U.S. Presidents Key Facts

Flashcards outline key facts about U.S. presidents, focusing on their terms, significant acts, and historical contexts.

George Washington

Commander of the Continental Army, served two terms, warned against political parties in his Farewell Address.

John Adams

First president to live in the White House, Federalist, passed Alien and Sedition Acts.

Thomas Jefferson

Wrote the Declaration of Independence, authorized the Lewis and Clark expedition, made the Louisiana Purchase.

James Madison

Known as the Father of the Constitution, served during the War of 1812.

James Monroe

Known for the Monroe Doctrine, served during the Missouri Compromise.

John Quincy Adams

Advocated for infrastructure improvements and abolition of slavery after serving one term.

Andrew Jackson

Military general, created the first US Bank, known for the Trail of Tears.

Martin Van Buren

His presidency was affected by the Panic of 1837.

William Henry Harrison

Whig president who served one month before dying of pneumonia.

John Tyler

Annexed Texas, had no political party affiliation.

James Polk

Claimed Manifest Destiny, presided over the Mexican-American War.

Zachary Taylor

Military hero of the Mexican-American War who died in office.

Millard Fillmore

Signed the Compromise of 1850 allowing California to be a free state.

Franklin Pierce

Presided over 'Bloody Kansas'; passed Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854.

James Buchanan

Democratic president during the time Southern states began seceding from the Union.

Abraham Lincoln

President during the Civil War, signed the Emancipation Proclamation, assassinated in Ford's Theatre.

Andrew Johnson

First president to face impeachment hearings, bought Alaska.

Ulysses S. Grant

Civil War general whose presidency was marked by scandals, established the Freedman’s Bureau.

Rutherford B. Hayes

One-term Republican president who ended Reconstruction.

James A. Garfield

Assassinated after a few months in office, attempted civil service reform.

Chester A. Arthur

Started Civil Service Reform; signed the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Grover Cleveland

Served two non-consecutive terms.

Benjamin Harrison

Passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act banning monopolies.

William McKinley

President during Spanish-American War, assassinated in office.

Theodore Roosevelt

First U.S. president to win the Nobel Peace Prize; known for Conservation efforts.

William Howard Taft

Passed the 16th Amendment for federal income tax; buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Woodrow Wilson

Created the League of Nations after WWI; known for his 14 Points.

Warren Harding

His presidency was full of scandals, famously promoted a 'Return to Normal.'

Herbert Hoover

President during the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the onset of the Great Depression.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Only president to serve four terms, known for the New Deal and Social Security Act.

Harry S. Truman

Decided to drop atomic bombs on Japan, known for the Truman Doctrine.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Military General; president during the Little Rock Crisis and established NASA.

John F. Kennedy

Assassinated in office; known for handling the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Promoted Civil Rights Acts and started the Vietnam War.

Richard M. Nixon

Only president to resign; associated with the Watergate scandal.

Gerald Ford

Gave Nixon a presidential pardon; never elected to the presidency.

Jimmy Carter

President during the Iran hostage crisis, noted for the period of 'malaise'.

Ronald Reagan

Oldest person elected president; involved in dramatic Cold War events.

George H. W. Bush

President during Operation Desert Storm and the fall of communism.

William J. Clinton

Second president to be impeached, known for economic prosperity.

George W. Bush

President during 9/11 attacks and the War on Terrorism.