history presidents quiz

George Washington

1789-1797,(No Party)- The first President unified the new nation and shaped the chief executive's duties. He refused to run for a third term.

John Adams

1797-1801 (Federalist)- He was the first President to live in the White House. He had a tough job filling Washington's shoes. His advocacy of the Alien and Sedition Acts allowed him to silence critics, but made him unpopular. He lost reelection to Thomas Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson

 1801-1809 (Democratic Republican)- Considered the most brilliant President, He wrote the Declaration of Independence, founded the University of Virginia, and was an architect, a farmer, and a scientist. He approved the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, which nearly doubled the size of the U.S.

James Madison

 1809-1817(Democratic Republican)- He is considered the father of the Bill of Rights. He presided over the War of 1812 with Britain, during which the White House was burned. The war ended in a draw.

James Monroe

1817-1825 (Democratic Republican)- His term is called the "Era of Good Feeling" because there was little partisan fighting. He formulated the Monroe Doctrine, which declared the Americas off-limits to European meddling.

John Quincy Adams

1825-1829 (Democratic Republican)- Accused of winning the White House through corruption, he was plagued by accusations of misdeeds throughout his presidency. After his presidency, Adams served nine terms in the House of Representatives, until his death in 1848.

Andrew Jackson

1829-1837 (Democratic)- Though he was a rich planter, Jackson was considered the common people's friend. Dubbed "Old Hickory" because he was so tough, Jackson greatly expanded the powers of the Presidency. He also prompted the Native Removal Act which cleared Georgia of Native Americans.

Martin Van Buren

1837-1841 (Democratic)- He was the first President to be born an American citizen, rather than a British subject. His Presidency was marred by an economic depression that led to bank failures and food riots. He was easily defeated for reelection.

William Henry Harrison

1841 (Whig)- He delivered a marathon inaugural speech during which he caught a cold. He died a month later. Harrison was the first President to die in office and he served the briefest term.

John Tyler

1841-1845 (Whig)- He had 15 children, more than any President. He was expected to be a passive "acting President" while he finished Harrison's term. But he refused to be passive. He made enemies in Congress and was the first President to be threatened with impeachment. The effort failed.

James K. Polk

1845-1849 (Democratic)-  He is the only President to have served as Speaker of the House. He was the first "dark horse" or little-known nominee to become President. He presided over the Mexican War, which added Texas, California, and other territory to the United States.

Zachary Taylor

1849-1850 (Whig)- He won fame as a general in the Mexican War. His soldiers called him "Old Rough and Ready." He threatened to use force to keep the South from leaving the Union. After his death, a compromise allowed slavery to continue in the South.

Millard Fillmore

1850-1853 (Whig)- He approved the Compromise of 1850, allowing slavery in the South. But neither the North nor the South was happy with it, and he was blamed for the law's failure. In 1856, he ran for President on the anti-immigrant Know-Nothing Party ticket.

Franklin Peirce

1853-1857 (Democratic)- He supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which gutted the Compromise of 1850

James Buchanan

1857-1861 (Demoncratic)- He was the only bachelor to ever serve in the White House. He tried in vain to find a compromise to keep the South from seceding from the Union, but failed

Abraham Lincoln

1861-1865 (Republican)- He led the Union into the Civil War to preserve the nation and end slavery. He was assassinated just five days after the Confederate armies surrendered. Polls show that he is the most admired President.