- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
U.S. Presidents For Dummies with Online Practice
About This Book
Discover how the Oval Office's occupants have made and make history
Which one was the tallest? Which one fought a duel? Which had liquor smuggled into the White House during Prohibition? And why is the president even called the president in the first place? From periwigs and knee breeches to the 24-hour news cycle and presidential Tweets, the fascinating and colorful stories of the 45 incumbents are a powerful lens through which to view U.S. history and get insight into the present.
Taking readers on a fact-filled journey through two centuries, this book examines how each individual obtained their dream (or nightmare) position, what they stood for (or against), achieved (or didn't), and how their actions affected the country—for better or worse. And—remembering that presidents are people too—it shows how the personal really can be political, exploring how each president's vision, strengths, and foibles helped or hindered them in building the country and their own legacy.
- Accessible biographies of all presidents
- Sidebars, timelines, and photos
- Lists of best and worst administrations
- Bonus online content, including quizzes galore to help build retention
Whether you're a student, a history buff—or are even interested in becoming president yourself one day— U. S. Presidents For Dummies is the perfect guide to what it takes to be leader of the free world, who has stepped up to that challenge, and how those personal histories can help us understand yesterday's, today's, and even tomorrow's union.
Frequently asked questions
Information
Understanding U.S. Presidents
Presidents and the Presidency
Establishing the First U.S. Government
Facing problems
- Without the power to tax, the Congress could not support a large military, which was dangerous with the British, Russian, and Spanish empires still in North America.
- The war bonds sold to finance the war against Britain presented another problem. With the war over and the national government unable to tax, nobody redeemed the bonds. Many patriotic people who bought war bonds to support the war for independence lost their life savings when they couldn’t redeem the bonds. Not surprisingly, people complained.
- Trade became a problem, with the states treating each other like they were foreign countries. How can a united country be established when its members impose trade restrictions against each other?
Writing a constitution
- The creation of a federal republic, where the states and the national/federal government shared powers
- A bicameral Congress with two chambers — the House of Representatives (selected by the people) and the Senate (equally represented by the states, with each state sending two senators)
- An executive, or president, elected by an Electoral College every four years
- A Supreme Court nominated by the president and ratified by the Senate
Drawing up the presidency
Being unique
Table of contents
- Cover
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Part 1: Understanding U.S. Presidents
- Part 2: Starting with Known Quantities: Washington to John Quincy Adams
- Part 3: Enduring the Best and the Worst: Jackson to Buchanan
- Part 4: Becoming a Force in the World: Lincoln to Hoover
- Part 5: Instituting the Imperial Presidency: Franklin Roosevelt to Richard Nixon
- Part 6: Changing the Dynamics: Gerald Ford to Donald J. Trump
- Part 7: The Part of Tens
- Appendix: Presidential Facts
- Index
- About the Author
- Connect with Dummies
- End User License Agreement