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The reason I chose the topic of Presidents of the United States of America dates back to 1991. In 1991, I was five years old and uninterested in Barney and other cartoons like most "normal" children my age, instead I had a fascination with the news, whether it was the weather forecast or the news reporters broadcasting on topics of government politics, international affairs or local stories, I watched it. What really got me "hooked" to the Whitehouse and government affairs was when George H. W. Bush gave a speech to the nation that started the commencement bombings on Iraq, little did I know that day (February 23 1991) shaped my life, though I didn't know what the words meant that didn't bother me. As I grew older, I became more interested in government affairs, foreign relations, politics and presidents of the United States, everything from Washington to George W. Bush and that is where I am today. Almost 15 years before George Washington took the oath of office and became the first president of the United States, many things were going on in the United States. The United States was part of the original 13 British Colonies. It was September 5, 1774, when 56 delegates met in Philadelphia and held the first session of the Continental Congress, almost a year later the same men met and selected George Washington as the leader of the Continental Army. Almost a year after Washington was nominated for the army, a group of men got together and started to write the Declaration of Independence, it was not until July 4 1776, that congress approved this, then 29 days later the majority of the people who helped write this document signed it. Four months later in December of 1777 the United States finally got recognition from France for gaining independence form Great Britain. Then in 1783 the end of the Revolutionary War was official and we were finally free. Then on April 6 1789, George Washington was elected the first president of the United States. Though after much disagreement between committee members on what to called the head of the United States, many members thought the title of king was better, but other members considered the title president, but since our "new country" had just fought a war to rid the new states of a monarchy they decided to have the chief commander, titled president. This is where my timeline starts. The presidents of the United States of America, the brief history is divided into 5 eras. The first era is titled Beginning Fathers Era the following people are in this era: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore and Franklin Pierce. The reason the first fourteen presidents are in this era is that they were the founding fathers of are nation. Some of these presidents accomplished more then others in office, as well as served more terms then others. These presidents sent to basis for our free government of today some of these things that were started include: the first thanksgiving was celebrated on November 26 1789, two years later the Bill of Rights was adopted, and then on May 8 1792 the president approved the militia act. This act approved men ages 18 to 45 to register with the select services, this was a beginning form of a military organization, several days after this was organized a group of men organized the New York Stock Exchange and this was a basis of trading commodities, shares and stocks, also that year construction for the Whitehouse began. After the death of George Washington, only one sentence can perfectly describe him, "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen" General Henry Lee said this quote at the eulogy of George Washington. By February 17 1801, Thomas Jefferson was the first president inaugurated and during Jefferson's presidency he purchased the Louisiana Purchase from France, perhaps the French were worth something after all. In addition, during this time the United States Congress adapted the 12 amendments. James Madison was the next president on June 18th 1812 the United States Senate advocates war with Great Britain, the next day the Battle of the 1812 begins. Almost two years after this on September 12 to the 14 1814, the Star Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key. In May of 1832 the first democratic convention was held and endorsed Andrew Jackson for presidential nomination, that December Andrew Jackson won the presidential election and became the seventh president of the United States of America. On April 18 1834 the wig party was formed, which is another political organization. January 30 1835 President Andrew Jackson has an assassination attempt. On December 4 1844 James Polk wins the presidential election by saying that he plans to annex Texas, I think by this point in the progression of presidency the presidents are now lying to get elected to public office. In January of 1845 congress establishes that the first Tuesday after the first given Monday in the month of November to hold presidential elections, this idea still holds true for us today. On December 29 1845 the territory of Texas becomes a state, the only reason this is significant is because my favorite president resides in this state in a town called Crawford. Can you guess whom I am talking about? In June of 1848 the first convention for women's rights was held. My next era is titled the Civil War Era. The following people are in this era: James Buchanan, Abrham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson and on Ulysses S. Grant. On May 11 1858, good old Minnesota becomes the thirty-second state to enter this great union. On November 6 1860 Abraham Lincoln wins the presidential election and becomes the sixteenth president of the United States. During Abraham's Lincoln's presidency, six states break off from the union and form the Confederate States. On July 22 1862 Lincoln presented the Emancipation Proclamation that said all slaves were free, it was not until January 1 1863 that the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, seven months after this was the Battle of Gettysburg. On April 15 1865 Abraham Lincoln was shot and killed in a theater. On December 24 1865 the Ku Klux Klan was established, and as history is a guide this group brought trouble for the African American population of the states, and not to mention and Jews of these lands. The next Era is the Expansion Era. It is in this era that the United States grows. The presidents in the era include: Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft. In January of 1877 the electoral commissions bill was signed. In June 14 1877 America celebrated the first Flag Day. With the new year of 1878, it brought paper money to become accepted in the United States. Thirteen months later in March of 1880 the Salvation Army was established. In 1897 President William McKinley took the oath of office, four years later McKinley dies of a gunshot wound. Thirteen years pass with nothing import really going on in American presidency, and we move onto a new era. The War Time Era presidents include: Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. On June 28 1914 Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated and the start of World War I begins, the president at this time is President Woodrow Wilson. Four years later to the date (June 28 1918) the Treaty of Versailles is signed thus ending World War I. On August 20 1920 the woman of the United States of American receive the right to vote. On August 2 1923 President Warren G. Harding dies of pneumonia, Calvin Coolidge becomes the next president of the United States. During Calvin Coolidge's presidency the stock market crashed on October 29 1929, thus in part helping to cause the Great Depression. In March of 1931 the Star Spangled Banner officially becomes the national anthem. Great Britain and France declare was on Germany and this is the start of World War II, the date was September 3 1939. On December 8 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt said the following "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." This saying was regarding the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Wahoo, Hawaii, also on December 8 the United States declared war on the empire of Japan. For the next five years World War II continued, some of the major events included June 6 1944 Operation Overload is in place, Operation Overload is also known as D-Day, the invasion of Normandy, France. Franklin Roosevelt died of a brain hemorrhage on April 12 1945. The best known events of this time frame include the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, these bombings were on August 6 and 9 1945, by December 31 1946 the United States of American officially ends World War II. On May 14 1948, Harry S Truman recognized Israel. Nine months later the Truman administration along with congressmen ratified the North Atlantic Treaty Organization also called NATO for short. IN June of 1950 the Korean War starts. The last and final era of American Presidents is titled the Scandalous Era. The presidents include John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, James (Jimmy) Carter, Ronald Regan, George H. Bush, Bill Clinton and always save the best for last George W. Bush. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected president on November 8 1960. On January 20 1961 John Kennedy gave his inaugural address it was in this speech that John said "and so my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." During Kennedy's time in office there were several ordeals that occurred. Some of these include 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 in which the Soviet Union had constructed missiles bases in Cuba and Kennedy implemented Cuban blockades, almost a month later this crisis ended. 1963 brought a rough and deadly year for Kennedy, on November 2 1963 the North Vietnamese government is taken over by the south, twenty days later Kennedy is assassinated (November 22 1963) three days later Kennedy is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. After this London Banes Johnson becomes president. During this time the Vietnam Conflict rises and by March 8 1965 the first American combat troops arrive in Southeast Asia. On July 28 1965 President Johnson orders an increase to military presence in the area from 75,000 people to 125,000 people almost immediately. As the "conflict" continues Americans began riots and the famous sayings to "make love, not war" the war continues till March 31 1969 when President Johnson orders a partial end to the bombing campaign over Vietnam. June 6 1969 the brother (Robert Kennedy) of the late John Kennedy is assassinated at a campaign rally. On October 31 1963 Johnson puts an end to all bombing campaigns in North Vietnam. By that fall the American people wanted out of Southeast Asia and elected Richard Nixon on November 5 1963. The war continues, and American lives are lost. By the year 1969 Neil Armstrong brings hope by being the first man to walk on the moon. The 1970's bring about change; on April 29 1970 the United States invades Cambodia. In an effort to stop the war with Vietnam, Nixon orders all U.S. Troops out of Vietnam, though it is not officially over till January 23 1973 the American troops who come home also bring frustration and anger toward regular civilians, because they returned home without a celebration. With this action that Nixon took it got him reelected for a second term in the Whitehouse. On November 21 1973 the beginning of the Watergate Scandal started this is a quote from Nixon "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." Nixon seeing no way out of this scandal settles for resigning from presidency of August 9 1874, that leaved Gerald Ford to hold office. During Ford's presidency he pardons most Vietnam draft dodgers. In the next election help November 2 1976 Jimmy Carter wins. During Jimmy Carter's presidency Jimmy meets with Anwar Sadat (Prime Minister of Egypt) and Menachem Begin (Prime Minister of Israel). A year later Carter is faced with having to deal with the Iranian Revolution on November 4 1979 the Iranians take control of the US embassy in Tehran, Iran and capture 66 Americans, they demanded the former Shah be returned to Iran. In 1981 Ronald Regan becomes the president, unfortunately some people think he is wrong and tries to assassinate him on March 30 1981, Regan is shot but survives. In the next elections Regan is elected a second term. During Regan's administration the shape ship Challenger explodes on take off (January 28 1986). Regan served two terms as president and the vice president under him was none other then George H. Bush. On Election Day 1988 George H. Bush became president. Bush was the 41 president of the United States. During the Bush administration minimum wage increased to 4.25 an hour, and today people complain about getting paid. Then on August 2 1990 the dictator of Iraq invades poor and helpless Kuwait. Then on February 23 1991, President George H. Bush went on the television and said the following "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 peace full resolution have no choice but to drive Saddam from Kuwait with force, we will not fail." The election of 1992 brought George Bush, Bill Clinton and Ross Perot to be voted for, Bill Clinton won. The first thing Clinton did in office was announcing his intention to permit homosexuals serve in the military on January 21 1993. The following month February 26 1993 the World Trade Centers had their first bombings. On February 3 1994 Bill Clinton resumed trade with Vietnam this was the first time trade had occurred since the Vietnam War. In 1998, as an issue surrounding personal relations with Monica Lewinsky, Clinton was the second United States president put on trail for impeachment. "I did not have sexual relations with that woman Ms. Lewinsky" then in another conversation Bill Clinton says, "indeed I did have a relationship with Ms. Lewinsky that was not appropriate, in fact it was wrong" apparently Bill can't make up his mind. George Walker Bush was elected 43 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 then it was, was because the governor of the state of Florida was none other then George's brother Jeb Bush. 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. George Bush was born on July 6 1946, and he grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas. He 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 Bush also worked on his fathers' presidential campaigns and was the governor of Texas. 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. He 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." (President George W. Bush) |
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