American Presidents

Constitution Article 2 establishes the second of the three branches of government, the Executive. Section 1 establishes the office of the President and the Vice-President, and sets their terms to be four years. Presidents are elected by the Electoral College, whereby each state has one vote for each member of Congress. Originally, the President was the person with the most votes and the Vice-President was the person with the second most, though this is later changed. Certain minimum requirements are established again, such as a 35-year minimum age. Presidents must also be a natural-born citizen of the United States. The President is to be paid a salary, which cannot change, up or down, as long as he in is office.Section 1 Electoral Collegenatural-born citizen Section 2 gives the President some important powers. He is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and of the militia (National Guard) of all the states; he has a Cabinet to aid him and can pardon criminals. He makes treaties with other nations, and picks many of the judges and other members of the government (all with the approval of the Senate).Section 2Cabinetpardon Section 3 establishes the duties of the President: to give a state of the union address, to make suggestions to Congress, to act as head of state by receiving ambassadors and other heads of state, and to be sure the laws of the United States are carried out.Section 3

George Washington 1784 – 1792 Set precedents: Two terms in office Peaceful transfer of power Mr. President Address to Congress

John Adams Alien and Sedition Acts Peaceful transfer of power

Thomas Jefferson Purchased Louisiana Scholar, architect, scientist, diplomat

Andrew Jackson 1829 – 1837 –First Western president –Fought Bank of America –Opened White House to public

Millard Fillmore 1850 – 1853 Opened Japan Compromise of 1850 Bathtub joke

Abraham Lincoln First assassinated president Fought Civil War Freed slaves Noted speaker, humorist

Rutherford P. Hayes Ended Reconstruction

Theodore Roosevelt 1901 – 1909 Vice President Crusader Anti-monopoly Fought in war Founded third party

Woodrow Wilson 1913 – 1921 World War I League of Nations Stroke: Edith ran country

Herbert Hoover 1929 – 1933 Depression Hoovervilles Coxey’s Army Prohibition

Franklin Roosevelt 1933 – 1945 Only four-term president NRA CCC World War II

Harry S. Truman 1945 – 1953 Atom Bomb The buck stops here

John F. Kennedy 1961 – 1963 First Catholic Bay of Pigs Vietnam Camelot John Kennedy, J. Edgar Hoover, Bobby Kennedy Jackie Kennedy

Richard Nixon 1969 – 1974 Resigned Vietnam War

Watergate 1972 – 1974 Illegal use of powerWoodward and Bernstein PlumbersPublic hearings

Ronald Reagan 1981 – 1989 Conservative End of Soviet Union

Bill Clinton –Balanced budget –Full employment –Almost impeached –Ended wars in Yugoslavia Northern Ireland

Barack Obama 2009 – First black president