With the recent election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States, there has been a lot of talk about Barack Obama's legacy. He's been compared to the best and worst presidents, and everyone has a different opinion. In this post, I'll share my opinion on who the best and worst presidents in American history were, starting with the bottom three. 3: James Buchanan James Buchanan served as President of the United States from 1857 to 1861. During his presidency, he refused to challenge the spread of slavery. His actions as president intensified the nation's divisions, which eventually lead to the start of the Civil War. He supported the Dred Scott decision, saying that the federal government had no power to regulate slavery in the nation's new territories, and that African Americans were not granted the basic rights of American citizens. He supported the Lecompton Constitution, which would have allowed Kansas to become a slave state. The Constitution was never ratified, but it didn't help Buchanan's reputation that he supported it. 2: Richard Nixon Richard Nixon served as President of the United States from 1969-1974. Many associate Nixon solely with his downfall: the Watergate scandal. After a break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters after which it was discovered that phones were being tapped, Nixon's administration tried to cover up any involvement, even though they were directly involved. After light was shed on the scandal by two journalists and Nixon's ties to it were published, Nixon formally resigned before he could be impeached. Nixon did have some accomplishments during his term, but they are all overshadowed by the one event that shaped the rest of his life. This one major event makes him the second worst president because of the lies and deceit he engaged in. 1: Andrew Johnson We're finally down to the single worst president in American history: Andrew Johnson. His term lasted from 1865 to 1869, ending with his impeachment. Andrew Johnson served as Abraham Lincoln's Vice President until Lincoln's death in 1865. He was then sworn in as president and began his tumultuous term. Lincoln left him with a divided country, split by the effects of the recent Civil War. He began the Reconstruction era, his attempt to unite the country again. He was very lenient towards the South, and allowed them to reform and establish their own state governments. This lead to the establishment of the "Black Codes" Andrew Jackson's leniency towards the South made him an ineffective leader who never really accomplished anything. His Reconstruction ideas did nothing to help our nation. Now that that's out of the way, let's get to the best presidents in American history. 3: Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower served as America's 34th president from 1953-1961. He has many major accomplishments from during and before his presidency. During WWII, he served as a supreme commander in Western Europe. He led the invasion into Nazi-Europe that eventually ended the war. After the war, many Republicans convinced him to run for president. In his two terms in office, Eisenhower accomplished a number of things:
2: Abraham Lincoln It's hard to argue with the fact that Honest Abe was one of the greatest presidents in American history. A politician from Illinois, Lincoln was elected in 1860 and served during one of the nation's most trying times: the Civil War. His Emancipation Proclamation helped save the lives of many slaves, and his determination to unite the country again made him an example of great leadership. He was a strong abolitionist, and his adherence to the truth and reason earned him the nickname "Honest Abe." Sadly, he was assassinated in April of 1865 in Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C.. 1: George Washington There's no question that the greatest president in American history was none other than George Washington. As the nation's first President, Washington's job was to set precedents and establish a brand new nation. He had a heavy burden, with the whole world looking to him and observing his every move. With the help of his cabinet of Founding Fathers, Washington was able to create ideals and set precedents that still affect us today. After the end of the Revolutionary War in 1781, the nation turned to George Washington as their fearless leader, who had lead them to freedom from the British. Washington had been the outstanding military commander of the Continental Army, and his accomplishments in war lead him to be elected as the first President of the new United States of America. Washington had a number of accomplishments in office. He supported the Bill of Rights, which are the amendments to the Constitution written by James Madison. The Bill of Rights gave Americans basic freedoms, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion. He supported Alexander Hamilton's financial plan, which established a national bank and assumed states' debts after the War. When that financial plan included taxing whiskey, the Whiskey Rebellion occurred, during which Washington successfully mobilized troops to suppress it. He signed the Jay treaty, which established and normalized trade with Great Britain, and he improved the nation's Navy. At the end of his presidency, Washington gave his final address, in which he stated what his wishes were for the future of the nation. He spoke about what he had learned during his time as President, and gave the American people his insight. He warned about the formation of a two-party political system, and cautioned Americans to be aware of divisions that could plague the country in the future. At the end of two terms, he decided not to run for a third term, although re-election would be quite easy for him. This established the precedent that American presidents serve for a maximum of two terms. George Washington's actions and accomplishments in office inspired the future of our nation. He set the tone and formed the basic ideas that our nation follows to this very day. His impact as president is the single biggest impact of any, and that is why he is the number one President in American history.
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Politics is built on controversy. It's what makes it so interesting and interactive between lives of everyday Americans- the one thing that brings together the rich and poor into heated debates and arguments about who did what and how well. Everybody can be involved, and sure enough, everyone and anyone who has an opinion is not afraid to speak their minds. With that being said, no emotions have ever stirred up inside of me to speak my mind about this politician, this new law, or this new decision made by the president on foreign affairs, affecting the lives of millions. However, I still do have an opinion, and to me, the best presidents were for the people and only made decisions to benefit the people, while the worst presidents were corrupt and inattentive to major consequences we had to suffer. So here goes- the three best and three worst presidents the United States has ever had based on selflessness, leadership, and overall greatness. THE BEST OF THE BESTNUMBER 1: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA (2009-2017) Yes, I do realize that many people are going to disagree with me claiming he did nothing he said he would and nearly doubled our debt owed, but I am going to begin with the opinion-based portion of this ranking before I get into any numbers. Like all good presidents, Obama was for the people. In his inaugural address he stated: "And we will act, not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We'll restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. " His morals were true, and he was acceptant. He helped people feel loved and like they belonged. He always made societal issues a main priority for he strongly felt all men should be equal. He supported same-sex marriage and added gender-identity to the hate crime list. He wanted to end discrimination for those victims of hate crimes for their gender, race, and sexuality. He felt we would work better together, as one. To be one, we mustn't hate nor exclude, but set differences aside and realize the many similarities we share. In addition to Obama's exceptional acceptance, openmindeness, and modern morals I strongly agree with, the numbers don't lie. Under Obama's presidency:
Despite doubts people had in Obama and his presidency, he ignored the hate driven his way and proved to be an exceptional leader for future presidents as well as a clear role model for our youth in society today. NUMBER 2: PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1861-1865) Similar to Obama, Lincoln's morals towards the common man was one of equality and acceptance no matter what your race or where you come from. He fought for the abolition of slavery for it was cruel and unfair to blacks who had no power and little to no say in the government. President Lincoln also immensely helped societal issues, not just simply through the emancipation of all slaves. His domestic policies included support for the Homestead Act which allowed poor people in the East to obtain land in the West. In addition, he signed the Morrill Act which was designed to aid in the establishment of agricultural and mechanical colleges in each state. Lincoln rose to the top through sheer ambition and hard work. He had nearly no education at all. A self-taught man who had the leadership skills many later presidents would attempt to emulate portrayed bravery and determination within every decision he made. His accomplishments speak volumes:
President Lincoln endured extraordinary pressures during the long Civil War. He carried on despite generals who weren't ready to fight, assassination threats, bickering among his Cabinet members, huge loss of life on the battlefields, and opposition from groups such as the Copperheads. However, Lincoln remained brave and persevered. He didn't give in to the pressures and end the war early. He kept fighting until the Confederacy was defeated. A lesser man would have given in and stopped the war before the goals had been achieved. Lincoln did not do this. Lincoln stayed strong. NUMBER 3: FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (1933-1945) Continuing with this trend of presidents being there to care for the lives of the common man, Franklin D. Roosevelt did not fail in protecting those less fortunate who suffered considerably from the Great Depression. The United States had never seen such an economically drastic event such as the Great Depression, and for Roosevelt to be able to step in, take initiative, and help the country regain its confidence and prosperity is quite impressive. He encompasses true leadership abilities, and I admire his determination in rebuilding the economy, one program at a time. Roosevelt drastically decreased unemployment from 25% to a mere 2% over his tenure and put into place numerous organizations to help people feel safe and thrive. Some major accomplishments for the commonly known "FDR":
The most important note is that these organizations are still put in place today, proving their positive impact on the lives of everyday Americans. FDR proved to be an effective and promising leader who stepped in when times were rough to help the lives of everyday people who had lost hope in the previous years. THE NOT SO BEST OF THE BESTNUMBER 1: GEORGE W. BUSH (2001-2009) As mentioned in the top three best presidents, it is important to me that presidents be for the people and make every decision in favor of the people as opposed to selfish desires. This is something Bush failed to do, and is the main reason he is ranked in this list. I want to begin with the numbers because they speak greatly about Bush's negative impact on the country. Under Bush:
3. Civil liberties were drastically eroded during Bush's term. He tortured suspected terrorists in clear violation of the Geneva Convention. He also laid the groundwork for the NSA's unparalleled domestic spying program. Through Bush's inattentiveness to the drastic impact his rash decisions would have on the lives of millions of Americans, he managed to threaten Americans and their freedoms more than Osama bin Laden's schemes ever did. NUMBER 2: ANDREW JACKSON (1829-1837) Andrew Jackson was a man who brought fear into the lives of everyday people, especially the natives, poor, and people with little say in the government. His successes as a war general weren't so much as for an honorable reputation, but more for a fearful one through harsh violence. He was a man full of resentment and rage, and it showed through his presidency. He was a slave-owner who bought and sold men in bulk. When one of his slaves showed the Jacksonian temerity to escape his master, Jackson offered a $50 reward and $10 extra for every 100 lashes a person will give to the amount of 300, or basically a freelance death sentence. As president, he reversed the alternately benign neglect of Indian affairs by his predecessors and engaged in the forced removal of Indians from the South through the Trail of Tears. Jackson's policies irreversibly doomed relations with these tribes, and their descendants still suffer from them today. Jackson was a man who became president through the popular vote, but ironically used his power in an authoritative and king-like manner. He used the veto left and right, claiming unconstitutionality, but most likely for the sole purpose of shutting down any and all threats to his full power as president. Under president Jackson:
NUMBER 3: PRESIDENT FRANKLIN PIERCE (1853-1857) The third and final worst president is one not too memorable, but definitely aids in this idea of selfishness, rash decision-making, and barely any thought for decision-making consequences on the general public.
Born in New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce gained notoriety as a Northerner with a Southern attitude toward slavery. Pierce was an expansionist and dedicated considerable effort to adding territory. However, because of his stance in favor of slavery, many saw these efforts as a ploy to expand the practice. So instead of quietly maintaining the peace between pro- and anti-slavery factors – the nation’s expectation of his presidency – Pierce’s actions fanned the flames of controversy. Pierce continued to argue in favor of slavery after he left office. Whether his desire to expand the practice of slavery was for economic purposes, or simply because he enjoyed the superiority of owning slaves and didn't care about their suffering, it didn't cease, and neither did his decreasing popularity as a good leader. Under his unknown yet quite regretful presidency, Pierce caused the following:
Altogether, Pierce's term was quite ineffective and, frankly, unnecessary. He sought to expand slavery through the mere purpose of expanding the country's territory, encompassing probably the most irrelevant decision any president had ever made. He wasn't for the people, but kept dividing the people in an attempt to keep differences among one another based on race and culture. Ultimately, the best presidents to me were considerate and acceptant like Obama, smart and brave like Lincoln, and hopeful and reviving like FDR. They always put society's problems first, the people first. They always thought through their decisions with great analysis and prepared for every possible consequence. They were responsible and always fair, never corrupt. I admire these men and their presidencies who truly make America great. Despite the worst presidents, their rash decision-making, little care for the general public, and corruptness, they helped us realize what we need to do better for the future. With every failure there exists a new opportunity for our country to thrive. I have no doubt in my mind that the future presidents will continue to look back on our old ones, both effective and regretful, to learn from the embarrassments and expand on the good. By Grace Josephs |
Grace & AllisonTwo high school students interested in learning about and sharing different perspectives on historical events. Archives
April 2017
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