The Careful Dutchman #8: Martin Van Buren

I learned one thing: I cannot come up with 44 facts for every President. I will make it up with other presidents. 

1. Stats: Born December 5, 1782. 
1. Married Hannah Hoes
2. 5 children. 
2. Martin was the first American-born President. 
3. Only received formal education to the age of 14. 
4. He served as the Governor of NY state for 3 months before resigning to become Jackson's Secretary of State
5. English was his second language, Dutch was his first. 
6. the phrase 'ok' became a popular expression due to Martin's nickname "old Kinderhook." 
7. His father owned a tavern and as a kid he worked there. Notable regulars: Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. 
8. His wife died in 1819 and he never remarried. 
9. when he became president, his daughter-in-law stepped in and helped with first lady duties. 
1. Angelica was a cousin of Dolley Madison. 
10. He had two pet tiger cubs (given to him by the Sultan of Oman)
11. Though he did not cause the Panic of 1837, he dealt with the fallout--he did nothing. 
1. he believed it wasn't the government's job to step in. 
12. The fallout from the financial crisis lead to another nickname: Martin van Ruin.
13. made peace with Canada over the Aroostook River.
1. Canadian and US borders (this instance in Maine) were not clearly drawn and the two countries argued over 
14. He negotiated with the Ottoman Sultan to reopen trade. 
15. who owned which parts. President VB sent a general to settle the issue.
16. He served only one term, losing badly in 1840. 
17. He ran for president again in 1844 and 1848. 
18. He was a fancy pants. He had very expensive tastes and dressed all frilly. 
19. Along with dressing fancy, he demanded to be served with gold spoons in the White House. 
20. He thought of himself as nobility and petitioned William I (Dutch King) for a coat of arms and it was granted. 
21. Blocked Texas' reentry into the US because slavery was legal. 
22. He replaced Calhoun (VP) in Jackson's second term. 
23. Helped organize the modern Democratic party. 
24. Petticoat Affair: as this was an issue of the cabinet wives not wanting to associate with wife of the Secretary of War (John Eaton), VB wasn't really involved and maintained loyal to President Jackson but to help the President with an opportunity to reorganize the cabinet, Van Buren resigned as SecState. This led to the President calling for other resignations. 
25. Was a member of the 'kitchen cabinet.' a group loyal to the President who worked as unofficial advisors to the President. 
26. Even after resigning from his actual Cabinet position; VB remained a kitchen cabinet member. 
27. After resigning, President Jackson appointed him to the position of British Ambassador but it was rejected by pro-Calhoun Democrats (Calhoun loathed VB) to make Calhoun cast the deciding vote. 

http://americanhistory.about.com/od/martinvanburen/tp/Ten-Things-To-Know-About-Martin-Van-Buren.htm

https://www.nps.gov/nama/blogs/Presidential-Pets.htm

http://facts.net/martin-van-buren/

Presidents Fact Book (2009, Martuz)

Father of the modern Presidency: #7, Andrew Jackson

(Picture taken from www.whitehouse.gov)

1. Stats: Born March 15, 1767
1. Married Rachel Donelson Robards. 
2. Orphaned at age 14. He blamed the British and hated them for the damage they caused his family.
3. Received his nickname for his heroics in defeating the British in NOLA during the war of 1812.
4. His parents were immigrants from Ireland, coming to the US in 1765. 
5. in 1806 he killed a man in a duel, after the man called him "a worthless scoundrel, a poltroon and a coward." 
1. today, I learned that poltroon is a word. and it means 'a wretched coward. huh. (dictonary.com)
2. also note, this was only one of about a dozen duels in which he was a participant.
6. On a similar topic, he is considered the angriest man to serve as president, getting in many fights (many turning violent). 
7. Won the Popular vote against JQA in 1824 but lost the election. 
8. Because he won the popular vote in 1824, he won the popular vote in 3 presidential elections.
9. Jackson was the first president to be the target of an assassination--both the attacker's guns misfired and the President attacked the man with his cane. 
10. greatly contributed to the expansion of executive powers of the President.  (hence the title "Father of the Modern Presidency."
11. He and his wife married before her divorce was finalized (he didn't know this). 
12. Jackson blamed his predecessor, John Quincy Adams, for his wife's death. he claimed that the campaign attacks against her caused her to die. 
13. Even through today, he is the only President that was a prisoner of war. As a teenager he was a courier in the revolutionary war and taken prisoner with his Brother. 
14. During his imprisonment he was ordered to polish the books of a British officer and he refused. The officer slashed his hand tot he bone--the scar remained the rest of his life. 
15. 1798: He was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court and served for 6 years. 
16. 1801: with the rank of colonel he was appointed as the commander of the Tennessee militia. A year later he became major general. 
17. First President to take the oath of office on the East Portico of the US Capitol.
18. He was also the first President to invite the public to his first inaugural ball. 
1. Many 'commoners' attended and wore their homemade clothing. 
19. Was considered a 'humane slave owner'. <--yea, that's a thing. Well, at least for that time period he was considered humane. 
20. Only president to serve in both Revolutionary War and War of 1812. 
21. He adopted two native american boys (both died as children). 
22. Senate rejected his nomination of Martin Van Buren as Minister to England. Pres. Jackson jumped up shouting "By the Eternal! I'll smash them!" and Van Buren became Veep and succeeded the President. 
1. I really want to start exclaiming "By the Eternal!" We should bring it back. 
1. Was it ever something that was a 'thing' to be brought back? 
23. He was a fan of rewarding those who supported him and loved his veto power. 
24. All of this centralizing power gained him the nickname "King Andrew I"
25. Indian removal Act: Forced Native Americans to move to reservations in the West. 
26. Let's just go ahead and remind everyone that this led to the Trail of Tears. 
1. US troops led 15,000+ Cherokee from GA to OK. Approx. 4000 natives died in the march.
27. He was a fan of eliminating the Electoral College. 
28. As President Jackson was a widow, hostess duties fell to his wife's niece, Emily Donelson and later co-hosted with Sarah Yorke Jackson (Wife of Rachel's nephew)
29. He had a parrot. This parrot cursed like a sailor and was removed from President Jackson's funeral. 
30. Both North and South Carolina claim they are the birthplace of the President.
31. Helpful for Veterans: The Pension Act of 1832 gave pensions for veterans--whether or not there was an obvious need. 
32. 1836: an act enabling Revolutionary War widows could receive their husbands' pensions. 
33. Panic of 1837: financial crisis. Inflation rose after fed. deposits were withdrawn, Jackson's refusal to renew the charter of the 2nd Bank of the US, and several other reasons. 
34. Jackson was good friends with Aaron Burr. He was even one of the witnesses for Burr's treason trial. 
35. As mentioned in the West Wing, President Jackson had a giant block of cheese at the White House. He received the 1400-pound wheel as a gift in 1835 and kept it in the lobby for 2 years. 
1. Before leaving office he let the public eat it at a reception. 
36. Due to successful trade agreements, exports increased 75% and imports increased 250%
37. Despite initial reluctance to fund expeditions, he created and funded the United States Exploring Expedition--which confirmed the existence of Antarctica. 
38. President Jackson was the first president to ride on a train. it was a 12 mile trip.
39. 1835: First and only president to pay off the national debt. 
40. 2 states admitted in Jackson's presidency---one of which being the best decision ever (in this Michigan girl's humble opinion): 
1. Arkansas in 1836
2. Michigan in 1837
41. As he was leaving office he stated he had only two regrets: he was unable to shoot Henry Clay or hang John C Calhoun. 
42. He had such a terrible cough throughout much of his later years due to a musket ball being lodged in his lung that was never removed. the cough would bring up blood and made his whole body shake. 
43. After leaving office, he was still sought out by current politicians and seen as a wise adviser. Many politicians met with him at Hermitage throughout the rest of his life.
44. Died June 8, 1845

Presidents fact book (Martuz 2009)

http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-andrew-jackson

http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/andrew-jackson

The Abolitionist: #6 John Quincy Adams

1. Stats: 
1. Born July 11, 1767. 
2. Died Feb 23 1848
3. Married Louisa Johnson on July 26 1797
2. Suffered from depression most of his life. 
3. Served as Secretary of state for 8 years under President Monroe. 
4. He was the chief negotiator between US and GB for the end of the War of 1812.
5. Minister to Great Britain after the war of 1812.
6. His nickname "The Abolitionist" came about due to his insistence of ending slavery, despite congress telling him to stop bringing it up.
7. First Father/Son combo to both become Presidents (his father was #2, John Adams). 
1. There's only been one other Father/Son combo to date: George HW Bush and George W Bush.
8. He was the first President with a Middle name. 
9. He used his middle name in public life as a way to ensure he was not confused with his father. 
10. JQ Adams became the Minister to the Netherlands, a position he was appointed to by George Washington
11. 1796 He became the Minister to Portugal. 
12. He didn't have the drive for public service and only took his initial posting in the Netherlands at his father's insisting. 
13. He was praised on his diplomatic talents but was not still sold on the idea of being a civil servant until he heard how highly he was praised by the man himself, George Washington. 
1. Washington had called him the "most valuable of America's officials abroad." 
14. Speaking of George, JQA's eldest son was named George Washington Adams. 
15. During his Father's presidency, he was appointed Minister to Prussia. 
16. JQ was appointed Commissioner on Monetary Affairs, but Thomas Jefferson rescinded the appointment. 
17. He is the only President to have married a woman not born in the US. 
18. President Adams was a federalist but resigned his party membership after being replaced for breaking with the party and supporting the Louisiana Purchase and the Embargo Act. At this point he became Republican.
19. Served as a Professor of logic at Brown University. 
20. Madison Appointed Adams as the first Minister to Russia
21. On their way to Russia, The Adams' were delayed off the coast of Norway by the Gunboat War
22. During their time detained in Norway, Adams' learned of 38 US boats being held up and negotiated for the release of all ships. 
23. He was the only former President to serve in the House of Representatives
24. Argued the US v Amistad case to the Supreme court--and won.
25. Witnessed the Battle of Bunker Hill...He and his mother watched from a hill near their house.
26. Was involved in one of the most contentious/bitter elections in history (2016s seems like competition for that title)
27. in the Election of 1824, there was no electoral majority and the decision was made in the House of Representatives. 
1. Despite Andrew Jackson winning the popular vote. 
28. Due to how he was elected, he accomplished very little in his time as President.
29. Adams was in Russia to witness Napoleon's Attack on Russia and the retreat that followed. 
30. As a diplomat, he hated the parties and balls and such hosted by European royalty and politicians. He felt they were unnecessary and took time away from important work.
31. He negotiated the Treaty of 1818 between the US and GB. The treaty was to negotiate the land borders between the US and Canada. 
32. Adams authored the Monroe Doctrine. 
33. At his Inauguration, President JQ Adams swore in on a book of Constitutional law rather than the Bible.
34. Of early presidents, he was generous toward the native americans and this caused him lots of trouble. 
35. While in the White House, he owned a pet alligator (given to him by Marquis de Lafayette)
36. First President to have his photograph taken.
37. Was offered the position of associate justice on the Supreme Court and turned it down to remain in Russia. 
38. During the war of 1812, Russia's Imperial Chancellor Nikolay Petrovich Rumyantsev offered to ask Alexander I to mediate peace between the US and Great Britain. The US agreed and Britain declined. 
39. As President, he was once locked out of the White House. He had left for church and came back to find the doors locked.
40. He was a fan of nude swimming...in the Potomac...at 5am. 
41. He did not attend Jackson's Inauguration.  
42. Had a stroke while on the floor of the House of Representatives. 
43. He died in the Speaker's chamber a few days later. 
44. One of his pallbearers was a freshman congressman from Illinois: Abraham Lincoln. 

http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2016/07/10-fascinating-facts-about-john-quincy-adams-for-his-248th-birthday/

http://www.john-adams-heritage.com/john-quincy-adams-facts/

http://www.fun-facts.org.uk/american-presidents/john-quincy-adams.htm
https://www.capitol.gov/html/VGN_2010061424948.html

Presidential Fact book revised and updated (Martuz, 2009)

The Era of Good Feelings President: #5 James Monroe

Interesting tidbit of information: if you accidentally highlight, blogger has no 'remove highlight' button. you can change the color, but not remove it. So, now the whole thing is highlighted. Enjoy! 

1. Born April 28, 1758. 
2. Married Elizabeth Kortright
3. Was the Minister to France 1794-1796
4. Minister to the UK: 1803-1808
5. Appointed to Secretary of state by James Madison. 
6. Secretary of War from 1814-1815
7. 5th President of the United States: 1817-1825
8. Attended the College of William and Mary. 
9. Left College to join the 3rd Virginia Regiment
10. Fought in the battle of Trenton and
11. took shrapnel in his shoulder that stayed the rest of his life. (he was 18 at the time)
12. Never went back to finish his studies. Instead, he completed his legal education/training under Thomas Jefferson. (I mean, if you're not going to proper school, There are few better to apprentice under). 
13. He helped to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
14. With the Treaty of 1818- the US expanded from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 
1. The treaty gave the US fishing and Harbor rights in the Pacific. 
15. In 1820, he ran for his second turn unopposed. (Washington was the only other President to do so)
16. Despite fashion changing, he chose to continue to dress in the fashions of the Revolutionary War era as he felt it was important to remember that period. 
17. He was the last president to wear the powdered wig and the fancy knee-pants. 
18. Originally voted against the Constitution, stating (like Madison) that it needed a Bill of Rights. 
19. Attended Napoleon's coronation. (The families were friends as their daughters attended the same school). 
20. While in France, he was integral from getting Thomas Paine released from prison
21. In the same trip, Elizabeth learned Madame Lafayette (wife of Marquis de Lafayette) was threatened with death by guillotine and the Monroes were able to secure her release. 
22. President Monroe's daughter was the first to have a wedding at the White House. 
23. He has held more public offices than any president before him--and that record holds to today. He spent 50 years in service to his country. 
24. at the battle of Monmouth, Monroe was a scout for General Washington.
25. Monrovia, Liberia is the only foreign capital named for a US President. It was a settlement for freed slaves. 
26. Only person in US history to be the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War concurrently. 
27. Monroe Doctrine is still considered one of the most important foreign policy doctrines in US history. The doctrine stated the US would not tolerate and European colonization of any independent nation in North or South America and any attempt would be seen as a hostile act.
28. Monroe doctrine helped allow for Latin American Independence with the US in the role of Big Brother, helping them to set up their own stable governments. 
1. declared that it was the US' policy to uphold the republican institutions and create treaties of commerce. 
29. Overall, the Monroe doctrine led to American Isolationism. 
30. Missouri Compromise: Missouri and Maine were admitted into the Union with Missouri being a slave state; and Maine being a free state. Also, slavery would be illegal above the 36th parallel.
31. Monroe is featured in the art "Washington Crossing the Delaware. He's the one holding the flag.
32. Major supporter of states' rights. So much so  that he vetoed the Cumberland Road Bill which would have made funding available for annual improvements. He believed this was an issue for the states. 
33. In a contradiction to his view on states' rights, he was willing to accept a federal mandate for the emancipation of slaves and the movement of the slaves to other countries. Many other states' rights advocates were baffled by this view. 
34. He asserted that native peoples needed to more rapidly assimilate into western culture, but any proposal to Congress (from Monroe) was shot down. 
35. First Seminole War: Andrew Jackson went to the Floridas which Spain and Britain saw as threats. 
1. This led to the negotiations for Florida to fall apart at the time, though ultimately Spain would sell the land to the US.
36. Only President in the 19th Century to complete 2 Presidential terms with the same VP.
37. Total of 5 states acquired in his terms:Missouri, Maine, Alabama, Illinois, Mississippi.
38. Very little is known on his religious views. The letters that have survived time do not discuss religion at all. 
39. As Secretary of State he fired a man from his consul post in Tunis because the man was Jewish. 
1. the man protested and received supporting letters from Madison, Jefferson and Adams that supported the separation of church and state and the inclusion of Jews. 
40. As Governor, there was a plot called Gabriels Slave Conspiracy. This was a plot by hundreds of slaves to kidnap Monroe and force him to negotiate their release. They were foiled by a storm and the suspicions of their owners. 
41. Monroe was the 3rd consecutive president to be elected to a second term. This didn't happen again until 2012 when President Obama was re-elected. 
42. Last President in the First-Party System: Basically the period of Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. 
43. Member of the American Antiquarian Society. It is the oldest Historical Society in the Country and was founded in 1812. 
44. Monroe died on July 4, 1831. He was one of 3 founding fathers that died on the anniversary of our independence. 

http://www.biography.com/news/james-monroe-biography-facts 

http://americanhistory.about.com/od/jamesmonroe/tp/Ten-Things-To-Know-About-James-Monroe.htm

Father of the Constitution: #4 James Madison

I apologize for the 1-day delay. This ended up being a collaboration between Jeph and Me. Enjoy! and I look forward to any discussion that comes from it.

1. Stats:
1. Born 16 Mar, 1751
2. Married Dolly Dandridge Payne Todd (A widow with a son)
2. He suffered from stress-induced seizures as a child (and some reports that they occurred into adulthood).
3. 1771: Graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton)
4. Madison is considered Princeton's first Graduate student.
5. Youngest Congressman in the Continental Congress of 1779, at 29.
6. Aaron Burr introduced James to his wife, Dolly.
7. In addition to seizures, he was a sickly child and adult. He joined the Virginia militia but gave it up and went into public service/politics as he wasn't healthy enough to carry on as a soldier.
8. Led the debate in the Constitutional Convention, championing the idea of Separation of powers between branches of government. .  
9. Secretary of State for the Jefferson Cabinet.
10. Like Jefferson, an unabashed bibliophile. He and Jefferson exchanged books throughout their lives.
11. Wrote 26 of the Federalist Papers, second in number only to Alexander Hamilton.
12. Only President to have ever lost a war to Canada.
13. Left political office in 1797, but created an opposing party to the federalists with Jefferson
14. In 1776: he drafted Virginia's constitution
15. The VA Constitution guaranteed of religious liberty.
16. Defendant in Marbury v. Madison as Secretary of State, the Case that established the SCOTUS’s right of Constitutional review over laws passed by Congress.
17. Initially opposed the Bill of rights. He feared that a list of rights could potentially limit rights that were not explicitly written.
18. Major proponent (and author) of the passage of the Bill of Rights.
19. Unlike the Washington and Jefferson, James Madison was short. In fact, he was the shortest President at only 5'4" and weighted about 100lbs.
20. His Presidency set the tone for the role of the first lady. Dolly was a social butterfly and set the precedent to have the First Lady decorate and host many social events.
21. This list is about her husband, but we cannot minimize Dolley's play in her husband's government. Dolley Madison is the only First Lady to have an Honorary seat on the Congress floor.
22. Non-Intercourse Act of 1809: Replaced the Embargo act of 1807 (Which made all exports from the US illegal). This Act lifted the Embargo on all countries except France and Great Britain.The point was to destroy their economies; but backfired and ultimately damaged the US' economy.
23. 1810: Non-Intercourse Act was repealed and replaced with Macon Bill No. 2, which sweetened the deal for France and Great Britain. The bill lifted embargos with both countries temporarily and stated that whichever stopped attacking US ships the US would stop trade with the other. (Madison opposed this action).
24. In opposition to the Federalists urging of creating a Navy, Madison suggested it would be more beneficial to hire the Portuguese Navy to protect the US interests.
25. 5th Secretary of State
26. Opposed the Bank of the United states as established by Hamilton. The charger expired after its 20 years, and Madison let the charter expire. After realizing it was difficult to pay for things (like war), Congress passed a bill to establish the second bank of the US. Madison vetoed this attempt.
27. He approved the second bill in 1816, approving the second national bank.
28. His face appeared on the $5000 bill (which stopped being printed in 1945
29. He is the only President to have had 2 Vice Presidents die in office.
30. He completed his Presidential term without appointing a 3rd VP.
31. Louisiana and Illinois became states during his presidency.
32. Madison was the last surviving signer of the Constitution.
33. His doctor offered him stimulants to extend his life so he could die on July 4th, which would have been the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
34. He died 28 June 1836
35. His slave, Paul Jennings wrote what would become the first Memoir of life inside the White House.
36. He supported 'repatriation' of freed slaves--sending them to Africa.
37. He was one of only a couple Presidents to accompany their soldiers into battle.
38. When British soldiers came to DC, he borrowed pistols from his Secretary of Treasury and went to battle.
39. Helped in the founding of University of Virginia
40. 1826, he assumed leadership of the school when Jefferson died.
41. He was the first president to wear pants rather that the fancy knee-breeches.
42. Madison wrote George Washington's 1st Inaugural address.
43. Left the Presidency poorer than when he started (similar to Washington and Jefferson)
44. 1829: at the age of 78 Madison was chosen as a representative to help revise the Virginian Constitution in Richmond.

http://americanhistory.about.com/od/jamesmadison/tp/10-Things-To-Know-About-James-Madison.htm
http://www.american-historama.org/1801-1828-evolution/non-intercourse-act-1809.htm
http://mentalfloss.com/article/62200/16-fun-facts-james-madisons-birthday
http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-james-madison
Presidents Fact Book (Matuz 2009)

The Pen of the Revolution, President #3: Thomas Jefferson!

"I hold it that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government." Thomas Jefferson (to James Madison) January 30, 1787

1. Stats: Born April 13, 1743
1. Married Martha Wayles Skelton (his 3rd Cousin) in 1772.
2. Had 6 children, and it is likely he had 1-6 children with slave, Sally Hemings. 
2. 1762: Graduated from the College of William and Mary
3. 1776: Writes the Declaration of Independence. 
4. Jefferson sold his book collection to the Library of Congress--roughly 6500 books! 
1. Then he continued to buy more, stating "I cannot live without books."3
5. Jefferson was a a foodie. His slave, James Hemings went with him to France and Jefferson promised to free him upon return to the US if he learns to cook French Cuisine and pass it on to his successor at Monticello. Jefferson followed through with the promise (though it took 6 years due to unexpected circumstances.
1. Interesting note: France did not allow slavery and during the trip, Hemings could have gone to the French and petition for his freedom, but did not. 
6. Was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1768 at the age of 25. 
7. Despite having spent a fair amount of time in Paris, Jefferson did not have great fashion sense and wore whatever he wanted.
8. He was able to secure voting rights for small landowners, and religious freedom, but his plan for guaranteed public education for all children no matter their economic background, was rejected. 
9. One paper he wrote stated that American currency should be based on the decimal system. This led to the penny and dime as a form of currency.
10. Appointed Minister to France in 1784. 
11. While in France, he is rumored to have started a relationship with Sally Hemings, one of his slaves. 
12. After being sent a copy of the approved Constitution in 1787, he suggested to Madison that they add a bill of rights for citizens. 
13. In 1800, after a tie for President (Jefferson and Burr) with 73 electoral votes, it took 37 votes in the House of Representatives to decide the outcome. Jefferson became President; Burr Vice President. 
14. After this election, the 12th Amendment was adopted, which provides separate elections for President and Vice President. 
15. Jefferson was the first President to shake hands with diplomatic guests. Washington and Adams bowed to their guests. 
16. The largest real estate transaction in history happened on October 20, 1803: The Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson bought the Louisiana colony (more than 800,000 square miles) from France. 
17. Established the Lewis and Clark expedition. The expedition began on May 4, 1804. 
18. Pushed the Embargo Act through Congress. France and GB were fighting (Again) and forbade anyone from trade with their opponents. Jefferson wanted to exert the US' neutrality banned trade with either nation. This ultimately helped France and Great Britain, but had a negative effect on the US Economy, resulting in an increase in smuggling. 
19. Jefferson was more informal in the way he greeted guests as president, even meeting them while in house slippers. 
20. Jefferson had a pet mockingbird named "Dick."
21. He loved writing letters. He wrote about 19,000 letters in his lifetime.
22. among writer, politician, diplomat, he was also an inventor and invented things like the polygraph that made copies as he wrote, as well as the dumbwaiter. 
23. Despite being a tremendous writer, he was less than stellar as an orator, often mumbling through his well-written speeches. 
24. He even sent his State of the Union speech in writing to be read in Congress. This tradition stayed in place until 1913.
25. Founded the University of Virginia. 
26. Opposed slavery but was unable to free his slaves due to debt. 
27. Man loved his peas. He was considered a vegetarian (though not by our current standards). He did eat meat, but not significant amounts.
28. In 1802, there was fear taht potatoes were poisonous. Jefferson destroyed that view by frequently serving french fries at Monticello. 
29. Jefferson was the 1st Secretary of State in 1790.
30. As a lawyer, he sometimes defended slaves seeking their freedom. 
31.  1807, he signed an Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves. 
32. As his wife was on her deathbed, she made him promise never to marry again. 
33. In 1784 he was the primary author in the Land Ordinance of 1784 which turned over a large chunk of VA's land northwest of the Ohio River to the national government with the stipulation that it not be turned over to any colony but be used and divided into new states. 
34. While in France, he allowed his hotel room to be used by his friend, Marquis de Lafayette for meetings during the Revolution. 
35. Jefferson was in Paris during the storming of the Bastille. 
36. His inaugural speeches were difficult to be heard due to his low tone, they had to be published in the National Intelligencer.
37. To build up opposition to President Adams' Alien and Sedition Acts, Jefferson (along with Madison) anonymously wrote the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, declaring the federal gov't had no right to exercise powers  not specifically delegated to it by the states. 
38. Jefferson advocated for nullification, which would allow states to invalidate federal laws. 
39. Jefferson did not attend Washington's Funeral due to their deep political differences. 
40. He was a polyglot: Jefferson could speak/read/write in French, Greek, Italian, and German. 
41. a 2015 Brookings Institute poll ranks him as the 5th greatest President. 
42. Jefferson died mere hours before John Adams, on the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration fo Independence. 
43. Along with James Madison, He founded the Democratic-Republican party to counter the Federalists like Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and John Jay. 
44. On his headstone:
1.  "Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of The statute of Virginia, for Religious Freedom and Father of the University of Virginia."  
1. Jefferson chose what would be on his tombstone, leaving clear instructions as to the monument to be constructed.
1.  Notice what he opted to leave off? 

1. https://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/little-rebellionquotation

2. Presidents Fact Book Revised and Updated. (Matuz, 2009)

3. http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2016/04/10-facts-about-thomas-jefferson-for-his-270th-birthday/

4. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-03/features/sc-food-0928-jefferson-20121003_1_jefferson-and-hemings-hemings-family-john-wayles

5.https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-thomas-jefferson/2011/04/12/AGGLlWsH_story.html

The Colossus of Independence: #2 John Adams

1.   Born 10.30.1735. 
2.     Married Abigail Adams.
3.    Attended Harvard. Graduated 1755.
4. Wrote several treatises under the name: Humphrey Ploughjogger. 
5. Vehemently opposed the Stamp Act of 1765
6. Elected Delegate for Massachusetts in the first and second Continental Congress.
7.    Only President of the first 5 presidents to not be a slave holder.    
8. Nominated George Washington as leader of the Continental Army.     
9. Was also not an abolitionist:he thought it would be destabilizing to the still young nation
10. As a lawyer, he defended two British soldiers who were accused of being responsible for the Boston Massacre. He believed that every person deserved a defense and took the case without hesitation.
1.  He was able to get the Captain of the two soldiers acquitted as he cast doubt as to whether the Capt. gave the order to shoot.
11. As the Ambassador to The Dutch Republic, he was able to secure recognition of the US as an independent nation from the Hague in 1782. (France offered diplomatic recognition in 1778).
12. John Adams was the first Ambassador to Great Britain in 1785.
13.  First President to live in the White House.
14. Of the first 5 Presidents, he was the only non-Virginian. 
15.  No one in his family attended his Inauguration.
16. For the first year of his Presidency, he refused security outside his home but relented after a rise in gang violence. 
17.  July 1798: He signed the  Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen--authorizing the establishment of a government-fun marine hospital. 
18.  He had parts of his personal diary read aloud (and laughed at) in Congress.
1. He sent the pages back to Congress as a report on his trip to France. They were read aloud and were found hilarious.
19.   In 1797, he helped to try and put out the house fire of his harshest critic, Andrew Brown. Brown had been a heavy critic of Adams Vice Presidency. At the time of the fire, Adams was already the President-elect.
20. He created the US Marine Band in 1798. They are the oldest continuously active professional musical organization in the country.
21. He was a member of the federalist party.
22. His cabinet opposed many of his policies.
23.  June 18, 1798: First act of the Alien and Sedition Act passed.
24. This increased the residency requirements from 5 to 14 years before citizenship could be granted.
25.  Alien Act passed on June 25 1798. This allowed President Adams to deport any alien he deemed dangerous to the country’s safety.
26.  Alien Enemies Act Passed July 6 1798. This allowed for the apprehension and deportation of male aliens who were subjects or citizens of a hostile country
27.  Sedition Act: July 14 1798. Subjected Americans to a fine and/or imprisonment for obstructing implementation of federal law, or for publishing malicious or false writings against Congress, President, or the gov’t. .
28. Under the Sedition Act, Ben Franklin’s Grandson was arrested for “libeling” President Adams. (Ben Franklin Bache was the editor of a Philadelphia newspaper).
29.  Jay’s Treaty was seen as an alliance with Britain and France suspended diplomatic relations with the US.
30. Avoided war with France by sending William Vans Murray to discuss diplomatic relations with Napoleon, ending the treaty of Alliance and breaking any lingering foreign entanglements. 
31.  April 4 1800: Adams signs the Federal Bankruptcy Act.
32. His nickname "Colossus of Independence came from Thomas Jefferson due to his efforts in the Continental Congress in efforts to work towards independence. 
33. A member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence
34. Adams led the debate that ultimately ratified the Declaration.
35. Was on the team (with John Jay and Benjamin Franklin) that negotiated the Peace Treaty with Great Britain.
36. After Losing to Thomas Jefferson in 1800, he retired from Public office and spent the rest of his days on his land in Quincy.  
37. John Adams was not on the British "pardon" list. If Great Britain won the war, he would have been hanged.
38. Thought of as the father of the Military Academy.  It had been his idea in 1776, but West Point would not be created till after the war. 
39. The final dinner he gave as President was for a Delegation of Native Americans.
40. Lived to be 90 years old. 
41. Spent 15 years corresponding with Jefferson, and died merely hours after him. 
42. His last words were "Thomas Jefferson survives."
43. Died on July 4, 1826- the 50 year anniversary of American Independence. 
44. Unlike his Predecessor, he was a bad dancer.

  

• http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/artifact/Sculpture_22_00001.htm
• http://mentalfloss.com/article/56841/25-facts-about-john-adams
• http://americanhistory.about.com/od/johnadams/tp/johnadams_top10.htm
• Presidents Fact Book Revised and Updated (Matuz, 2009)

Founding-est of Founding Fathers: President #1: George Washington!

44 fun facts of George Washington!

1.  Stats: Born Feb 22, 1732 (although it’s actually Feb 11--they changed from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar in Sept of 1752). Fun fact: I thought the calendar change came about 100 years earlier. 
2.  Married Martha Dandridge Custis on Jan 6, 1759. She had 2 children. 
3.  Formal education ended around age 15. He was not sent to England to learn like many planters children; his father had died, and there was not enough cash to send him abroad. He never learned another language. 
4.  Quick temper, possibly led to questionable military decisions. “first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen. 
5. Became county surveyor of Culpeper Co. VA at age 17. 
6.  George Washington’s first battle was the sparked the French-Indian war due to LtCol Washington surrendering and signing a statement in French (that he did not understand) that asserted he and his soldiers assassinated the French Commander (Joseph Coulon de Villiers). Washington denied the assassination until his death. 
7.  In 1758, Washington resigned his commission to return to Mount Vernon. 
8.  He farmed at Mount Vernon from 1759 until 1775. 
9.  His distillery produced over 11k gallons of rye whiskey and was one of his most successful ventures. 
10.  He put provisions into his will to free his own slaves. He was the only slaveholder Founding Father to free his slaves. He could not free the slaves that Martha brought to the marriage as they were owned by her widow. Those slaves would revert to the Custis estate.
11.  June 1775: was Commissioned to command the Continental Army. War blazed on for 8 years and despite the odds, in 1781, 
12. Washington ended the Revolutionary war at the Battle of Yorktown and accepting Cornwallis’ surrender. 
13.  Dec. 23, 1783 he resigned his commission once again and went back to Mount Vernon and had no intention of serving in public life again. 
14.  Washington wanted to join the Royal Navy, but his mother withheld her permission so he could continue to work on the farm. 
15.  Contracting Smallpox in Barbados in 1751 helped him survive the American Revolution due to immunity. 
16.  He was the only President to have been unanimously elected by the Electoral College. 
17.  He was frequently short on cash--most of his money was tied up in land holdings. In order to move to NYC for his Presidency, he had to borrow $600 to cover the cost of relocation from Mount Vernon.
18.  After relenting (he was uneasy being paid for public service) he was given an annual salary of $25,000.
19.  ...But then said it wasn’t enough to cover the costs of running his house and still paid out of pocket for things. 
20. He set the precedent for the roles of cabinet members. (you can see he wanted his close advisors to have varied perspectives by the fact he had both Jefferson and Hamilton on his cabinet). 
21. He holds the record for the Shortest inaugural address. His second inaugural address was 135 words. 
22.  Washington made the first Thanksgiving Proclamation--setting the date as Nov 26th. 
23. Judiciary act of 1789: This established a 6-member SCOTUS and Attorney General. 
24. Residence act of 1790: Set a permanent federal capital in what is now Washington DC. 
25. Bank Act of 1791: First bank of the US. 
26.  Excise Tax on Whiskey 1791: ultimately led to the Whiskey Rebellion. 
27.  Only President to go into battle while serving as Commander-In-Chief. Sept 19, 1794, he led troops on a march west over the Allegheny Mountains to the town of Bedford to resolve the rebellion. 
28.  Fugitive Slave act of 1793: Made it a federal crime to assist an escaping slave. This also created a system that would return the slave to their masters. 
29.  Naval act of 1794: Created the US Navy (and the construction of 6 frigates). 
30. In 1792 he was made an honorary Citizen of France. 
31.  He was posthumously awarded the highest rank in the Military. No one will ever outrank him. His title: General of the Armies of the United States. 
32.  He wasn’t very religious. “ According to biographer Barry Schwartz, Washington's "practice of Christianity was limited and superficial, because he was not himself a Christian.
33.  In the enlightened tradition of his day, he was a devout Deist--just as many of the clergymen who knew him suspected." 
34. He was a devoted member of the Anglican church and spent three terms as the churchwarden helping to care for the poor. 
35.  Varying reports as to whether or not he took communion. Some say he refused to participate, while others state he participated in Communion before taking control of the Continental Army, but not after. 
36.  He was a Freemason.  
37. Whether or not a devout Christian, he believed in caring for the poor. 
38.  The only of the founding fathers to not have a formal education. 
39.  He focused on allowing the country to grow and stay out of foreign wars. Intentionally or not, this set a standard for isolationism that lasted until the 20th Century. 
40. He established the principle of neutrality as engaging in the war in Europe would destroy the economy of the fledgling United States.
41.  He did not believe in political parties. 
42.  Despite the lingering myths, He did not chop down the cherry tree, have wooden teeth, or throw a silver dollar across the Potomac. 
43.  He did however, grow hemp. At the time it was used for thread for clothing, making rope, etc.
44. Man, the guy loved to dance. First hand accounts of his dancing stated he was extremely good at it and loved being the center of attention.
    
    
    
    
    All facts are from one of the following sources: Presidents Fact Book Revised and Updated (Matuz, 2009) http://mentalfloss.com/article/56532/25-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-george-washington
    http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/biography/

Welcome!

Welcome one and all to the 44 days of Presidents blog. A few months ago I bought "The Presidents Fact Book" (Roger Matuz). Why, you ask? Well, I was bored and it seemed like a good idea at the time. I still stand by that idea and have decided that in the 44 days leading up to the 2016 Presidential Election I would post 44 facts a day on each President. In the next post, you'll get 44 facts of President Washington. I tried to find a mix of well-known and lesser-known facts. I'm sure many of my historian friends can shed even more light on these and other fun facts.

I hope you all enjoy, and comment/discuss each President as we all look toward the future and prepare to cast our votes for the next leader of the United States of America.

Admittedly, I got a ways through and didn't cite each fact, but each blog will have the citation for the information contained in the post. I apologize for that. Any other question, don't hesitate to message/comment!