10. William McKinley/Woodrow Wilson
9.Calvin Coolidge
8. James Madison
7. James Monroe
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.
We start out the countdown with a tie. William McKinley was the president just at the turn of the twentieth century. His term was best known for the Spanish-American War and the annexation of the islands of Hawaii and Guam. The war was more of a cause of yellow journalism and propaganda against Spain, but the public doesn't ask for a declaration of war, the president does. The victory allowed the US to be more seen as a world power that was further brought up from his successor, Teddy Roosevelt. Wilson is part of my little mantra for war presidents getting the benefit as the leaders during conflicts as such. Wilson was president in 1917, the year the United States entered World War I in Europe. Wilson will also get credit for being among the first US presidents to call for a united world, which many of his ideas would evolve into building the United Nations.
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."
James Madison was another of many war presidents, leading the nation through the War of 1812, which did help lead us to complete independence, if you want to call it that, from Great Britain and led the country into "The Era of Good Feelings" which gave the nation its first real taste of economic prominence. James Monroe was the fifth President of United States, following 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.
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. However, the significant root of what makes FDR great is that he was what a president should be, a leader. A man the country can look up to in dark times and see his great strength and bravery. 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. A big issue occurring in the country at the time was the power of monopolies in corporate business. Businesses like Standard Oil and US Steel were running the economy on their own, and eliminated all competition. Roosevelt took the battle to the business tycoons with his anti-trust suits, taking down monopolies and creating opportunities for competition to build on the free market system. Other policies include reforming the workplace and creating restrictions on child labor. Roosevelt should not have been president, but the assassination of William McKinley forced him into office, but he took the opportunity and ran with it.
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 combined. 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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