Presidential Generations
The Strauss–Howe generational theory, created by authors William Strauss and Neil Howe, identifies a
recurring generational cycle in American history. Strauss and Howe lay the groundwork for the theory in
their 1991 book Generations, which retells the history of America as a series of generational biographies
going back to 1584. In their 1997 book The Fourth Turning, the authors expand the theory to focus on a
fourfold cycle of generational types and recurring mood eras in American history.
The theory was developed to describe the history of the United States, including the 13 colonies and
their Anglo antecedents, and this is where the most detailed research has been done. However, the
authors have also examined generational trends elsewhere in the world and identified similar cycles in
several developed countries. The books are best-sellers and the theory has been widely influential and
acclaimed. Eric Hoover has called the authors pioneers in a burgeoning industry of consultants, speakers
and researchers focused on generations.
Academic response to the theory has been mixed—some applauding Strauss and Howe for their "bold
and imaginative thesis," and others criticizing the theory. Criticism has focused on the lack of rigorous
empirical evidence for their claims, and a perception that aspects of the argument gloss over real
differences within the population.
Archetypes
The two different types of eras and two formative age locations associated with them (childhood and
young adulthood) produce four generational archetypes that repeat sequentially, In Generations,
Strauss and Howe refer to these four archetypes as Idealist, Reactive, Civic, and Adaptive. In The Fourth
Turning (1997) they update this terminology to Prophet, Nomad, Hero, and Artist. The generations in
each archetype not only share a similar age-location in history, they also share some basic attitudes
towards family, risk, culture and values, and civic engagement.
Prophet Generations are born near the end of a Crisis, during a time of rejuvenated community life and
consensus around a new societal order. Prophets grow up as the increasingly indulged children of this
post-Crisis era, come of age as self-absorbed young crusaders of an Awakening, focus on morals and
principles in midlife, and emerge as elders guiding another Crisis. Due to their location in history, such
generations tend to be remembered for their coming-of-age fervor and their values-oriented elder
leadership. Their main societal contributions are in the area of vision, values, and religion. These people
were principled moralists who waged idealistic wars and incited others to sacrifice. Few of them fought
themselves in decisive wars, and they are remembered more for their inspiring words than for great
actions.
Nomad Generations are born during an Awakening, a time of social ideals and spiritual agendas, when
young adults are passionately attacking the established institutional order. Nomads grow up as underprotected children during this Awakening, come of age as alienated, post-Awakening adults, become
pragmatic midlife leaders during a Crisis, and age into resilient post-Crisis elders.Due to their location in
history, such generations tend to be remembered for their adrift, alienated rising-adult years and their
midlife years of pragmatic leadership. Their main societal contributions are in the area of liberty, survival
and honor. These were shrewd realists who preferred individualistic, pragmatic solutions to problems.
Hero Generations are born after an Awakening, during an Unraveling, a time of individual pragmatism,
self-reliance, and laissez faire. Heroes grow up as increasingly protected post-Awakening children, come
of age as team-oriented young optimists during a Crisis, emerge as energetic, overly-confident midlifers,
and age into politically powerful elders attacked by another Awakening. Due to their location in history,
such generations tend to be remembered for their collective military triumphs in young adulthood and
their political achievements as elders. Their main societal contributions are in the area of community,
affluence, and technology. These have been vigorous and rational institution builders. In midlife, all
have been aggressive advocates of economic prosperity and public optimism, and all have maintained a
reputation for civic energy and competence in old age.
Artists Generations are born after an Unraveling, during a Crisis, a time when great dangers cut down
social and political complexity in favor of public consensus, aggressive institutions, and an ethic of
personal sacrifice. Artists grow up overprotected by adults preoccupied with the Crisis, come of age as
the socialized and conformist young adults of a post-Crisis world, break out as process-oriented midlife
leaders during an Awakening, and age into thoughtful post-Awakening elders. Due to their location in
history, such generations tend to be remembered for their quiet years of rising adulthood and their
midlife years of flexible, consensus-building leadership. Their main societal contributions are in the area
of expertise and due process. These have been complex social technicians and advocates for fairness and
inclusion.
Generation
Archetype
Births
Deaths
Liberty Generation
(1724–1741)
Nomad (Reactive)
George
Washington
John Adams
None
Republican Generation
(1742–1766)
Hero (Civic)
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
James Monroe
None
Compromise Generation
(1767–1791)
Artist (Adaptive)
John Quincy
Adams
Andrew Jackson
William Henry
Harrison
Martin Van Buren
Zachary Taylor
John Tyler
James Buchanan
None
Transcendental Generation
(1792–1821)
Prophet (Idealist)
James K. Polk
Millard Fillmore
Franklin Pierce
Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Johnson
George Washington (1799)
Gilded Generation
(1822–1842)
Nomad (Reactive)
Hero (Civic)
Ulysses S. Grant
Rutherford B.
Hayes
Chester A. Arthur
John Adams (1826)
Thomas Jefferson (1826)
James Monroe (1831)
James Madison (1836)
James A. Garfield William Henry Harrison (1841)
Benjamin Harrison
Grover Cleveland
Progressive Generation
(1843–1859)
Artist (Adaptive)
William McKinley
Theodore
Roosevelt
William H. Taft
Woodrow Wilson
Andrew Jackson (1845)
John Quincy Adams (1848)
James K. Polk (1849)
Zachary Taylor (1851)
Missionary Generation
(1860–1882)
Prophet (Idealist)
Warren Harding
Calvin Coolidge
Herbert Hoover
Franklin D.
Roosevelt
John Tyler (1862)
Martin Van Buren (1862)
Abraham Lincoln (1865)
James Buchanan (1868)
Franklin Pierce (1869)
Millard Fillmore (1874)
Andrew Johnson (1875)
James A. Garfield (1881)
Lost Generation
(1883–1900)
Nomad (Reactive)
Harry Truman
Ulysses S. Grant (1885)
Dwight Eisenhower Chester A. Arthur (1886)
Rutherford B. Hayes (1893)
G.I. Generation
(1910–1926)
Hero (Civic)
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon Johnson
Richard M. Nixon
Gerald R. Ford
Jimmy Carter
Ronald W. Reagan
George H. W. Bush
Silent Generation
(1927–1945)
Artist (Adaptive)
Baby Boom Generation
(1943–1960)
Prophet (Idealist)
Generation X
(1961–1981)
Nomad (Reactive)
Dwight Eisenhower (1969)
Lyndon B. Johnson (1973)
Harry S Truman (1972)
Millennial Generation
(Generation Y)
(1982-2004)
Hero (Civic)
Richard M. Nixon (1994)
Homeland Generation
(Generation AO)
(2005 – present)
Artist (Adaptive)
Ronald W. Reagan (2004)
Gerald R. Ford (2006)
Benjamin Harrison (1901)
William McKinley (1901)
Grover Cleveland (1908)
Theodore Roosevelt (1919)
Warren Harding (1923)
Woodrow Wilson (1924)
William H. Taft (1930)
Calvin Coolidge (1933)
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1945)
George W. Bush
Bill Clinton
Barack Obama
John F. Kennedy (1963)
Herbert Hoover (1964)