1st Five Presidents Chart
President
Political
Party
Major
Events/Problems
in Office
Political
Contributions
(Accomplishments)
Foreign
Policy
Personality/Leadership
Qualities
George
Washington
(1788-1796)
NONE – he
felt they
would
divide the
nation!
-needed to reduce
National Debt
caused by
Revolution
-Government Set Up
NEUTRALITY:
did not want
foreign
alliances
(formal
agreement to
assist foreign
countries)
-very tall, commanding,
slow to speak, humble,
dignified, Hero of the
Revolutionary War,
NEUTRALITY
(keeps country
out of war but
at political
cost)
-very short, outspoken,
had strong beliefs,
honest, tried to act in
best interest of the
nation.
- only served 1 term
before he was defeated
by Jefferson
NEUTRALITY
(violated by
Britain &
FranceImpressment:
capture of US
sailors for
service on
foreign ships)
-commanding stature
6’2, strong tempered but
under perfect control,
interested in the rights
of people, wore casual
clothes, greeted people
with handshake,
informal.
John
Adams
(1796-1800)
Federalist
Thomas
Jefferson
(1800-1808)
DemocraticRepublican
James
Madison
(1808-1816)
DemocraticRepublican
-Whiskey
Rebellion: citizens
rebelled against
government policy
-conflict between
members of his
cabinet (group of
advisors) caused
political parties to
develop
-Washington D.C.
becomes capital
-XYZ Affair: France
tried to force US
government to pay
bribe
-Problems with VP
Jefferson over
political views
(Democratic
Republicans)
-Marbury v.
Madison
(established
Judicial Review
which gave courts
the right to declare
laws
unconstitutional)
-Embargo Act
restricted trading
with Britain &
France but hurt
US economy
-Congressional
War Hawks
pushed for war
with Britain
-War of 1812
highlights:
White House
burnes
Star Spangled
Banner written by
Francis Scott Key
Battle of New
Orleans occurs
after the war is
over (Andrew
Jackson becomes
hero)
-Jay’s Treaty: formal
declaration of US
neutrality
-Farewell Address:
gave advice to
country as he left
office (encouraged
avoidance of foreign
alliances and
political parties)
-Congress passed
Alien & Sedition Acts
(restricted
immigration to U.S.
and punished
Americans who
spoke out against
the government)
-Kept the U.S. out of
war with Britain &
France
-Louisiana Purchase
(1803) doubled size
of the U.S.
-Lewis & Clark
expedition
-12th Amendment
passed on how to
elect the president
and vice president
-Set important
precedents (standards
for others to follow: only
served 2 terms, Farewell
Address)
– served 2 terms
War of 1812- second
war of independence
from Britain –
Results:
-U.S. Taken more
seriously by Europe
-Strong sense of
Nationalism (love
of one’s country)
develops
-Did not want
war with
Britain
(Congress &
President
Madison
finally give in
and declare
war against
Britain
because of
impressment)
- shy disliked speaking
to a group. He had little
of the personal charm of
another Virginia
president, his friend and
mentor Thomas
Jefferson. Some believe
that his deficiencies
were also compensated
by Madison's wife-Dolley. Her personal
warmth and friendliness
made her the toast of
Washington society.
- served 2 terms
1st Five Presidents Chart
James
Monroe
(1816-1824)
DemocraticRepublican
-McColloch v.
Maryland (Court
determined states
cannot interfere
with federal
institutions within
their borders)
-Gibbons v. Ogden
Court upheld
power of federal
gov’t to regulate
commerce (trade)
between the states
-Adams-Onis Treaty
(Spain gave Florida
to U.S.)
-Monroe Doctrine
(warned Europe was
to stay out of the
Western Hemisphere
or it would be an act
of war against U.S.
-Increased
Nationalism (Era of
Good Feelings)
Monroe
Doctrine – US
will not
interfere in
affairs of
European
Nations, but
warned Latin
America not to
colonize in
Western
Hemisphere.
This showed
that U.S.
determination
to keep
European
powers out.
-last Revolutionary war
officer to become
president…still dressed
that way.
-60 years old when he
took office.
-Old fashioned
-Wanted to create
National Unity (Era of
Good Feelings)