congress. James Monroe was the fifth president; he served in the Revolutionary War, he was a diplomat under Jefferson who negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, he served as secretary of state and secretary of war under the Madison administration. During his time in office Monroe established the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 which encouraged European Nations to keep their hands off the American continent in return the United States would stay out of European quarrels. John Quincy Adams was elected as the 6th president of the states. At age 11 Adams became involved in politics, he worked with his father during his father's presidency, he was also American minister to Russia, Prussia, and Holland, Adams was also a lawyer, and a US Senator. Adams associated himself with the Democratic-Republican. The seventh president of the United States was Andrew Jackson. Jackson was an Irish immigrant, known for gambling and fighting, though with this ruff behavior he became a leading lawyer for the state of Tennessee and later became the first congress man from that state. During the War of 1812 Jackson severed as a gerneral, which earned him the nickname Old Hickory. During his time as president Jackson made some bad choices and lost supporters when he took the government money and put it in state accounts, he also took Native American's lands and caused a great deal of suffering to these people. Martin Van Buren was the eight president. Buren was the first president who was actually an American citizen. Before taking office he was a senator and helped create the Democratic Party, and he was also a vice president under the previous administration. Buren was known for the depression of 1837, which earned him the nickname Martin Van Ruin. Buren was divided on the issue of slavery and at one point during the presidency was for the south having slavery and against Texas being non-slavery, though in the end when Buren died he supports the Union in the Civil War. William Henry Harrison was neither a democrat nor republican when he took office in March of 1841, in fact he associate himself as a Whig member, The Whig Party was a party started in the mid 18th century by the English and later became the Liberal Party. The members opposed the Democratic Party, but supported the American Revolution. Harrison was a military official and fought bravely in the War of 1812, this helped him get started on a political career that got him appointed as governor of the Indiana territory. During his inauguration speech the weather was cold, and bitter and gave the president pneumonia, he died 30 days after taking office. The tenth president of the United States was the vice president under the Harrison administration so when Harrison passed away John Tyler became the president. Tyler was a congressman, senator, and governor of Virginia. Tyler loved the political powers and often vetoed bills which opponents brought forth, he lead a peace mission to the Southern States that failed and at the time of his death was elected to the Confederate House in 1862. James Knox Polk became the eleventh president to take office. Polk was a strong supporter on Andrew Jackson and became known as Young Hickory; Polk ignored the issue of slavery, but visualized the United States from sea to shining sea, though he failed to settle several disputes over land with Mexico, he did add land to present day Texas, California and several other southern states. Polk only ran for office once and accomplished everything he said he would in that 4 years, not many presidents can accomplish that who are democrats. The twelfth president became Zachary Taylor, who was an uneducated, un-political man. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and in the Mexican War. Taylor believed in pro-slavery though he owned a number of them himself; he died after a stomach complaint in 1850. Millard Fillmore was sworn into office after the death of Taylor. Fillmore also a Whig member was a great lawyer and politician, Fillmore supported the Compromise of 1850, he delayed the Civil War, outlawed slavery in Washington Dc, admitted California as a free state to the union, he let New Mexico and Utah decided to themselves, he also supported the Fugitive Slave Law, which caused him to lose in his re-election. Franklin Pierce was sworn into office in 1804. Before taking office Pierce was a well-respected layer and severed as a general in the Mexican War, as a democrat Pierce easily beat the incumbent. Pierce support the Compromise of 1850, when the Civil War broke out Pierce stood that the slaves should be made free and as a result the Democrat Party refused him running a second term, people often attacked Pierce on these views, as a result Pierce died depressed and forgotten in 1869. The fifteenth president was James Buchanan. Buchanan was a well-known lawyer and diplomat, he worked on the first trade agreement with Russia, and he severed as Secretary of State during the Polk administration. Buchanan a democrat was well liked by the party since he had no views on slavery; only weeks after he left office the Civil War broke out, he pledged his support with republican Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was the first republican to hold office. Lincoln, the sixteenth president educated himself on law, and later became a great layer which lead him to serve in the state government of Kentucky. Lincoln was a great speaker and earned him the nomination of president, in protest to this South Carolina along with ten other states broke away from the union. During his time as president Lincoln, issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and was a heroic war leader, and cause him to be re-elected in 1864. Just five days after the south had surrounded Abe was assassinated by a mentally disturbed actor and died the next day. Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated, and not the last. After the assassination of a great president Andrew Johnson took office. Uneducated like Lincoln Johnson taught himself how to read and write, he was a tailor's apprentice and later ran away with his wife to a small town where he entered politics as a democrat, though when president he associated himself with the National Union. Though Johnson defended Lincoln and supported free slaves as a North Carolina governor, he also shared a hope for peace, and after the assassination of Lincoln, Johnson turned to whiskey, and was tried for impeachment in his role in the war. The eighteenth and final president in part one: the beginning was Ulysses S. Grant. Grant was the second republican to take office. As a teen Grant attended Military Academy at West Point, as an adult however he served in the Mexican War and later the Civil War. He was nominated in 1869, though his administration was conned by liars, cheaters and stealers, he lost all his savings, and in order to support his family he wrote a book, even while dying of throat cancer he managed to finish four days before his death, the family had a half million dollars on the book The 19th president to take office was Rutherford B. Hayes. Hayes was a lawyer and often defended run away slaves; he severed as a general in the Civil War. After Hayes left the military he was nominated for presidency, though he lost the election to the democratic candidate there was a dispute over the votes so congress gave Hayes the presidency. Hayes was an honest man and his presidency showed just that during his time in office Hayes stopped riots and made government officials more honest, he ended the northern occupation of troops in the south. His wife was the first lady in the Whitehouse to ban smoking and drinking, she was also the first day who started the tradition of Easter egg rolling on the Whitehouse lawn. Hayes was a well-liked republican. James Garfield was the 20th president of the United States. Garfield was a classic professor, and could understand Greek and Latin, he was also a successful lawyer, and was one of the youngest generals in the Civil War. Garfield served 17 years in congress before being nominated as a republican candidate for presidency, and in 1880 he won, he help strengthen the economy, he was shot four months after taking office by a mentally disturbed man who had been refused to work as a diplomat. After the death of Garfield, Chester Arthur became the 21st president to take office. Arthur was a noted lawyer and supported civil rights for black Americans. Arthur was a long time republican and worked hard for the party; he was a member of the port of New York though seven years later he was fired under the Hayes administration for corruption, many Americans thought he was treated unfairly and made him the vice president under the Garfield administration. The 22nd and 24th president of the United States was Grover Cleveland. Cleveland was the only president who served 2 terms inconsecutively. Cleveland was known as a tough, and honest man. Cleveland was the mayor of Buffalo and later became the mayor of New York, in 1884 he was nominated as the democratic president, he lowered taxes on imports though in his second term he failed to improve the economy and angered workers by using federal troops of striking individuals. Cleveland was the only president who was married in the Whitehouse and had a daughter born in the residence. Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd president. Harrison was the grandson of President William Harrison. B. Harrison was a successful lawyer and a U.S. senator from Indiana, and a commander of the Union infantry in the Civil War and this got him the republican nomination. During the Harrison administration Harrison signed into law the Sherman Antitrust Act. Harrison also received a shock of electricity in the Whitehouse so he never turned on or off the switches, often times he would sleep with the light on. In 1897 William McKinley took the oath of office. McKinley, was a regiment commander in the Civil War, he also was a lawyer. In 1869 McKinley entered politics in congress he supported high taxes in imports to protect American Industry, During the McKinley administration tariffs rose to record heights but business boomed, McKinley helped lay the foundation for the 20th century role as a world power. McKinley was re-elected a second term and was assassinated by an anarchist and died eight days later. Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th president of the United States; Roosevelt attended Harvard, and entered politics as a republican. He was a historian, naturalist, and hunter. During his presidency Roosevelt he created more that a million acres of national forests and parks, the original teddy bear got its name from this president. Roosevelt was a governor of New York and served as secretary of the navy, and was the vice president under the McKinley administration; Roosevelt was the youngest president to take office at this time. The 27th president of the United States was William H. Taft. Taft's father was a judge and a republican politician. Taft himself was educated at Yale and became a solicitor general; he also served as governor of the Philippines. Taft was the largest man to be president. Taft was a republican but in his re-election campaign changed to the independent party, Taft was glad when he did not win his re-election efforts and was glad to leave the Whitehouse. Woodrow Wilson became the 28th president of the United States. He was a professor and president of Princeton University before becoming president. Wilson was a teacher of politics and law at the school, during this time he improved the methods and standards of education, after that he was elected governor of New Jersey, during that time he was such a good governor that he won the democratic nomination as president in 1912. Wilson's administration brought lower taxes, improved banking system, and better conditions for workers. Wilson also brought the idea of holding regular meetings with citizens to explain his policies on the radio. Wilson also avoided the US from getting involved with World War I, though after Germany attacked American ships we had to choice but to join in. Wilson also issued the fourteen points through the League of Nations, and persuaded world leaders to keep most of the restrictions in the Versailles Treaty. During a re-election speech Wilson suffered a stoke and was unable to seek office, though in 1920 Wilson was awarded the Noble Peace prize, he died four years later. Warren G. Harding became the 29th president, Harding was a newspaper owner had publish editorials favoring business concerns so by 1914 he was chosen as a U.S. senator, by 1920 he gained the republican nomination for presidency. During his time in office he signed the 19th amendment which gave women the right to vote, though Harding was well liked by female voters and common men, he chosen several men who were corrupt to his administration and thus this administration is known for its corruption. Harding died in 1923 well still in office of natural death. Calvin Coolidge, Harding's vice president became the 30th president. Coolidge was governor of Massachusetts, and vice president under the previous administration. As soon as Coolidge took office he fired multiple dishonest officials with in the Harding administration, with this he won the election of 1924, during his time as president the stock market boomed but the people suffered, Coolidge's policies cause major economic crisis. Herbert Hoover became the 31st president. He was the first president who was an orphan and was raised by Quaker relatives. Hoover was a world famous mining engineer and by the age of 40 was a millionaire. During World War I, Hoover volunteered to fight hunger in parts of Western Europe this gained him his political success. After this both the democrats and republicans looked to him as a nominee for the presidency and he later choose to be a republican. Hoover believed that the government should stay out of people's lives, and look to people to make things better this ideology cause the stock market to crash and in turn ignite the Great Depression. Hoover is known as a humanitarian then a president. The 32nd president was Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt entered politics as a democrat as governor of New York in 1928, and later became the president. Roosevelt started unemployment relief this helped the average citizen, to survive. Roosevelt was the only president to serve more then two terms in office, he served 12 years in office. When World War II broke out Roosevelt promised all the aid to Great Britain to fight the Axis Powers. Roosevelt is probably best known for the speech he gave to congress just a day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, "Yesterday December 7, 1941 a date that will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by navel and air forces of the empire of Japan." Roosevelt passed away only days before the end of World War II. Harry S Truman, a democrat, became the 33rd president of the United States. Truman was an unsuccessful businessman and looked to politics. In 1935 Truman was elected as a congressman, and became the vice president under the Roosevelt administration. Truman is probably best known for the use of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, though he was criticized by some for this decision, he assumed all responsibility. When the Cold War started Truman took a tough stance and promised U.S. money to countries that were "free." In 1949 Truman helped to set up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO for short, that same year Truman committed U.S. troops in the Korean War. Dwight D. Eisenhower, a republican from Texas. Eisenhower attended the military academy at West Point, and became a solider; he later became a commander of the Allied invasion of France. In 1952 Eisenhower was approached by both political parties and looked to the republicans. Eisenhower won a huge majority, and became president. Eisenhower worked for world peace and ended the Korean War, he also settled the Egyptian-Israel Conflict, he suggested arms limitations to the Soviets, strengthened social welfare reforms and moved for civil rights of all people. Then in 1951 he added the 22nd amendment that says presidents could only serve two terms, though he did not seek re-election he did advise later presidents, Kennedy, and Johnson. The 35th president of the United States was none other then John F. Kennedy. Kennedy's father was millionaire and was determined to make one of his children president. Kennedy was a patrol boat commander and a handsome war hero, he was elected as a democrat congressman in 1946 and later a U.S. senator in 1952, and then after a long well organized campaign won him the presidency. Kennedy was the youngest president ever elected; he was also the first Roman Catholic to take office. Kennedy is probably best know for a quote in his inauguration speech in which he said, "And so my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." During his time as president Kennedy dealt with several ordeals that occurred. Some of these were included on April 17, 1961 when Kennedy made public that the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) had trained Cuban refuges to attack Cuba, this was called the "Bay of Pigs Invasion" a week later Kennedy assumes full responsibility to the ordeal. If that was not enough for Kennedy then in October 22, 1962 Kennedy had to explain the Cuban Missiles Crisis to the public in which the Soviet Union had constructed missiles bases in Cuba and Kennedy implemented Cuban blockades, almost a month later this crisis ended. The following year, 1963 brought a rough and deadly year for Kennedy; on November 2, 1963 the North Vietnamese, government was defeated by the south, twenty days later Kennedy was assassinated (November 22, 1963) three days later was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. After the tragic death of JFK, London Banes Johnson became the 36th president, also a democrat. During this time the Vietnam Conflict rose and by March 8, 1965 the first American combat troops arrived in Southeast Asia. On July 28, 1965, Johnson ordered an increase to the military presence in the area from 75,000 people to 125,000 people almost immediately. As the "conflict" continued, Americans began riots and the famous sayings to "make love, not war!" The war continued until March 31, 1969 when Johnson ordered a partial end to the bombing campaign over Vietnam. On October 31, 1963, Johnson put an end to all bombing campaigns in North Vietnam. By that fall, the American people wanted out of Southeast Asia and they elect a republican to get them out. Richard M. Nixon became the 37th president of the United States. Nixon a trained lawyer was elected as a congressman in 1947 and a senator in 1950 was tough on communism and had excellent political skills that got him as vice president under the Eisenhower administration. Nixon promised peace with honor in Southeast Asia but that did not happen. Not only did Nixon deal with the Vietnam War, he also dealt with improving the economy, and seen the first man on the moon. In 1973 the vice president under Nixon resigned over bribery and soon after the Whitewater scandals started, a month later congress decided to impeach Nixon but before that the resigned though he stayed by this quote, "I made a lot of money, I made 250,000 from a book…I have never profited off of public service, I've earned every cent…well I am not a crook I have earned everything I got." With his resignation the next president came about. Gerald R. Ford was the 38th president. Ford was a football star in college and was a Republican congressman for 25 years before becoming vice president and then president. Ford was the only man who was vice president and president without an election. The first thing in office Ford did was pardon his partner Nixon for any federal crimes that he might have committed though this was unfavorable he gained support when he sent the U.S. military to South Vietnam to get thousands of refuges out, he was nominated for president in 1976 but lost the election. In 1977, Jimmy Carter was elected president. Carter became the 39th president, he was a graduate of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and he was elected governor and won praise for his civil rights program and later won the presidency as a democrat. Carter had little experience with politics and hard a hard time to get business done, along with this the nation experienced an oil shortage, tensions increased between Egypt and Israel, Carter met with Anwar Sadat (Prime Minister of Egypt) and Menachem Begin (Prime Minister of Israel), and established peace between Israel and Egypt and later that same year experienced the Iranian Revolution on November 4, 1979 the Iranians took control of the US embassy in Tehran, Iran and capture 66 Americans, they demanded the former Shah be returned to Iran, the Shah was seeking medical treatment in the United States. The following year Carter had to deal with Russia invading Afghanistan, this is where the first mention of Osama Bin Laden was raised. In 1981, Ronald Regan became the next president, unfortunately, some people thought that it is wrong of him to be a president and tried to assassinate him on March 30, 1981, Ronald Regan was shot, but survived. Regan became the 40th president. Regan was a sports reporter and a Hollywood actor before becoming president in 1981. Regan was a reformed Republican when he took office; he tried to contain communism and his efforts worked, though he was mixed but with providing Iran with nuclear arms in return for the American hostages. The year of 1989 brought George H. W. Bush into office. Bush severed as the vice president under the previous administration. Bush was the 41st president of the United States; he was a decorated for bravery in World War II, along with his he was elected to the House of Representatives, and later served as an ambassador to the Untied Nations. Bush took a hard punch at foreign affairs an ordered several invasions the most notably the Iraqi-Kuwait situation, the speech he delivered on February 23rd, 1991, was what made me interested in politics, "Just two hours ago allied air forces began an attack on military targets in Iraq and Kuwait…This conflict started August second when the dictator of Iraq invaded a small and helpless neighbor, Kuwait a member of the Arab League, and the United Nations was crushed, its people brutalize…tonight the battle has been joined…now the twenty-eight countries with forces in the gulf area have exhausted all reasonable efforts to reach a peaceful resolution have no choice but to drive Saddam from Kuwait with force, we will not fail." The 42nd president of the United States was none other then Bill Clinton. There really is nothing to write on Clinton, cause his life is mostly a lie everything from what he had promised in his campaign and never accomplished to the depletion of nuclear weapons in North Korea, that was never achieved. The only thing that Clinton achieved in office was the North American Free Trade agreement also called NAFTA. Though another accomplishment was the way he treated his interns thou it cause him a scandal and to have an impeachment trial, I am sure he enjoyed it. Last but not forgotten, and possibly the best. In January of 2001 George Walker Bush took the oath of office and became the 43rd president of the United States. George Bush was elected 43rd president of the United States of American after a conversional election involving the state of Florida and the states voting practices. The only reason I think that this was more controversial issue then it was, was because the governor of the state of Florida was none other then George's brother, Jeb Bush. George W. Bush received a bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1968, and then served as an F-102 fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard during Vietnam, though he never seen any combat action, he still made America proud. George W. Bush also worked on his fathers' presidential campaigns and was the 46th governor of Texas. After settling this election George W. Bush won, during his time in office he has created the Department of Homeland Security with Tom Ridge. The United States and Western nations have seen a decrease in terrorism that rose during the Clinton Administration. President Bush has also started a war on terrorism that has taken America to Afghanistan, Iraq and other nations. Since taking office, President Bush has signed into law bold initiatives to improve public schools by raising standards, requiring accountability, and strengthening local control. He has signed tax relief that provided rebate checks and lower tax rates for everyone who pays income taxes in America. Bush has increased pay, and benefits for America's military and is working to save and strengthen Social Security and Medicare. He is also committed to ushering in a responsibility era in America, and has called on all Americans to be "citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens building communities of service and a Nation of character." George Walker Bush is my favorite president. Whether the presidents were democrats or republicans, they have shaped our nation and the nation to come. These men were chosen as presidents for a reason, they are great leaders and show leadership. These men have served in times of war and in times of peace, in times of prosperity and in times economic difficulty. Some people don't give these men credit, yet they carry the burden of America on their shoulders while they are in office, whether it was Roosevelt with the bombing of Pearl Harbor or George W. Bush on September 11th 2001, these men had to comfort all of America. Some people could really careless about the government, and live in their own little world, I say to them think about this great nation you live under, what was the purpose of American gaining independence form Great Britain? And then there are others like me who care and participate in democracy, even if we are too young to vote. |
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