United States Presidents

Between 1789 and 2016, there have been 45 Presidents of the United States, often referred to as POTUS
(President of the United States). Of course, nearly everyone knows the very first president, elected in 1789
by a unanimous vote of the electoral college, George Washington. He was extremely popular and liked by all
and has the nickname 'the 'Father of His Country.
Washington was a general during the American Revolutionary War, and the Constitution and the Bill of
Rights were signed during his term in office. His V-P was, who would later become president, was John
Adams, and Washington set the high standards future presidents are expected to follow.
The Constitution of the U.S. gives the president the responsibility as the Chief Executive of the Federal
Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The Presidency is the Executive Branch of the
government, and as the Chief Executive, all presidents make sure citizens follow federal laws and abide with
the agreements made with other countries.
Most presidents have been elected by the citizens, but nine times in history, the Vice-President took over the
office when the sitting president either died while in office, was assassinated, impeached (legally removed),
or resigned.
For example, another well-known President, Abraham Lincoln, was the 16th president who was assassinated
while in office. He served as the leader of the country between 1861 and 1865 and was well-known for his
opposition of slavery, and is often recognized as the greatest American President. He also had the nickname
Honest Abe, and is famous for his speech, the Gettysburg Address.
Typically, a president will serve a four-year term and currently may not serve more than two terms or more
than ten years. However, prior to the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution passed by the states in 1951, a
president was permitted to serve multiple terms or years.
Another great president was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or FDR for short was a leader who served three
terms, between 1933 and 1945. He was in office during the Great Depression and because of his leadership
and the policies and projects he used to stimulate the economy, the unemployment rate dropped from 20%
to 2%. Social Security also became the law during Roosevelt's terms as president. He was the president
during World War II, which took place between 1939 and 1945, and was a key person to the U.S. and the
Allies victory. FDR died while in office and his V-P, Harry Truman (1945 to 1953) took over.
There were 42 other presidents as well, and some historians will argue some of them have been just as
influential and well-known as Washington, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. For example, Barrack Obama (2009 to
2016) was the first African-American to become president; John F. Kennedy (1961 to 1963) was also
assassinated and a proponent of the Civil Rights movement; Richard Nixon (1969 to 1974) was the only
president to resign from office; and Ronald Reagan (1981 to 1989) implemented new economic polices
known as Reaganomics.
Nevertheless, regardless of the individual president and his (there have been no women presidents)
achievements, each have contributed uniquely to the history of the United States, and their decisions,
policies, and appointments may be judged as positive or negative, and will usually depend on the person's
opinion.
Women's Suffrage
Suffrage is the right to vote. Women's suffrage, or the enfranchisement of women, means the right of women
to vote in political elections. This is an extremely important part of any fair democratic system.
Throughout most of history, only landowning men could vote for their leaders. There were only a few
exceptions to this rule. The Iroquois, a Native American tribe, allowed female elders to vote on new chiefs.
The island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea, allowed women to vote in 1755... but in 1768 the island
became part of France and women lost that right. In the state of New Jersey, white women who were not
married and owned property could vote in 1776... but this right was taken from them in 1807.
The first country to grant voting rights to women was New Zealand, in 1893. In the United States, women
would not gain voting rights until 1920, and it would take a movement to achieve this.
In the United States, women began to organize to promote their rights in the mid-1800s. At the time, they
had no voice in politics, as they were unable to either vote or run for higher office. Women were expected to
raise children and cook at home. Until the mid-1800s, women in most states could not even own property or
sign contracts.
Women who wanted to pursue higher education or to have careers were laughed at and blocked from doing
so in most cases.
Since women could not vote, they could not get these laws changed. What's more, even women speaking
publicly about these issues could cause opposition and sometimes violence. Despite this, in 1848, many
women met at the Seneca Falls Convention-the first women's rights convention in the United States. The
women's rights movement grew until 1869, when the first women's suffrage associations were founded.
These campaigned for federal action to allow female voting. They figured that if they could convince the
Supreme Court it would be signed into law.
Susan B. Anthony, one of the most important activists, attempted to vote in 1872 and was arrested for it. In
1875, the Supreme Court voted down women's suffrage. Susan formed the National American Woman
Suffrage Association (NAWSA). The growth of the group shifted its attention to trying to convince people and
lawmakers at the state level rather than a federal level. The NAWSA was focused on respectful and organized
lobbying.
Another group, called the National Woman's Party, was formed by Alice Paul in 1914. Alice was a veteran of
the British women's suffrage movement-enfranchisement for women was a worldwide issue at this point,
with a few countries already having adopted it, including some Canadian provinces. Unlike the NAWSA, the
NWP staged protests, picketed in front of the White House, and went on hunger strikes. The protesting
women were often arrested and force-fed in these cases.
The suffragists faced opposition from liquor sellers and manufacturers, who were afraid women would be
pro- prohibition. They were also opposed by factory bosses and mine owners, since many of the women
activists were also against child labor.
However, states began to rule in favor of women's suffrage, including New York, then the most populous
state. Finally, in 1919, the 19th Amendment was passed after several years of intense debate in Congress.
This amendment prevented voting rights to be denied to people based on their gender. It was accepted by all
states in 1920. That year was the first U.S. presidential election be voted on by women in all states. This
paved the way for greater rights for women in the coming decades.
Declaration of Independence
In the 18th century, the British colonists wanted independence. Independence was so important to the
British colonies, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which was signed by
representatives of the 13 colonies. It was a document intended to free the colonists from the British ruler,
King George III, whose leadership was abusive. The short document listed the reasons or seeking
independence, as well as the charges against the king. The colonists wanted to overthrow the current
government.
Independence to the British people in America meant they wanted to govern themselves without
interference from the King of Britain. One of the most famous lines ever written in history summed up what
the people of the colonies wanted. It is included in the preamble (information about why a document is
written) of the Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The citizens wanted nothing less than what most people today want throughout the world. The colonists
stressed that all people are equal, and the way King George was governing them was not fair, and it was not
right. The single line above states that every person is created the same way and have rights that are evident,
or obvious, even at birth. The rights are summed up as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The
government's job is to make sure those rights are available to all people. King George was stepping on those
rights.
The Declaration of Independence also summarized other abuses by the king including interference with
colonists who wanted to have their own government. The king would not allow the people to run their own
lives and towns. He was charging taxes on colonists without cause or reason. Taxes were being paid by the
colonists but they were not receiving anything in return. It was called taxation without representation.
He also took away their right to have a trial by a jury. When people were accused of committing a crime,
there was just a single person who decided on their guilt or innocence. The king did not allow people to be
tried by a jury, which includes other citizens in the same town as the accused. They also were not permitted
to trade freely. If the colonists wanted to trade with other countries or colonies they always had to get
special permission. People could not sell their products or crops from their farm to others whenever they
wanted.
In addition, the destruction of American life and property took place because the King was not protecting the
people or borders of the colonies. American ships were seized and captured at seas, and people acting as
soldiers, called mercenaries, were hired by King George to fight against the colonists.
The governments of the colonies tried to make peaceful agreements with Great Britain, but they were
ignored by the King George and the other rulers of Britain. The Declaration of Independence is considered to
be the founding document of American history, and is included as one of the most important documents
ever, along with the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. The colonists wanted a new nation and did not want
to be connected to Great Britain. On July 4, 1776, the United States of America became a country eventually
creating its own government.
Three Branches of Government
The Three Branches of Government include the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches. Each
branch has a special role in the function of the United States government and the running of the country. The
three branches were established by the U.S. Constitution to separate the powers of government.
The Legislative Branch includes the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate is made up 100
senators, two from each state, elected by its citizens. Each senator serves six-year terms, but may serve
consecutive terms.
The Vice-President is the head of the Senate and only votes if there is a tie among the Senators. The Senate
also approves nominations by the President to Cabinet, Supreme Court, federal courts and other positions.
All treaties (agreements made with other countries) must be approved by a two-thirds vote.
The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected officials elected from each of the 50 states with a
number from each state based on the state's population. They are elected by its citizens and serves 2-year
terms, and may also serve consecutive terms. The leader of the House is called the Speaker of the House and
is elected by the representatives. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives must vote and ratify bills
for them to become laws. They may also override Presidential vetoes of the laws that were passed.
The Executive Branch includes the President as the leader of the country, as well as the Vice-President. He or
she is elected by the entire country to a 4-year term and may serve only two terms in office. The President
approves and carries out laws passed by the Legislative Branch, though may also veto laws. The President
also appoints or removes cabinet members, who are considered assistants to the President offer advice on
running the country. They include the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of
Homeland Security and several others. The leader of the country also negotiates treaties, acts as head of
state for the country, and is the commander of chief of the armed forces.
The Judicial Branch includes the Supreme Court, nine judges, who oversees the U.S. court system. The court
consists of eight judges or justices, plus one chief justice, and there are no term limits; some justices serve
until they die. They are nominated by the President, and approved by the Senate. The Supreme Court's
responsibilities include explaining the meaning of the Constitution and laws, deciding whether something is
constitutional or unconstitutional, meaning it is permitted or not permitted. They often decide new ways of
interpreting a law, decides court cases, and settle court cases between 2 or more states.
In 1787, the writers of the Constitution did not want one person or a group of people to have complete
power over the country and its citizens. The states' leaders wanted a national government that was strong,
but also fair. They wanted individual freedoms protected, as well as preventing the government from
abusing its powers. The Three Branches of Government is a system of checks and balances used to prevent
this from occurring. This helps to make sure the power is shared by each branch.
The three branches of the government are expected to work together, cooperate, and do what is best for the
citizens of the country. Each person in the government is elected by its citizens who must trust the leaders to
manage the country as best as possible.
George Washington
The first president of the United States was George Washington. He was a British Colonel, and eventually
became General of the United States during the Revolutionary War. He was highly praised for his acts of
leadership, and has been known as 'father of the country' since America's beginnings. It is said that without
George Washington the United States might not exist as it does today.
George Washington was born at Pope's Creek Estate near Colonial Beach in Virginia. He was born on
February 22nd, 1732, and was the first child of Augustine Washington and Mary Ball Washington. His family
of origin began mostly from Sulgrave, England, and his great-grandfather came over to the British colonies in
1656. George Washington's father was a tobacco planter, who had his hands in a few iron-mining schemes as
well. On top of this, he was also the Justice of Westmoreland County Court.
When George Washington's father died, he would travel to Barbados with his older half-brother Lawrence to
help cure Lawrence's tuberculosis. George would become infected with small pox on the trip, which
disfigured his face but would make him immune from the disease in the years to come. His brother would
not be so lucky, falling victim to his illness and dying when he returned home.
George Washington's first profession was being a surveyor, someone who tracks the distance between
points. He would get his first job and license from the College of William and Mary in 1748, and would
become the first official surveyor for Culpeper County. The position paid well, and would plot a 400-acre
piece of land in just two days. By 1752, Washington surveyed nearly 200 areas for many properties equaling
over 60,000 acres.
George Washington would start his military career during the French and Indian war, given the rank of
Major for the British Province of Virginia. He would be sent as an ambassador to the French and Indians, but
tensions would brew and a war started. During the war, he was first sent to continue his ambassador role,
trying to get the French to surrender territories. He was eventually given 100 men to command, and
defeated a small French battalion with them.
He would have his share of losses and retreats, and would learn as well as grow as a leader and a person
during this time. He kept a diary that would be published, making his name well known throughout Virginia.
He received23,200 acres for volunteering during the French and Indian war.
He would hold local office, and married Martha Washington, who already had kids that he helped raise. He
went bankrupt in 1764, however, because of his desire for luxury.
George Washington would play a fundamental role in the American Revolutionary War. He was General and
Commander-in-Chief, and would often be fighting right alongside his men. He would lose a large portion of
battles, but he would never surrender his army. One of his most famous battles is when he went across the
Delaware and attacked the British on Christmas night, taking close to 1,000 prisoners.
He won the war with the help of the French and stepped down from commander to ensure a democratic
process, a move King George III praised him for, stating he was 'the greatest character of the age'. George
Washington became the first President of the United States, becoming elected unanimously in 1789. He
established the positions in the president's cabinet. On Saturday, December 14th, 1799, George Washington
died from an unknown illness, unable to swallow or speak in the end.
Elections and Voting in the US
Today, in the United States, all legal citizens over the age of 17 can participate in the voting process. A
prospective voter registers in the district in which he lives. He must vote there unless he changes his
residence. A voter can vote in a presidential election, elections for state offices and local elections for county
or city offices.
However, originally in America, in 1776, only white male citizens over 21 who owned property had the right
to vote. Catholics, Jews, Quakers and some others were prevented from this right. An amendment is an
addition to the Constitution. The fourteenth and fifteenth amendments, in 1868 and 1870, made male Black
Americans citizens and gave them the right to vote. In 1870, citizenship was given to Native Americans only
if they gave up their connection with their tribe. In 1924, however, an act granted all non- citizen Native
Americans who had been born in the United States the right of citizenship and the right to vote.
The nineteenth amendment, in 1919, gave women the right to vote. In 1971, the twenty-sixth amendment
gave the right to vote to every citizen who is 18 or over. It is important that every citizen who is eligible vote
whenever an election comes up. That way everyone has some say in who is in charge of a city, county, state
or the United States.
Early elections consisted of paper ballots placed into a wooden box. Later came the voting machine in a
booth with a curtain. Many voting districts now use a form on which the voter fills in a bubble next to the
person whom the voter is choosing. Advances in technology have now made touch-screen voting available in
some areas. States run every election and can choose the method they want to use.
In the United States, most candidates in elections come from either the Democrat or Republican Party, but
sometimes another party may propose a candidate. If there is more than one candidate from a party wanting
an office, a primary is usually held. A voter registers for one party. He goes to a 'polling place' and chooses
one candidate from that party for whom he wants to vote. The candidate from that party who receives the
most votes becomes the only candidate from that party. He then runs against candidates from the other
parties. In state and local elections, whichever candidate gets the most votes wins.
Presidential elections are a little more complicated. The parties have presidential primaries, and the
candidates from each party battle for the office. They spend a year or more going around the country talking
and giving speeches. The founders of our country drew up a plan different from state and local elections for
choosing a President. In the Constitution, they instituted a plan where the President was not elected by a
direct popular vote.
That means that the candidate with the most votes from the whole country doesn't necessarily win the office
of President.
The process of electing a President involves the Electoral College. Each state has electors chosen by the state.
The number equals the number of Representatives in the House of Representatives plus 2 for the number of
senators. The total number of electors in the country is 538. A majority of 270 electoral votes is needed to
win. Most states take the candidate who won the popular vote in their state and give him all of the electoral
votes from that state. However, there are some states which split the vote based on the percentage of votes
each candidate receives. Each party has selected electors who are leaders of their party in the state or have
some other qualification. When a voter votes for any candidate, he is voting for the electors of that party.