1. The First Five Presidents of the United States of America
SOL USI.7c: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the challenges faced by the new nation by, d) describing the major accomplishments of the first five presidents of the United States

2. George Washington: The First President of the United States
George Washington: From Virginia

3. Highlights of George Washington’s Presidency
1) Federal COURT system was established
2) The “Bill of Rights” was ADDED to the Constitution of the United States of America.

4. Highlights of George Washington’s Presidency
3) Plans were created for development of the national CAPITAL in Washington, D.C. Benjamin Banneker, an African American astronomer and surveyor, helped complete the DESIGN for the city.
George Washington laying the capstone of the U.S. Capitol building

5. John Adams: The Second President of the United States
John Adams: From Boston, Massachusetts

6. Highlights of John Adams’ Presidency
1) A TWO-PARTY system of government emerged during his administration

7. Thomas Jefferson: The Third President of the United States
Thomas Jefferson: From Virginia

8. Highlights of Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency
1) He bought Louisiana from FRANCE. This is known as the “Louisiana Purchase”

9. Highlights of Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency
2) LEWIS AND CLARK explored new land west of the Mississippi River.

10. The Louisiana Purchase
1803: Thomas Jefferson paid $15 Million dollars to Napoleon for the Louisiana Territory which covered around 828,000 square miles. This purchase doubled the size of the United States’ territory and included 15 modern states. Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory for under three cents an acre!

11. James Madison: The Fourth President of the United States
James Madison: From Virginia

12. Highlights of James Madison’s Presidency
1) The WAR OF 1812 caused European nations to gain respect for the United States.

13. James Monroe: The Fifth President of the United States
James Monroe: From Virginia

14. Highlights of James Monroe’s Presidency
1) He introduced the MONROE DOCTRINE warning European nations not to interfere with the Western Hemisphere.
The Monroe Doctrine stated that if any European nation (France, England, Portugal, Spain) tried to colonize in the Western Hemisphere anymore, that it would be looked upon as an act of aggression by the United States. The Monroe Doctrine also stated that the United States would remain neutral concerning European matters.
Monroe Doctrine: December 2, 1823

15. Monroe Doctrine- 1823