In honor of Presidents Day, I have decided to change the course of my Top 10 Ever series from the NFL (yeah, I should probably get back to that soon) and list who I believe were the ten best presidents in American history.
10. James Madison
9. James Monroe
8. Calvin Coolidge
7. Woodrow Wilson
6. Franklin Roosevelt
5. Ronald Reagan
4. George Washington
3. Thomas Jefferson
2. Theodore Roosevelt
1. Abraham Lincoln
Not as difficult to pick the members of this list, as there were the obvious names that had to be on this list, and the fact that there were many useless presidents in office from 1837-1860 and again from 1865-1896.
James Madison was a war president, and did help lead us to complete independence, if you want to call it that, from Great Britain and led the nation into "The Era of Good Feelings" which gave the nation its first real taste of economic prominence. James Monroe followed Madison and made the first steps to making the US into a world power with the Monroe Doctrine. The doctrine made the US into a police state to aid the Central American countries that just declared independence, and also prevented from European countries to create any new colonies in the area.
Calvin Coolidge led the nation through its greatest economic period in the Roaring Twenties. Not just that, Coolidge repaired the image of the presidency from the previous regime of Warren Harding. Coolidge's presidency proves that being a great speaker doesn't make a great leader, as described by his nickname "Silent Cal." Two presidencies before Coolidge was Woodrow Wilson. Wilson led the nation through the first World War and created the idea for a League of Nations, which would be reformed to the United Nations today. Wilson is also known for creating the Federal Reserve.
Franklin Roosevelt is considered by many to be the best president. However, many of his policies were unconstitutional and were in the socialist ideals. The Civil Conservation Corps and sending the Japanese to interment camps are among those unconstitutional policies. Though, leading the nation through one of the darkest times in world history with the Great Depression and World War II does redeem him greatly. Ronald Reagan's policies also led the nation back into economic growth. Reagan also gave the steps for the Cold War to end.
George Washington deserves the title "Father of the Country." Washington did an excellent job building the US from the early years. The greatest achievement of his presidency was building the government that followed the idea of the government for the people. Washington set precedents for the presidency that are still followed today. Thomas Jefferson began the first real expansion in America after purchasing the Louisiana Territory from France. Jefferson was the top advocate for the freedoms that the country is built on.
If James Monroe began to make the country a world power, Theodore Roosevelt completed that idea. Ironically, Roosevelt accomplished that feat by adding a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, making the US to exercise the police action to aid the smaller countries. Roosevelt also built the Panama Canal to help increase trade and helped the navy by making faster routes between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Speaking of the navy, Roosevelt built a stronger standing army to make the United States the power that it is. Other policies include reforming the workplace and creating restrictions on child labor.
Finally, the greatest president in American history: Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln led the nation through a crisis greater than both the Great Depression and the Cold War. Lincoln dealt with the country splitting right in half with the southern states seceding from the Union. The difference between war time presidents like Wilson and FDR, Lincoln had to fight a war against his own country. In doing so, Lincoln was forced to do something that has rarely happened, he took total control of the country. Many would describe this as an abuse of power, especially with Lincoln suspending Habeas Corpus. This action is justified though, as Lincoln's main objective was to preserve the Union. During these acts, Lincoln also abolished slavery by signing the Emancipation Proclamation. Unfortunately, Lincoln was assassinated before history can see what type of president he would be in a time of peace. However, Lincoln's ability to lead during crisis and his actions to keep a nation together makes him the greatest president in American history.
It is not just coincidence that the top four presidents on this list are the presidents on Mt. Rushmore. The fact is is that those four men earned the image of greatness, as is the other men on this list. All ten of these men shaped one of the greatest nations in the world.
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