The Presidents of the United States: A Chronology | List of Us Presidents

 

Table of Contents:

• How Many People Held the Presidency?
• What Does the President Do?
• The Early Republic (1789–1849)
• The Civil War and Reconstruction Era (1849–1877)
• The Gilded Age and Progressive Era (1877–1921)
• The Great Depression and World Wars (1921–1953)
• The Cold War and Social Change (1953–1981)
• The Modern Presidency (1981–2025)
• FAQ

The Presidents of the United States: A Chronology

How Many People Held the Presidency?

Did you know that although the United States has seen 46 presidencies since its founding in 1789, only 45 different individuals have served in the highest office? Since the nation's start with George Washington, and up to the current president in 2025, the office of the presidency forms a vital part of American government.

What Does the President Do?

The president serves as both the leader of the state and the head of the government. This dual role means the president helps form the nation's policies and shape its history.

The Early Republic (1789–1849)

The first group of presidents established how the office would work and guided the young country through its first decades.

• George Washington (1789–1797) - The first president and a Founding Father. He set many initial rules for how the office behaves.
• John Adams (1797–1801) - The second president. He strongly pushed for independence.
• Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809) - The main writer of the Declaration of Independence and the third president.
• James Madison (1809–1817) - People know him as the "Father of the Constitution."
• James Monroe (1817–1825) - Famous for the Monroe Doctrine, a statement of foreign policy.
• John Quincy Adams (1825–1829) - Son of John Adams. People note his success in dealing with other nations.
• Andrew Jackson (1829–1837) - A president who appealed to common people. He expanded voting rights but also enforced policies like the Indian Removal Act, which caused much debate.
• Martin Van Buren (1837–1841) - A key person in the Democratic Party.
• William Henry Harrison (1841) - His term was the shortest. He died after 31 days.
• John Tyler (1841–1845) - He added Texas to the country, an event that led to the Mexican-American War.
• James K. Polk (1845–1849) - During his time, the country grew in size greatly.

The Civil War and Reconstruction Era (1849–1877)

During this time, the country faced internal conflict and then tried to put itself back together.

12. Zachary Taylor (1849–1850) - A military hero who died while in office.
13. Millard Fillmore (1850–1853) - The last president who did not belong to one of the two main political groups.
14. Franklin Pierce (1853–1857) - His time as president shows tension between different parts of the country.
15. James Buchanan (1857–1861) - His term came right before the Civil War began.
16. Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865) - He led the nation through the Civil War and ended slavery.
17. Andrew Johnson (1865–1869) - He watched over the time of Reconstruction after Lincoln's death.
18. Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877) - A former Union general during the Civil War.
19. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877–1881) - He brought the Reconstruction period to an end.

The Gilded Age and Progressive Era (1877–1921)

The nation saw fast industrial growth and later a push for social change during these years.
20. James A. Garfield (1881) - Killed early during his term.
21. Chester A. Arthur (1881–1885) - He supported changes to how the government hires staff.
22. Grover Cleveland (1885–1889, 1893–1897) - The only president who served two terms that did not happen one after the other.
23. Benjamin Harrison (1889–1893) - Grandson of William Henry Harrison.
24. William McKinley (1897–1901) - He led the nation during the Spanish-American War.
25. Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) - Known for reforms that pushed for progress and for protecting natural resources.
26. William Howard Taft (1909–1913) - He later became the head judge of the Supreme Court.
27. Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) - He led during World War I and suggested the League of Nations.

The Great Depression and World Wars (1921–1953)

These presidents dealt with massive economic failure and global conflict.
28. Warren G. Harding (1921–1923) - His presidency shows many scandals.
29. Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) - Known for economic policies that favored limited government interference.
30. Herbert Hoover (1929–1933) - President when the Great Depression began.
31. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945) - Elected four times. He led during the Great Depression, also World War II.
32. Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) - He chose to use atomic bombs in WWII.

The Cold War and Social Change (1953–1981)

This period featured intense international rivalry and major shifts in civil rights at home.
33. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961) - A WWII general and president during the Cold War.
34. John F. Kennedy (1961–1963) - Known for the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was killed while in office.
35. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) - He passed important laws about civil rights.
36. Richard Nixon (1969–1974) - He quit his job because of the Watergate scandal.
37. Gerald Ford (1974–1977) - The only president never chosen as president or vice president by voters.
38. Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) - Known for his focus on human rights.

The Modern Presidency (1981–2025)

Recent leaders have dealt with a shifting global order and new economic challenges.
39. Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) - A former actor and governor. He greatly influenced conservative thought.
40. George H. W. Bush (1989–1993) - Led during the Gulf War.
41. Bill Clinton (1993–2001) - Saw a time of economic growth. Congress attempted to remove him from office, but he stayed.
42. George W. Bush (2001–2009) - President during the September 11 attacks and the Iraq War.
43. Barack Obama (2009–2017) - The first African American president.
44. Donald Trump (2017–2021) - A businessman and television figure. Congress tried to remove him from office two times.
45. Joe Biden (2021–2025) - The current president as of 2025. He served earlier as vice president under Obama.

This list shows how the United States has changed politically, socially, as well as economically over more than two centuries. Each president gave something unique to the country's progress. They met great challenges, from wars and money problems to social change and new technology. The presidency stays a key role in setting the course of American history and policy.

FAQ

Why does the number of presidencies differ from the number of presidents?

The United States has had 46 presidencies held by 45 individuals because Grover Cleveland served two terms that did not follow one another. We count his service as two separate presidencies.

How does the president set precedents for the office?

Early presidents, especially George Washington, had to make decisions on how the office should work, such as forming a cabinet or limiting terms before formal laws existed. These first actions set a pattern for future leaders.

What does "head of state and head of government" mean for the president?

As head of state, the president acts as the symbolic figure of the nation, much like a monarch in some countries. As head of government, the president oversees the daily operations of the executive branch and implements laws. He fills both roles.

Resources & References:

1. https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/complete-list-of-presidents-of-the-united-states-1730813085-1
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_the_United_States
3. https://americanbazaaronline.com/2025/01/24/looking-for-all-the-u-s-presidents-in-order-heres-a-complete-list458710/
4. https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jG_15fD5hc
6. https://henrybeaver.com/newserx/47952-names-of-us-presidents-in-order-a-comprehensive-guide
7. https://presidentsforkids.com/blogs/news/complete-list-of-u-s-presidents-and-their-birth-states-1789-present
8. https://henrybeaver.com/newserx/69366-all-american-presidents-in-order-a-comprehensive-guide
9. https://guides.loc.gov/presidents-portraits/chronological