America's Presidents: Washington to Lincoln

Name: America's Presidents: Washington to Lincoln
Rating: 4.3 (27 reviews)

A closer look at the remarkable and unremarkable men who have held the office of Chief Executive

Created byJ.F. Parcher

Last updated 9/2019

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Better understand the personalities, careers, and achievements of the presidents.
Assess the greatness of each president through the lens of history and politics

Course content

3 sections • 16 lectures • 5h 58m total length

George Washington26:34
George Washington founded the presidency by establishing key precedents, commanding the revolution, shaping the cabinet and a strong central government, and guiding neutrality and expansion as two-term leader.
John Adams24:27
John Adams demonstrates principled independence as the second president, defending soldiers in the Boston Massacre and advancing independence. He steered diplomacy with France and Britain and shaped early federalist politics.
Thomas Jefferson25:48
Jefferson presents a people-oriented presidency, advancing small government, authoring the Declaration of Independence, guiding the Louisiana Purchase, and supporting exploration with Lewis and Clark, while founding the University of Virginia.
James Madison20:17
James Madison, a Jeffersonian genius, guides the Constitutional Convention, drafts the Virginia Plan, writes the Federalist Papers, and champions the Bill of Rights, shaping federalism amid the War of 1812.
James Monroe19:25
James Monroe, last of the revolutionary generation and Virginia dynasty, presided over the era of good feelings with Florida acquisition, Missouri Compromise, and the Monroe Doctrine.

John Quincy Adams18:48
John Quincy Adams, sixth president and son of John Adams, a brilliant scholar and diplomat, faced a corrupt bargain, then championed education and abolition in Congress, helping found the Smithsonian.
Andrew Jackson26:47
Andrew Jackson reshaped the presidency as a populist, expanding executive power, fighting the national bank, pursuing Indian removal, and shaping the era of Jacksonian democracy.
Martin Van Buren17:39
Martin Van Buren, master organizer of the early Democratic Party, built the Albany Regency and modern political machinery, shaping campaigns amid the panic of 1837.
William Henry Harrison20:33
Learn how William Henry Harrison, the ninth president and the shortest-serving leader, leveraged the log cabin campaign, won at Tippecanoe, and shaped northwest territory expansion.
John Tyler19:47
John Tyler, the 10th president, ascended after Harrison’s death, asserted strict states’ rights presidential power, advanced Texas annexation, and established the precedent that the vice president becomes president.
James K. Polk26:39
James K. Polk pursued four goals—independent treasury, tariff reduction, and the acquisitions of Oregon and California—and achieved them in one term, expanding the nation through the Mexican-American War.
Zachary Taylor18:53
Zachary Taylor led as a rugged army general who avoided pomp and opposed slavery expansion in California by prioritizing statehood. His brief presidency weakened the Whig Party and realigned politics.

Millard Filmore17:43
Millard Fillmore served as president from 1850 to 1853, signing the Compromise of 1850, enforcing the Fugitive Slave Law, and opening Japan with Commodore Perry while defending Hawaii.
Franklin Pierce24:53
Discover Franklin Pierce, the popular 14th president from New Hampshire, whose charisma and personal struggles—depression, alcoholism, and tragedy—shaped a presidency marked by Bleeding Kansas and the Ostend Manifesto fallout.
James Buchannan18:33
Examine James Buchanan’s presidency, his complex personality, ambitious yet ineffective handling of secession and slavery, and the road to the Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln31:25
Abraham Lincoln blends folksy charm with sharp intellect, winning debates and leading the union through the Civil War. He advances emancipation initiatives and landmark projects like the Pacific Railway Act.

Requirements

An interest in learning more about the well-known and not-so-well-known presidents who have led the United States.

Description

What does the President do? How has the office shaped the United States? Which President was the best? Which was the worst?

This course is designed to familiarize you with some of the men who have occupied the office of President of the United States. The personalities, careers, achievements, and legacy of each will be analyzed to ensure you come away with a good understanding of each president, their life, and times.

You'll learn about how each of them has left their mark on the United States, for better or for worse, and come away with a better understanding of this nation, its people, and it's history.

Who this course is for:

Anyone interested in learning more about history or politics.
Anyone who has questions about why presidents do certain things (e.g. Why are they referred to as "Mr. President"?
People who would like to learn about lesser known presidents and their accomplishments (What the heck did Millard Fillmore do?!?)

America's Presidents: Washington to Lincoln

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

The Revolutionary Generation - Washington to Monore5 lectures • 1hr 57min

An Expanding Republic - J.Q. Adams to Tyler7 lectures • 2hr 29min

A Gathering Storm - Filmore to Lincoln4 lectures • 1hr 33min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: