The First Ten Presidents Of The United States Of America
America's Founding Presidents
To remember the achievements of America's early Presidents, one need only call to mind the beliefs most widely cherished by so many of the American people: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights ......... to name but a few. America's first Presidents laid the bedrock on which America was built and on which America still stands today. It is a foundation which has remained fundamentally unchanged for over two hundred years, affording stability and confidence to the American people from generation to generation.The following pages deal with the lives of America's first ten Presidents and are dedicated in their honor. A short biography, provided by the White House, of each of these Presidents is included together with specific links to additional information available on the internet. I am certain, that having read the brief account of each of their lives, you will agree that America is eternally indebted to these remarkable men.
To begin with, the following is a brief account of the Office of the President.
The Office of the President
In the United States, the president's functions, powers, and responsibilities are succinctly defined by the Constitution. His chief duty is to make sure that the laws are faithfully executed, and he performs this duty through an elaborate system of executive agencies that includes cabinet-level departments. The president appoints all the cabinet heads and most other high-ranking officials of the executive branch of the federal government. He also nominates all judges of the federal judiciary, including the members of the Supreme Court.The president's appointments to executive and judicial posts must be approved by the Senate (one of the two chambers of the legislative branch of the federal government). The Senate usually confirms the president's appointments, though it does occasionally reject a nominee to whom the majority have strong objections. The president is the commander in chief of the nation's armed forces, in times of peace as well as war. He has at all times unlimited authority to direct the movements of land, sea, and air forces, as well as of nuclear forces.
The president has the power to make treaties with foreign governments, though the Senate must approve such treaties. Finally, the president has the power to approve or reject (veto) the laws passed by Congress. Congress can override the president's veto of a bill by summoning a two-thirds majority vote in favor of the measure. Oddly, the president of the United States is not elected by direct suffrage but rather is indirectly elected by the electors within an electoral college (q.v.); this institution's voting composition, however, basically reflects the popular vote. The president is elected for a four-year term, and any individual is limited to serving two consecutive terms as president.
The first ten presidents of the United States were, in chronological order:
- George Washington (1789-1797)
- John Adams (1797-1801)
- Thomas Jefferson (1801-1805)
- James Madison (1809-1812)
- James Monroe (1817-1825)
- Jonh Quincy Adams (1825-1829)
- Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
- Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
- William Henry Harrison (1841)
- John Tyler (1841-1845)
For a short biography of any of the above Presidents, please click on their name.
General Presidential Internet Links
- The White House. Source of information on all of America's forty three presidents, including the biographies appearing on these pages.
- Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States
- Grolier's Online The American Presidency. Presidential biographies courtesy of Grolier Encyclopedia.
- The Internet Public Library Presidents of the United States. Comprehensive links and more.
- Virginia Historical Society. Historical references and information on many of America's early presidents.
- Presidential Trivia Quizzes. Test your knowledge of American presidential trivia - fun and educational too.
- Yahoo's Presidential Links. Lots and lots of links to internet-based presidential information.
