Presidents 15-17

Lived through every President from 1-16

15

Dickinson College - expelled after 1 year for insubordination, but was reinstated later

15

No first lady; only bachelor president in US history

15

Engaged to Ann Coleman, but she was convinced by her father that he only wanted her for her money.. then died soonafter, possibly by suicide

15

His niece, Harriet Lane, served as White House social hostess (first woman to be refered to as First Lady)

15

Last president to fight in the War of 1812

15

Served in the PA State Legislature as a Federalist, then was a Democratic House Member, then was a Democratic US Senator from PA

15

US Minister to Russia under 7

15

US Minister to Great Britain under 11

15

Helped write the Ostend Manifesto, calling to take Cuba either peacefully or by force

15

SecState under Polk (11) - Last SecState to become President

15

As SecState, turned down Polk's offer to serve on the Supreme Court

15

Retired in his estate of Wheatland - near Lancaster, PA

15

Won the Democratic nomination because he was out of the country during the previous 4 years and was thus unconnected with the country's problems

15

"Old Buck and Breck!"

15

His VP was the youngest VP in American history at age 36

15

Defeated John Fremont, the first Republican candidate for President

15

Dred Scott decision

15

Entered the presidency with a large treasury surplus, but suffered through the Panic of 1857, which turned it into a 27M deficit

15

During his administration, John Brown led his infamous raid on the arsenal at Harpers Ferrry

15

The Pony Express was formed (stayed in operation until the first transcontinental telegraph was adopted)

15

Construction began on the Suez Canal

15

Charles Darwin wrote "On The Origin of Species" about evolution and natural selection

15

Bleeding Kansas

15

The first president to recieve a transcontinental telegraph message (from Queen Victoria)

15

Utah War

15

After the Utah War, Henry Comstock and his prospectors striked silver in the United States

15

Did little to keep the country together during the secession crisis

15

Did not recieve the Democratic nomination for re-election because of one of his acts (Kansas-Nebraska)

15

He was named after his paternal grandfather

16

Mary Todd

16

His first lady was accused of being a spy for the Confederate because four of her brothers fought for the South

16

His first lady suffered from mental illness and severe depression, and was admitted to an institution by their son after this president died

16

His bloodline ended with Robert Beckwith in 1985

16

Moved from Kentucky to Indiana at age 8

16

Used to walk for miles to borrow books, including "Life of Washington"

16

Once took a trip to New Orleans and saw the brutality of slavery first hand, which shaped his life-long opinion of slavery

16

Moved to New Salem, Illinois in 1831 and volunteered for the state militia - served for four months but saw no action

16

Agreed to marry a woman named Mary Owens without even seeing her - he immediately regretted this decision upon their meeting, and took him over a year to convince her to call it off

16

Served in the US House as a Whig, but was removed from the party after a year because of his outspoken mouth

16

Had several debates with Stephen A. Douglas because of Douglas' support of the Kansas-Nebraska Act - led a new style of debate (Lincoln-Douglas) - even though he won most debates, Douglas lost the Senate race to him in 1858

16

Died watching "Our American Cousin"

16

Hannibal Hamlin as VP (1861-1865)

16

Andrew Johnson as VP (1865) - the last time a President and VP were from opposite political parties - chose him to garner support from Democrats

16

One day after the election of 1860 was confirmed, seven states: SC, GA, FL, Alabama, Mississippi, TX, and Louisiana seceded from the Union and formed The Confederate States of America

16

Grew a bread at the request of a New York girl

16

Tallest president in History (6"4)

16

Called up a militia of 75k men after Confederate soldiers fired upon the only remaining federal fort not under Confederate control (Ft. Sumter) - this act officially began the Civil War

16

Enjoyed, along with his wife, the practice of psychic phenomena and would sometimes hold seances at the White House

16

Created the Department of Agriculture, although it would not gain Cabinet status until 1889 (way later)

16

Homestead Act

16

Western Union completes its first transatlantic telegraph line (putting the Pony Express out of business)

16

Ironcald ships Monitor and Merrimac meet in their landmark battle

16

First president to official declare Thanksgiving a holiday

16

Emancipation Proclamation

16

Put Grant in charge of the US Army, who would accept the surrender of Robert E Lee

16

Had dreams prophesying his assassination, including one the night before he was actually killed

16

State capital named after him

16

The only president to have NO formal schooling

17

Eliza McCardle

17

His first lady taught him how to read, write, and do simple math

17

Following the birth of his first lady's fifth child, she became a semi-invalid who only appeared in public twice during his time in office

17

Apprenticed to a tailor shop at age 14 - ran away to Greenville, TN and opened his own tailor shop

17

Highly regarded in Greenville Tennessee - elected Alderman at 19 and mayor at 21

17

Served in the Tennesse state legislature as an opponent to slave-holders

17

Elected to the US House from TN in 1843, then to the US Senate from TN (He was the only southern Senator to oppose southern secession and stay in office at the time of the Civil War) - when North Carolina seceded, his home state, his property was confiscated and his family were treated as enemy aliens

17

Served two seperate stints as Governor of Tennessee (and challenged a would-be assassin to shoot him while campaigning, and nothing happened)

17

In his second governor term, he ended slavery in Tennessee without the use of the Emancipation Proclamation (the only southern state to do so)

17

After his presidency, was re-elected to the US Senate (took three tries) - the only former US president to serve in the Senate

17

Passed away while visiting his daughter and buried with a Constitution for a pillow and an American flag for a sheet

17

His SecState William Seward negotiated the purchase of the Alaska Territory for 7.2 million, known as Seward's Folly

17

Favored a mild reconstruction of the South, while many Republicans favored a radical reconstruction (Radical Republicans)

17

13th and 14th amendments - lead to the formation of the KKK

17

Pardoned Dr. Samuel Mudd - who treated Booth as he fled from federal agents after assassinating Lincoln

17

First train robbery occurs on the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad

17

Christopher Sholes - first practical typewriter

17

Vetoed the Tenure of Office Act, and then had his veto overriden, then violated it anyway by removing his SecState

17

Impeached by the House for violating the Tenure of Office Act, but avoided convinction by one vote - Edmund Ross of Kansas

17

Did not attend his successor's inauguration (he hated the new President)

17