Who Were the Presidents of the United States? Meet the Great 44

From the establishment of the United States of America to the US as we know it now, there have been 43 men who have reigned in White House, and 1 that is currently leading the way.

The office of the president of the United States as it is known today was established by the United States Constitution when it was ratified in March 4, 1789. The modern-day list of presidents technically covers only this period henceforth. However, there is also a rich history of governance and leaders prior to the seminal United States Constitution, which was called the Continental Congress.

Under the constitution, the President of the United States acts as the head of state as well as the head of government of the United States of America. It is the highest political office in the country in terms of power, influence, and recognition, being the head of the federal government in general, and more specifically as chief of the executive branch of government. This includes being the commander-in-chief of the military, as well as the nation's chief diplomat or representative in relations with other countries and nations of the world.

Since 1789, the United States has had forty-three presidents. Given the rich history of United States presidency over the centuries, there are a lot of interesting facts and trivia about it. Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms and thus technically served two presidencies. A presidency is commonly defined as time spent in office by an individual, including consecutive terms. Therefore, there are a lot of presidents such as George Washington may have served more than one term, but is considered having been a president only once.

Four presidents died of natural causes while serving as president: William Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Warren Harding, and Franklin Roosevelt. On the other hand, four presidents as well were assassinated while in office: Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy.

The first ever President is George Washington. His presidency began in the year 1789 and ended on his second term in 1797. At the end of his presidency he discouraged his countrymen to reject the concept of excessive parties and to be cautious about foreign alliances in a lone-term basis.

At the end of the 18th century, John Adams served his presidency. He is known for being a political philosopher rather as a politician. His term was from 1797-1801.

The third president of the US is Thomas Jefferson who had a two-term presidency from 1801-1809. He was a strong advocate of a society free from tyranny.

James Madison was the fourth president, serving from 1809-1817. He is referred to as "but a withered little apple-John" because he looked old and worn during his time.

The fifth president is James Monroe, serving his presidency from 1817 to 1825.

The sixth president is the first president to be the son of a former president. John Quincy Adams, serving from 1825 to 1829, is the son of the second president.

The seventh president is Andrew Jackson, 1829 to 1837, who was elected by popular vote. He claims to be the direct representative of the common man.

The eighth president of the US is Martin Van Buren, the ninth is William Henry Harrison, the 10th is John Tyler, the 11th is James K. Polk, the 12th is Zachary Taylor, the 13th is Millard Fillmore, the 14th is Franklin Pierce, the 15th is James Buchanan, and the 16th is Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln served from 1861 to 1865. At this time, Americans are dissatisfied and are going through issues of civil war. During this time, Lincoln said to the people, "�You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and defend it."

The 17th President is Andrew Johnson, the 18th is Ulysses S. Grant, the 19th is Rutherford B. Hayes, the 20th is James Garfield, the 21st is Chester A. Arthur, the 22nd is Grover Cleveland, the 23rd is Benjamin Harrison, the 24th is Grover Cleveland, and the 25th is William McKinley.

Theodore Roosevelt is the 26th President serving from the dawn of the 20th century. He ended his second term in 1909. After the assassination of William McKinley, he became the next president and by then the youngest ever. He began his term when he was 42.

The 27th president is William Howard Taft, the 28th is Woodrow Wilson, the 29th is Warren G. Harding, the 30th is Calvin Coolidge, the 31st is Herbert Hoover, and the 32nd is Franklin D. Roosevelt. He assumed presidency when the country was at the depth of Great Depression. The 33rd is Harry S. Truman; the 34th is Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 35th John F. Kennedy.

John Kennedy, at this time, is the youngest president to be elected, but is also the youngest to die when he was assassinated in 1963.

The 36th President of the US is Lyndon B. Johnson, and the 37th is Richard M. Nixon who became controversial because of the Watergate Scandal, causing him to resign and the impeachment proceeding against him, terminated.

The 38th president is Gerald R. Ford, the 39th is James Carter, the 40th is Ronald Reagan, the 41st is George H. W. Bush, the 42nd is William J. Clinton, the 43rd is George W. Bush, another ex president's son, and the current president of the United States is Barack Obama, who is the first elected black president.

The complete chronological list of American presidents is as follows: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Harrison, John Tyler, James Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Filmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses Grant, Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland (2nd term), William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

These are the overall information and facts covered in the science and social studies syllabus of the American educational system. The study of the American presidential system is very important for students to realize how the country is run under the power of the elected presidential leader. This gives them an appreciation of how the various branches of government work together under the president to run the country efficiently and effectively. Most importantly, it hopefully inspires the students as future responsible citizens who should take the right to vote very seriously.

Websites For Learning All About Presidents of the United States

  1. The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden
  2. Presidential Factfile