Best American Presidents
More than 40 individuals have served as the President of the United States to date. Some of these have been iconic figures, such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Others are noted today for the important policies or events that took place during their terms. Based on their popularity during their time and an analysis of their performance over the course of history, the following are some of the best American Presidents of all time.
George Washington
George Washington was one of the most important Founding Fathers of USA. He led the Continental Army to victory against Britain in the American Revolutionary War. Once the war was over, Washington was elected as the first President of the United States.
He served in this role for two consecutive terms from 1789 to 1797. Washington was immensely popular during his Presidency and was considered a national hero across the country. He set the tone for American democracy and tried to forge unity among different political factions.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President of the United States. He was one of the notable Founding Fathers and is famously known for being one of the main authors of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson served as the President from 1801 to 1809.
One of the most significant events of his presidency was the Louisiana Purchase. This land deal doubled the size of the country and made it possible for it to expand towards the west. Jefferson also prohibited the importation of slaves into United States while at the same time supporting the removal of Native Americans from the Louisiana Territory.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln served as the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln was a lawyer and staunchly opposed to slavery. He became the President at a time when slavery was the hot issue of contention between the Northern and Southern states. At his election, the Southern states began to secede from the Union and formed the Confederacy.
Lincoln led the Union in the American Civil War, providing vital strategic leadership which ultimately resulted in the victory of the Union forces. Lincoln was elected a second time but he was assassinated in 1865. During his Presidency, slavery came to an end in the United States and this began a movement to grant basic rights to the African Americans.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt, more popularly known as Teddy Roosevelt, served as the 26th President of the United States. He was originally elected as the Vice President to President William McKinley. But when McKinley was shot and assassinated, Roosevelt became the President.
He was the youngest person to reach the position at the age of 42. He spearheaded the efforts to preserve vast areas of lands by establishing national parks and monuments. He also brokered a peace deal between Russia and Japan, bringing their mutual war to an end for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize. He remained quite popular during his first term and was elected a second time. Roosevelt remains one of the most popular and iconic American presidents of all time.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States. He was the only person to win four presidential elections. He began his first term at the time when America was in the grip of the economic crisis known as the Great Depression.
Roosevelt took effective measures to resolve the crisis, provide relief to the citizens and implement better economic policies. He was subsequently elected a second, third and fourth time. During his third and fourth terms, he led United States during World War II.
Initially deciding to stay neutral, he rallied the American nation for war after the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor. He also played an important role in the establishment of United Nations and a number of other institutions.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower served as the 34th President of the United States. He served as the President for two consecutive terms from 1953 to 1961. He formerly led the allied armies in the European theater during World War II. Upon becoming President, Eisenhower implemented policies and took steps to contain the spread of socialism.
He also supported the efforts to improve the nuclear strength of United States. Eisenhower oversaw the establishment of NASA and played an important role in ending Egyptian occupation by foreign forces during the 1956 Suez Crisis. Eisenhower remains one of the most popular and liked presidents of American to date.
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman served as the 33rd President of the United States. He served for two consecutive terms, from 1945 to 1953. Truman implemented policies that supported the civil rights of the minorities and other factions of the society.
During his reign, United States used the nuclear bombs to end the war with Imperial Japan. He also played an important role in the establishment of the United Nations. Although he served during and immediately after the World War II, he was able to keep the American economy in good condition. The Cold War between United States and socialist Russia also started during his reign, with Russia becoming the primary adversary of US.
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy, popularly known as JFK, served as the 35th President of the United States. He was very popular during his brief term as President. He served from 1961 to 1963. Before he could complete his presidential term, he was assassinated. His assassination remains one of the most noted tragic incidents of the American political history.
Ronald Regan
Ronald Regan served as the 40th President of the United States. Regan served for two consecutive terms from 1981 to 1989. Regan implemented important policies which significantly improved the economic standing of the country and spurred economic growth. He also reduced taxes and increased military funding.
Internationally, Regan oversaw American’s arms race with the socialist Russia while the Cold War reached its peak. He also helped reduce the tensions with Russia and opened negotiations between the two nations. He remains one of the most popular American presidents of the 20th century.
Learn about the Best American Presidents at Wikipedia
The Presidents Fact Book: The Achievements, Campaigns, Events, Triumphs, and Legacies of Every President Paperback – December 13, 2016