Since declaring its independence from England in 1776, the United States has been declared the leader of the free world for its hardline beliefs in individual liberty. Although the US has had its struggles both domestically and internationally, millions of people from all over the world have immigrated to the west for their belief in the American Dream. In the United States, no one is chosen to lead the free world for their entire life, and all American-born citizens no matter if they are rich or poor, can lead the free world if they work hard and make their principles known.
Throughout American history, there have been forty-five people to serve as president, with Joe Biden currently serving as president. How people view every president is subjective, as many presidents like Ronald Reagan and Franklin Roosevelt are usually looked upon positively, but they have plenty of critics as well. Not every president has been perfect, but everyone has accomplished something in their presidency, so what is every president's biggest accomplishment in the oval office?
George Washington: Setting the Two-Term Precedent
George Washington was the first President of the United States and set forth many precedents that still hold up in the American government today. Washington appointed judges chose a presidential cabinet, and stepped down after eight years, setting the two-term precedent. Franklin Roosevelt challenged this precedent by serving four terms from 1933-1945, but the twenty-second amendment was signed to ensure that the Commander in Chief could only serve for a maximum of two four-year terms.
John Adams: Preventing War with France
John Adams oversaw what is today known as the Quasi-War and was able to prevent a full-on war with France. After congress suspended their loan repayments to the French, which led to hostility from French merchant ships, but the fledgling U.S. was able to hold its own and while many in congress wanted swift and overwhelming action, Adams chose not to declare war, eventually ending hostilities in early 1800.
Thomas Jefferson: Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson is regarded by many as one of America’s better presidents and the Louisiana Purchase is a big reason why. In 1803, the United States acquired a large amount of midwestern territory from France for 15 million dollars. This purchase not only expanded American land westward, but it also granted the U.S. access to new farming land and more natural resources.
James Madison: Keeping the Country United After the War of 1812
The United States faced another attack from Britain in the form of the War of 1812. While the US did not achieve a full victory like in the Revolutionary War, they were able to hold their own again and drove the British forces away. After the war, there was a want for peace and a rise in Patriotism, which allowed President James Madison to unite the country fully, starting the Era of Good Feelings.
James Monroe: Monroe Doctrine
After the War of 1812 which saw Great Britain attempt to interfere with American trade, James Monroe stood up for his country. The Monroe Doctrine stated that the United States would not tolerate further European colonization and installation of monarchs on American soil which still stands to this day. Future American presidents would strengthen this doctrine in the future including Theodore Roosevelt, who altered it to include nations from the western hemisphere as well.
John Quincy Adams: Secured Federal Funding for Infrastructure
The United States was still growing and changing during the Quincy Adams administration and he recognized the need for updated infrastructure. He mostly focused on giving the expanding country new roads, bridges, and canals, which allowed the US to do more business with the outside world and its citizens to move goods faster.
Andrew Jackson: Paid off Debt
The United States' national debt has been a big talking point in American politics, with the U.S. currently owing more than $20 trillion. There was a time, however, when the U.S. paid its national debt, and that was under Andrew Jackson in 1835. Although Jackson is remembered for the infamous Trail of Tears, he remains the only president in American history to have ever paid off the national debt.
Martin Van Buren: Fought the Expansion of Slavery
Martin Van Buren was against the idea of slavery and repeatedly blocked bills that would allow it to expand. He was so set against it that he outright blocked the annexation of Texas due to fears that it would become a slave state. He described slavery as a “moral evil” but could not do much to remove it as he feared that the country would split.
William Henry Harrison: Longest Inauguration Speech
William Henry Harrison served just over a month as President of the United States before his untimely death. However, Harrison is famous for delivering the longest inauguration speech at over 8,000 words. Harrison may have been ambitious in his hopes, but he did not serve nearly long enough to have accomplished anything major.
John Tyler: Annexation of Texas
After the death of William Henry Harrison, John Tyler assumed the role of President. In 1845 John Tyler signed a bill that would allow Texas to directly enter the Union as a state and bypass the territory phase. Not all of congress was on board however and the proposal to add Texas to the U.S. was defeated in 1844, but Tyler got it done in 1845 before he left office.
James Polk: Led the US in the Mexican American War
James Polk’s major accomplishment during his presidency was America’s victory in the Mexican American War. The war revolved around a dispute between the Mexican American border and whether or not American territory expanded through Texas. Ultimately, Polk led the U.S. to victory, and America officially gained new land in modern-day California and New Mexico.
Zachary Taylor: Signing of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
During Taylor’s presidency, the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty was signed. The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty was signed with the United Kingdom to compromise between contending U.S. and U.K. trade interests in South America. Both countries would be responsible for protecting the canal in the Isthmus of Panama, and neither country would try to assume full control over it.
Millard Fillmore: Expanded American Industry in the Pacific
Millard Fillmore took over as President after the death of Zachary Taylor and immediately went to work building American Industry. Under his Presidency, the U.S. started to expand its business in the pacific and even started trading with Japan and increased America’s influence in Hawaii as well. These eventually laid the groundwork for Hawaii’s statehood and relations with Japan.
Franklin Pierce: Gadsden Purchase
As the United States looked to expand westward and build a transcontinental railroad, they needed to acquire more territory for the southern line of the railroad. As a result, the Gadsden Purchase happened, and the U.S. acquired what is today known as southern Arizona and southern New Mexico.
James Buchanan: Establishment of Control Over Utah
While James Buchanan is mostly known for letting tensions between the north and south boil over, there is something positive to highlight, his handling of the Utah territory in the Utah War. The Mormon militia had taken hold of Utah and the U.S. military was sent over in the Utah Expedition. The U.S. emerged victorious and removed Brigham Young as Governor and the territory then accepted federal authority.
Abraham Lincoln: Emancipation Proclamation
This was probably the easiest decision of the entire list, as Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, officially outlawed slavery in the United States during the Civil War. The Union then went on to win the Civil War and slavery was henceforth abolished. While it was deemed radical at the time, today it is known as one of the most important laws in American history.
Andrew Johnson: Purchase of Alaska
In 1867, the United States officially purchased the state of Alaska. Russian interest in Alaska was declining due to the loss of economic opportunity, so the United States under Johnson stepped in to make the purchase. Alaska officially became a state in 1959, the 49th state of the union.
Ulysses S. Grant: Civil Rights Act of 1875
After the Civil War ended, President Ulysses S. Grant signed in the Civil Rights Act of 1875. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 officially granted all citizens, regardless of color to public accommodations including schools and theatres. Although there was still a long way to go in achieving full equality, this was a big step forward.
Rutherford B. Hayes: Attempting Truce with the South After Reconstruction
The south was still reeling after their loss to the Union in the Civil War. As president, Rutherford B. Hayes had to make a tough call to withdraw federal troops from the south to ensure the unity of the nation. Although this was controversial and many African Americans felt betrayed, others feel that this was necessary to ensure goodwill across the United States.
James Garfield: Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
James Garfield’s biggest accomplishment was the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. The Pendleton Act ensured that all federal job positions would be based on merit and that qualifications would be high. This act also ensured that federal employees could not be fired based on political reasons.
Chester Arthur: Cutting Excise Taxes
During his presidency, Chester Arthur had a large economic surplus and needed a way to balance the budget. To balance the budget, Arthur cut excise taxes to ensure true economic prosperity. This kept tax burdens low on manufacturers and small businesses, allowing them to produce more goods.
Grover Cleveland: Opposed Imperialism
In times when many supported American imperialism, Grover Cleveland stood against it. Cleveland supported a non-interventionist foreign policy as president and did not support America entangling itself in the affairs of other countries. Although ideas of expansion are still generally opposed by many, the debate of what role America should play in the world is still debated.
Benjamin Harrison: Sherman Antitrust Act
In a world of high economic competition, the Sherman Antitrust Act ensures that free competition will be a part of the American economy. Benjamin Harrison signed in the act to prevent big businesses and banks to merge and form a monopoly. This was a necessary piece of American history to ensure true economic prosperity for all.
William McKinley: The Gold Standard Act
William McKinley’s biggest accomplishment was the signing of the Gold Standard Act of 1900. This officially defined the US dollar by gold, by coinage, and by the paper dollar. The Gold Standard Act also demonetized silver.
Theodore Roosevelt: Creation of National Parks
Theodore Roosevelt was known for many things when he was president, and one of them was the creation of national parks. Roosevelt was a conservationist and believed in the protection of the environment. Many Republicans were critical of Roosevelt’s stances, which led him to create the Progressive Bull-Moose Party in 1912.
William Howard Taft: Postal Savings System
William Howard Taft signed in the Postal Savings System in 1910. This program benefited lower and middle-class Americans by allowing them to deposit their investments at their local postal office.
Woodrow Wilson: Fourteen Points
At the end of World War One, international tensions were high despite the Allied victory. Woodrow Wilson took action to outline points for world peace after a bloody war that destabilized international relations, and he was successful. The fourteen points called for nations to abolish secret treaties and reduction of armaments to ensure that peace could be kept.
Warren Harding: Creation of Veterans Bureau
After Warren Harding took office, World War 1 was over and there were over 4 million Americans that had served overseas. The veterans of the war were unhappy with benefits programs in place, and it was clear that change was needed, then the Veterans Bureau was created in 1921. This allowed those who had served in World War 1 to receive their relief and services they needed.
Calvin Coolidge: The Roaring 20’s
Calvin Coolidge presided over one of the most prosperous periods of economic success in American history. Coolidge cut taxes, kept the United States out of war after World War 1, and kept unemployment low. Coolidge was also ahead of his time on social issues, speaking in favor of civil rights at a time when racial tensions were high.
Herbert Hoover: Appointing of Three Supreme Court Justices
Many label Herbert Hoover as one of America’s worst presidents and blame him for the Great Depression, which started during his presidency. However, not all was bad, as Hoover did appoint three justices to the Supreme Court. The three justices appointed were Charles Evans Hughes, and Associate Justices Owen Roberts and Benjamin Cardozo.
Franklin Roosevelt: Good Neighbor Policy
The United States hasn’t always had good relationships with Latin America and that was especially true in the early 1900s. As President, FDR decided that a non-interventionist approach was a safer strategy, so he implemented the Good Neighbor Policy. This would ensure that the U.S. was a “good neighbor” and decrease tensions in Latin America.
Harry Truman: Desegregation of the Armed Forces
Even after the Allied victory in World War Two, all was still not well in the United States. Racism still plagued the nation and was enforced through segregation in public businesses, schools, and even the military. In 1948, Truman signed Executive Order 9981, desegregating the US military and declaring equality for all regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin.
Dwight Eisenhower: Creation of the Interstate Highway System
Ever since 1916, the federal government had funded the roadways, with a numbered highway system being established in 1926. President Eisenhower’s proposal for the interstate highway system created larger and newer freeway networks that allowed greater ease in moving between states. To this day, about a quarter of all motor vehicles in the United States have used the interstate highway system.
John F. Kennedy: Negotiating the Cuban Missile Crisis
John Kennedy had a short but eventful term as president during the Cold War, and one of his most famous experiences was the negotiation of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviet Union placed missiles in Cuba, just ninety miles off the shore of Florida in response to American missile bases placed outside the Soviet Union. Kennedy negotiated a deal for the Soviets to withdraw their missiles, and avert nuclear war, as the US went to Defcon-2, the closest America has been to nuclear war.
Lyndon Johnson: Signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
The 1960s were a period of rebellion, violence, and division that could be credited to tense racial relations. Lyndon Johnson signed in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, barring racial discrimination in public areas, and outlawing Jim Crow laws in the south. Although Johnson lost many southern Democrats due to his support for civil rights, he took the high road and fought for equal opportunity for all.
Richard Nixon: Opening Trade with China
In the early 1970s, the Cold War with the Soviets was still in full swing and America’s relationship with Communist China wasn’t particularly good either. Then Richard Nixon shocked the country by announcing he would visit China and meet with Chairman Mao in an effort to create some goodwill between the countries. Soon after, the U.S. and China started doing considerable business, as China opened up more world trade soon after.
Gerald Ford: Cut Inflation
The political world was in turmoil after Richard Nixon’s resignation and Vice President Gerald Ford inherited some serious problems, not the least of which was the 12.2% inflation rate. It was a long and hard fight, but Ford’s WIN (Whip Inflation Now) project helped immensely. In 1976, the inflation rate was brought down to 4.6% under Ford’s economic management.
Jimmy Carter: The Camp David Accords
The 1970s were defined by political discourse and war, but Jimmy Carter took a diplomatic approach to foreign affairs. In 1978, the Camp David Accords were signed to negotiate a peace treaty between the two nations after they had been at war for decades. Although Carter is remembered for a weak economy and for being president during the Iran Hostage Crisis, his diplomatic approach to foreign affairs and charitable work post-presidency have made people from all sides of the political spectrum respect him.
Ronald Reagan: Negotiated the End of the Cold War
As Soviet Russia’s dominance weakened, President Ronald Reagan was keen on ending the Cold War for good. Reagan’s famous “tear down this wall” speech seemed to rally the international community and after meetings with Mikhail Gorbachev, the animosity quickly faded. Afterward, the Soviet Union fell apart and the Cold War was ending just as Reagan left office.
George H.W. Bush: Americans with Disabilities Act
George H.W. Bush had a long and storied career serving the United States and as president, he signed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The ADA barred discrimination against those with disabilities in public areas of life including employment, schools, and transportation. Although Bush had plenty to brag about during his presidency, the ADA has been the most important regarding civil rights.
Bill Clinton: Oversaw Economic Recovery
The economic growth during the Clinton administration was truly prolific after, some economic problems in the previous administration. Overall, the economy under Bill Clinton grew about 4% each year and over 22 million jobs were created. Even better was the fact that he left office after eight years with a balanced budget and even a surplus.
George W. Bush: Leadership in a Post-9/11 World
Just days after the September 11th attacks, George Bush visited the site of the destroyed World Trade Center complex in New York. Bush sympathized with the victims and their families and promised the American people that the perpetrators of the attacks would soon feel the wrath of the United States. Although Bush’s presidency was viewed unfavorably by many, much of the American public stood behind him after his speech at Ground Zero and stood united in the face of terror.
Barack Obama: The Death of Osama bin Laden
Since 9/11, the United States scoured the middle east for terrorist Osama bin Laden. The Obama administration had received word that bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan and Obama sent Navy SEALs on a successful mission that resulted in the al-Qaeda leader’s death. To this day it is arguably the most famous terrorist assassination in history, as the man behind 9/11 was brought to justice.
Donald Trump: Running a Strong Economy
Although he is one of the most controversial presidents in American history, Donald Trump was behind a historically unprecedented level of job growth. Millions of Americans across different groups of people saw wage increases, net worth increases, and low unemployment. A strong economy is just one reason why Trump had such a passionate base of supporters and is a prime reason why he is considered a frontrunner in the 2024 election.
Joe Biden: Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccines
While Biden’s presidency is not over, his biggest accomplishment to date was the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Inheriting operation Warp Speed from his predecessor, Biden expedited the process of spreading vaccines to the American people. With most of the country getting vaccinated COVID rates started falling, and things eventually began to return to normal.