Chronological List of the First 26 U.S. Presidents and Key Events

George Washington

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) - Set precedent for avoiding entangling alliances in European conflicts.

John Adams

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) - Controversial laws that suppressed dissent and restricted immigration.

Thomas Jefferson

Louisiana Purchase (1803) - Doubled the size of the U.S. and expanded westward settlement.

James Madison

War of 1812 (1812-1815) - Fought against Britain over maritime rights and frontier conflicts.

James Monroe

Monroe Doctrine (1823) - Asserted U.S. opposition to European interference in the Western Hemisphere.

John Quincy Adams

Corrupt Bargain of 1824 - His controversial election spurred the rise of the Jacksonian Democrats.

Andrew Jackson

Indian Removal Act (1830) - Led to the forced relocation of Native Americans (Trail of Tears).

Martin Van Buren

Panic of 1837 - A severe economic depression that defined his presidency.

William Henry Harrison

Shortest presidency (32 days); died of pneumonia - No significant legislation.

John Tyler

Annexation of Texas (1845) - Set the stage for the Mexican-American War.

James K. Polk

Mexican-American War (1846-1848) - Led to major territorial gains for the U.S. (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo).

Zachary Taylor

Debate over the Compromise of 1850 - Died before it passed, but was deeply involved in sectional tensions.

Millard Fillmore

Signed the Compromise of 1850 - Included the controversial Fugitive Slave Act.

Franklin Pierce

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) - Reopened slavery expansion debate, leading to 'Bleeding Kansas.'

James Buchanan

Dred Scott v. Sandford decision (1857) - Failed to address growing sectional crisis.

Abraham Lincoln

Emancipation Proclamation (1863) & Preservation of the Union during the Civil War (Also signed the 13th Amendment shortly before his assassination.)

Andrew Johnson

Reconstruction conflicts / First presidential impeachment - Opposed Radical Republicans in Congress.

Ulysses S. Grant

15th Amendment (1870) - Granted African American men the right to vote.

Rutherford B. Hayes

Compromise of 1877 - Ended Reconstruction and removed federal troops from the South.

James A. Garfield

Advocated civil service reform - Assassinated early in his term.

Chester A. Arthur

Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) - Created merit-based federal job system.

Grover Cleveland

Interstate Commerce Act (1887) - First federal regulation of railroads.

Benjamin Harrison

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) - First major attempt to curb monopolies.

Grover Cleveland (second term)

Panic of 1893 - Economic depression marked his second term.

William McKinley

Spanish-American War (1898) - Marked the emergence of the U.S. as a world power.

Theodore Roosevelt

Square Deal reforms / Trust-busting / Panama Canal construction begins - Asserted strong executive power in both domestic and foreign affairs.