U.S. History Timeline: From Washington to Tyler

In 1789, George Washington was unanimously elected as the 1^st President of the United States, and for the next decade or so his timeline would be filled up with definitive marks he left for historical records.  During his administration the federal court system was established, the first tax laws were adopted, a nationwide banking system was put into place, the government was granted the power to mint coins, and (in my mind) the most significant accomplishment of all – the Bill of Rights became law. 

Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation: October 3, 1789*

Thursday, Nov 26, 1789 proclaimed a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer”.

But what were the other future nine presidents up to in that year (or at some point during Washington’s term)?  Surely they must have known they’d be elected eventually.  Weren’t they preparing themselves?  The years these men served as president and their political persuasion are included as parenthetical notes.

* SOURCE:  The Heritage Foundation

A Guide to George Washington

• (2nd) John Adams (1797-1801; Federalist) was serving as the nation’s first VEEP (Vice President). [Some say along with his wife Abigail, as she seemed to have greatly influenced her husband’s political endeavors. They only say that because they have her words preserved in writing.].
• (3rd) Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809; Democratic-Republican) was serving as the minister to France, supporting those in favor of the French Revolution. He had every intention of eventually of leading this country in the right direction – whether as president or in some other sphere of influence.
• (4th) James Madison (1809-1817; Democratic-Republican) was serving in the House of Representatives.
• (5th) James Monroe (1817-1825; Democratic-Republican) started practicing law in Virginia and settling into married life and raising his family.
• (6th) John Quincy Adams (1825-1829; Democratic-Republican) – It was the year before he started practicing law in Boston, having received a degree from Harvard College* two years earlier. [It's possible he was preparing himself because his mother probably had decided he’d do what his father did.]
• (7th) Andrew Jackson (1829-1837; Democratic) – It appears he was wooing a married woman and waiting for the divorce from her first husband to be finalized. [If he was preparing himself for a career in public politics, he certainly gave no thought to whether his personal life would create a scandal. In later years, he killed a man over that woman! In a duel, of course. Duels used to be a proper and legitimate mean of settling a matter. Sure glad that sort of prearranged combat is no longer sanctioned.]
• (8th) Martin Van Buren (1837-1841; Democratic) – He was just 6 or 7 years old; born December 5^th, 1782.
• (9th) William Henry Harrison (1841 – Only served for one month; Whig) – in 1789, he was a teenager about 16 or 17 years of age; he was studying medicine but in 1791 decided to enlist in the army.
• (10th) John Tyler (1841-1845; Whig) – He wasn’t born yet. His date of birth is March 29, 1790.

Jackson and Monroe were not the only ones who made time for romance. All of the others had romantic involvements that resulted in marriages. The first names of the First Ladies from Washington to Tyler are as follows (with husband's initals and the wedding date):

• Martha (G.W. - January 6, 1759);
• Abigail (J.A. - October 25, 1764);
• Martha (T.J. - January 1, 1772);
• Dolley (J.M. - September 15, 1794);
• Elizabeth (J.M. - February 16, 1786);
• Louisa (J.Q.A. - July 26, 1797);
• Rachel (A.J. - official wedding date January 17, 1794; the first union was not recognized or accepted as a legitimate union because the woman's divorce had not been finalized);
• Hannah (M.V.B. - February 21, 1807);
• Anna (W.H.H. - November 1795); and
• Leticia (J.T. - March 29, 1813).

Out of all of these ladies, Ms. Abigail left her mark on history as being the wife and the mother of a U.S. President.  It was said that she practically directed her husband’s political career.  They have written letters where she brought to her husband’s attention matters the government should address such as women’s rights.  Incredulous!  Well if she had her husband’s ear (as most wives do); one can assume she might have offered a few suggestions to her son as well.

To conclude this article, below are facts or details that might be a "need to know" if you enjoy games like Trivia or Jeopardy. 

 Did you know that:

• John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the 4th of July in 1826.  Adams at his home in Braintree (now Quincy), MA; and Jefferson at his beloved Monticello.  James Monroe died July 4, 1831, in New York City.

• Abigail and Elizabeth were included in the list of The Top 10 Names for Baby Girls in 2012 published by the Social Security Administration.  Abigail was #7 on the list and Elizabeth was #10.

• William Henry Harrison gave the longest inaugural address on record and died a month later of pneumonia.

• The words and writing of Thomas Jefferson have universal appeal.  He is often quoted by both Americans and non-Americans and is considered as the most impressive and influential of our nation's founding fathers in spreading the concepts of liberty and equality.

I like that final fact.  Don't you?  Just a glimpse at the everyday lives of everyday people. Hope you enjoyed it.

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U.S. Presidents (us-history.com) ~ Shining the spotlight on a few good men.

God Bless America
Looking Ahead to 2016 & Beyond ---->

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