5. Thomas Jefferson- Thomas Jefferson successfully declared our nation's independence by writing the world famous Declaration of Independence making him one of our founding fathers. By incorporating the ideas of some of the greatest philosophers of all time including Rousseau and Locke, Jefferson argued for our freedom. Also, Jefferson made one of the most important purchases of American history. The Louisiana Territory doubled the size of the land of the time period. Jefferson was also very successful economically. He was able to cut the national debt by a third by reducing military expenditures, cutting the budget, and eliminating the tax on whiskey. It was also during his Presidency that the Lewis and Clark expedition began in order to go forward with western expansion.
4. James Madison- James Madison is the father of the document which we all follow: the Constitution. The Constitution determines the laws of the land and anything found to be unconstitutional is immediately adjusted to fit the legislation written by number four. James Madison was the fourth president of the United States. He served two terms and eight years in office. During his time in office, Madison declared war on the empire of Great Britain for the list of grievances he had in regards to trade relations. despite the White House and Capital being burned down, the United States successfully held their ground and demanded worldwide attention and respect. To add to his list of accolades, Madison also wrote the Federalist Papers. These papers cemented the ideals the Constitution as well as responded to the criticisms of the document.
3. Abraham Lincoln- Abraham Lincoln was the leader in the abolishment movement during the nineteenth century. During his presidency, the Southern, slave states seceded from the Union to form their own nation known as the Confederacy. The Civil War then broke out and forced a north-south conflict. The north eventually won and along with a successful reunification, Honest Abe gave his Emancipation Proclamation. This proclamation freed all slaves in areas other than those in rebelling areas. Also, Lincoln passed the thirteenth amendment which abolished slavery. Although cut short due to his assassination by John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln managed to not only free slaves nation wide but also reunite the nation. He ignited the fire that would become the civil rights movement less than one hundred years later.
2. F. D. R.- Franklin Delanor Roosevelt took over his reign as president of the united states just after the start of the great depression. This was the biggest economic catastrophe and Roosevelt tackled it with a precision unseen in any economic issue. Roosevelt had many pieces of legislation: GI Bill, Neutrality Act, Revenue Act, Selective Training and Service Act, Social Security Act, and many other pieces as part of the New Deal. The New Deal was a set of federal programs enacted in response to the distress of the Great Depression. Although not usually recognized for it, Roosevelt is also responsible for the removal of prohibition. He was also president during the biggest war on earth, World War II. He led our nation to victory over the Axis Powers alongside the other two leaders of the Big 3: Winston Churchill and Josef Stalin.
1. George Washington- One of our Founding Fathers, George Washington is undoubtedly one of the greatest leaders of all time and the greatest leader in American history. Washington was the commander of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, leading our measly group of farmers against one of the greatest empires to ever rise on earth. Not only did he win the war to gain our independence, Washington maintained relations with England with the Jay Treaty which attempted to calm tension between the two countries and regain trade relations. One of his greatest actions was his use of inaction. When the French Revolution sparked a war between the French and English, Washington maintained his neutrality despite the push to join the war. As the first President of the United States of America, Washington set the staple that every president after him followed. Since leaving the presidency with his own regard, every president after him except one has served a maximum of two four-year terms.
No comments:
Post a Comment