Effective presidents are those who must have certain traits in order to lead our country in the best way possible. These things would include being the best in economic, foreign and domestic affairs, chief executive, and commander in chief. Some of the presidents in our history have demonstrated these traits. These presidents are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln. An effective president is one who gets the jobs done under all types of measures. In order to take care of the United States I believe a person has to be a little conniving as well. George Washington was the best Chief Executive that understood that his every action would set a precedent for future administrations and that his mistakes could hurt the young United States. Washington was able to triumph in setting a dignified tone for the presidency. Washington saw the need to establish the primacy of the federal government over the states. He established the rule that presidents seek the advice and consent of the Senate not before or during negotiations, but only after a treaty had made. Over Washington’s eight years as first president of the United States, not many can argue that he played an insignificant role. Even today, Washington’s magnificent work is recognized and appreciated. He is admired by a large number of historians and talked very highly of by teachers. There is no doubt that President George Washington along with his administration created an excellent blueprint to govern such a young country, a country to be proud of. Thomas Jefferson was the most effective in the Economic issues. The most dramatic action was the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, which added more than 2,100,000 sq km of land to the United States. Jefferson had no authority to buy the territory of France, though he saw landholding and farming as essential the future of the country. Jefferson called the purchase “an act beyond the Constitution,” but Congress eventually appropriated funds and approved the land deal. Jefferson’s vision of a larger, more prosperous country, joined with his political pragmatism to produce an act of exceptional presidential leadership. The bold decision to push forward with the Louisiana Purchase demonstrated that presidential power went beyond the narrowly worded passages in the Constitution, and that the authority of the office depends in part on the person in power. Andrew Jackson to me was the best Party Leader as president in America political life. Successfully he pressed for a more democratic political process, and he asserted the superiority of the federal government over all states. With Jackson’s administration, national political parties took control of the selection of presidential candidates, marking the end of congressional control of the process. Jackson stood at the head of the new Democratic Party, and his election ushered in the era of modern political parties. Jackson also asserted the authority of the federal government and the president over the states.
I believe that Abraham Lincoln was the country’s greatest president in overall tings. President Lincoln believed that he needed to stop the South from seceding and to preserve republican government, as “the last best hope of mankind.” Southern states withdrew from the United States in 1860 and 1861 leading into the Civil War. Lincoln reacted by exerting his presidential authority to the fullest measure. Without congressional sanction, he increased the armed forces beyond the limits established by law, and spent millions of dollars for which no congressional appropriations had been made. Lincoln also emancipated the slaves in the rebellious Southern states and issued presidential decrees to begin Reconstruction—the process of rebuilding the south’s tattered political and economic system.
An effective president will always be a uniter rather than a divider. He must also have some stubbornness and disagreeableness, in order to stand his ground. Even though times of war may arise, their ultimate goal should be peace. The people want peace, dignity, equality, and opportunity. Over all the president has the up most control over the country. That is why I believe that these where one of the most effective presidents that our nation has had throughout American History.
Work Cited www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/george-washington www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/abraham-lincoln www.ushistory.org/.../jefferson.htm www.whitehouse.gov
The most Effective Presidents in US History
Alejandro Corona
History 1301-005
2/27/2015
Cited: www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/george-washington www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/abraham-lincoln www.ushistory.org/.../jefferson.htm www.whitehouse.gov The most Effective Presidents in US History Alejandro Corona History 1301-005 2/27/2015