1. The First Five American Presidents
Hail to the Chief
The First Five American Presidents

2. George Washington As President Only President unanimously elected
Federal Court System started while he was president
Had no political party (political parties started while in office)
Bill of Rights added to Constitution
Only president to not live in Washington, D.C. – but plans for the city laid out while he was president.
Set many precedents

3. George Washington In the Revolution
Nominated as commander in chief by John Adams
Won and lost several early battles
Excellent military leader
Accepted the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781
Born February 22, 1732 in Virginia
Died December 14, 1799
Had no formal education
Fought in the French and Indian War
Never had wooden teeth
Married Martha Custis and gained a lot of land

5. John Adams As President
Member of the Federalists (two political parties emerged while he was president)
Troubles with France
Thomas Jefferson was his Vice President
First president to live in the White House
Passed the Alien and Sedition Acts

6. John Adams Born October 22, 1735 in Massachusetts
Grandparents landed at Plymouth with the Pilgrims
Went to Harvard College
Defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre
In the Continental Congresses
Signed the Declaration of Independence
During the Revolutionary War, served as an ambassador
Served as George Washington’s Vice President
Holds the record for casting the most tie-breaking votes in the Senate
Lived longer than any other president (90 years, 247 days) – record broken in 2006
Died on July 4, 1826

7. Thomas Jefferson As President
First president inaugurated in Washington, D.C.
Purchased the Louisiana Territory from France ($11 million, 3 cents an acre)
Sent Lewis and Clark to explore the new territory
First president to shake visitors hands
His Vice President, Aaron Burr, shot and killed a man in a duel

8. Thomas Jefferson George Washington’s Secretary of State
John Adam’s Vice President
Founded the University of Virginia
Loved architecture - designed his home at Monticello and the Virginia State Capital building
Died on the 4th of July (same day as John Adams)
Born in Virginia 1758
Went to the College of William & Mary
Served in the House of Burgesses and the Continental Congresses
Wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence
During the Revolutionary War, served as an ambassador
Wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

10. James Madison As President The War of 1812 (Washington, D.C. burned)
First president to have served in Congress (Representative)
Shortest president (5’ 4”)and the first to wear trousers
Let the charter on the First National Bank expire
2 states joined the Union
Had two vice presidents die while he was in office

11. James Madison Born in Virginia 1751
Graduated from College of New Jersey (now Princeton)
Portrait is on the $5000 bill
Died in June 1836
Wrote the Virginia Plan for the Constitutional Convention
Father of the Constitution
Wrote the Bill of Rights
Opposed Alexander Hamilton and the National Bank
Democratic-Republican
Jefferson’s Secretary of State

12. James Monroe As President
Issued the Monroe Doctrine – told Europe to stay out of the affairs in the Western Hemisphere
First Senator to be president
Signed the Missouri Compromise (made states in the South “slave” and states in the North “free”)
5 states joined the Union
Daughter was married at the White House (first wedding there)

13. James Monroe
Fought in the Revolutionary War  wounded in the Battle of Trenton
Pictured in painting Washington Crossing the Delaware
Born in Virginia 1758
Graduated from the College of William and Mary
Democratic-Republican
Cabinet member for James Madison
Only president other than Washington to have a capital city named after him (Monrovia, Liberia)
Died on the 4th of July, five years after Jefferson and Adams