Facts about the Presidents

First President: George WashingtonDates of Presidency: 1789-1797Party Affiliation: NoneOther facts:

Commander of Continental Army President of Constitutional Convention Unanimously elected twice Portrait on dollar bill and quarter Image on Mt. Rushmore Father of America

Second President: John AdamsDates of Presidency: 1797-1801Party Affiliation: FederalistOther Facts:

Successfully defended British soldiers accused of murder in Boston Massacre

Father of sixth president Died on 50th anniversary of Declaration of Independence

Third President: Thomas JeffersonDates of Presidency: 1801-1809Party Affiliation: Democratic-RepublicanOther Facts:

Primary author of the Declaration of Independence

Virginia governor First constitutional transfer of power between

political groups Purchased Louisiana from France Portrait on two dollar bill and nickel Image on Mt. Rushmore Died on the same day as John Adams—July 4th, 1826

Mount Rushmore National Memorial Workers used drills and dynamite to carve the faces of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln into the granite wall of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota’s Black Hills. American sculptor Gutzon Borglum designed and supervised the work on the memorial from 1927 until his death in 1941. Borglum’s son, Lincoln, directed the conclusion of the work.(Encarta Encyclopedia; South Dakota Tourism© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)

Fourth President: James MadisonDates of Presidency: 1809-1817Party Affiliation: Democratic-RepublicanOther Facts:

Known as “Father of the Constitution” President during War of 1812 Portrait on the $5,000 bill Shortest President (5’4”)

Fifth President: James MonroeDates of Presidency: 1817-1825Party Affiliation: Democratic-RepublicanOther Facts:

Virginia governor Captured Florida from Spain Signed Missouri Compromise Monroe Doctrine declared America closed to

further foreign colonization Died on July 4, 1831 (55th anniversary of

Declaration of Independence)

Sixth President: John Quincy AdamsDates of Presidency: 1825-1829Party Affiliation: Democratic-RepublicanOther Facts:

Son of second President First President to be photographed Was a member of Congress for 18 years after

his term as President Won Scrooge look-alike contest in high

school

Seventh President: Andrew Jackson

United States President James Monroe sent General Andrew Jackson to drive members of the Seminole nation out of Georgia after a series of raids there in 1817. This picture shows the capture of Seminole chiefs during the campaign.© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Dates of Presidency: 1829-1837Party Affiliation: DemocraticOther Facts:

First President from a poor family War hero nicknamed “Old Hickory” Indian Removal Act forced migration of American Indians Founder of Democratic Party Portrait on $20 bill

Eighth President: Martin Van BurenDates of Presidency: 1837-1841Party Affiliation: DemocraticOther Facts:

New York governor Ran for president three times Believed in small government Helped form first Political Machine, an

organization that trades favors for votes

Ninth President: William Henry HarrisonDates of Presidency: 1841Party Affiliation: WhigOther Facts:

Indiana Territory governor (1800-1812) First Whig president Second oldest president ever elected (68) Grandfather of 23rd president (Benjamin Harrison) Served the shortest term of all presidents—one month First president to die in office (died of pneumonia in the

White House)

Tenth President: John TylerDates of Presidency: 1841-1845Party Affiliation: Whig

United States President Andrew Jackson refused to enforce a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1832 that it was illegal for the state of Georgia to remove the Cherokee nation from their land. As a result, in 1838 federal soldiers forced most of the Cherokee to march about 1285 km (about 800 mi) from Georgia to Indian Territory. This was an area in what is now Oklahoma, set aside for Native Americans who had been living east of the Mississippi River. Thousands died on the march, later known as the Trail of Tears, which began in the midst of a drought and continued into a fierce winter.Woolaroc Museum, Bartlesville, Oklahoma© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Other Facts: Virginia governor First vice president to become president on death of predecessor “President without a Party”—Whigs severed ties First president married while in office First impeachment attempt (failed)

Eleventh President: James Knox PolkDates of Presidency: 1845-1849Party Affiliation: DemocraticOther Facts:

Tennessee governor Speaker of the House Extended nations boundaries to the Pacific First elected president not to seek reelection

Twelfth President: Zachary TaylorDates of Presidency: 1849-1850Party Affiliation: WhigOther Facts:

Soldier for 40 years Called “Old Rough and Ready” by troops Never voted until his own election First election to be held at the same time in all states Died in White House after 16 months Related both to James Madison and Robert E. Lee

Thirteenth President: Millard FillmoreDates of Presidency: 1850-1853Party Affiliation: WhigOther Facts:

A brilliant strategist, American general Zachary Taylor repeatedly led his troops to victory during the Mexican War (1846-1848). In his most notable victory, the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847, his forces were outnumbered three to one. His success on the battlefield contributed to his popularity, and he was elected president of the United States in the following year.© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Last Whig president Signed Compromise of 1850 Enforced Fugitive Slave Laws (to win favor of Southerners) Opened door of trade with Japan (first time in history Japan had trading relations with the

western world)

Fourteenth President: Franklin PierceDates of Presidency: 1853-1857Party Affiliation: DemocraticOther Facts:

New Hampshire senator at age 32 Appointed Jefferson Davis Secretary of War Attempted to seize Cuba from Spain Purchased land from Mexico (established present

border) Passed Kansas-Nebraska Act, nullifying Missouri

Compromise Supposed to be the most handsome of all presidents

Fifteenth President: James BuchananDates of Presidency: 1857-1861Party Affiliation: DemocraticOther Facts:

Was the only bachelor president 40 years prior service in Congress During his presidency, six slave states seceded to form

Confederate States of America Proslavery president; improperly intervened in Dred Scott

case Called a doughface (a derogatory label given to

northerners who held southern views)

Harpers Ferry Insurrection: In 1859, during the administration of United States President James Buchanan, white abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now in West Virginia). In this sketch, U.S. Marines storm the arsenal, which was eventually recaptured. Brown, who had hoped to spur a slave revolt, was later convicted of treason and hanged.© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.