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Founding Presidents (1789-1829)
- George Washington: The Father of the United States – Lesson
- John Adams: A Stubborn but Dedicated Leader – Lesson
- Thomas Jefferson: The Author of Independence – Lesson
- Founding Presidents: Washington, Adams, and Jefferson – Quiz
- James Madison: The Father of the Constitution – Lesson
- James Monroe: Opposing the Federalists – Lesson
- John Quincy Adams: The Federalists who Abandoned the Party – Lesson
- Founding Presidents: Madison, Monroe, and Adams – Quiz
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Civil War Presidents (1829-1869)
- Andrew Jackson: The First Democrat – Lesson
- Martin Van Buren: The Little Magician – Lesson
- Civil War Presidents: Jackson and Van Buren – Quiz
- William Henry Harrison: The Indian-Fighter – Lesson
- John Tyler: The First President to Not Be Elected – Lesson
- James Polk: Young Hickory – Lesson
- Zachary Taylor: Old Rough and Ready – Lesson
- Millard Fillmore: The Last Whig President – Lesson
- Franklin Pierce: A President Ruined by Slavery – Lesson
- Franklin Pierce: A President Ruined by Slavery – Quiz
- James Buchanan: A President for States’ Rights – Lesson
- James Buchanan: A President for States’ Rights – Quiz
- Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator – Lesson
- Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator – Quiz
- Andrew Johnson: The First President to Be Impeached – Lesson
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Reconstruction Presidents (1865-1901)
- Ulysses S. Grant: A Friend of Mark Twain – Lesson
- Ulysses S. Grant: A Friend of Mark Twain – Quiz
- Rutherford B. Hayes: The First President to Lose the Popular Vote – Lesson
- Rutherford B. Hayes: The First President to Lose the Popular Vote – Quiz
- James A. Garfield: The Last of the Log Cabin Presidents – Lesson
- James A. Garfield: The Last of the Log Cabin Presidents – Quiz
- Chester A. Arthur: A One Term President – Lesson
- Chester A. Arthur: A One Term President – Quiz
- Grover Cleveland: A President of Principle – Lesson
- Grover Cleveland: A President of Principle – Quiz
- Benjamin Harrison: The Second President in His Family – Lesson
- Benjamin Harrison: The Second President in His Family – Quiz
- William McKinley: The Third Presidential Assassination – Lesson
- William McKinley: The Third Presidential Assassination – Quiz
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20th Century Presidents
- Richard Nixon: The Only President to Ever Resign – Lesson
- Richard Nixon: The Only President to Ever Resign – Quiz
- Gerald Ford – America’s First Unelected President – Lesson
- Gerald Ford – America’s First Unelected President – Quiz
- Jimmy Carter – the President Who Promised He’d Never Lie – Lesson
- Jimmy Carter – the President Who Promised He’d Never Lie – Quiz
- Ronald Reagan – The ‘Peace Through Strength’ President – Lesson
- Ronald Reagan – The ‘Peace Through Strength’ President – Quiz
Millard Fillmore: The Last Whig President – Lesson
Fillmore was the last president to not be either a Republican or a Democrat.
In 1848, at the national Whig convention, Mexican War hero Zachary Taylor was nominated as president with Fillmore on the ticket as vice. Taylor was adamant about ending slavery, but his term was cut short when he died just months into his presidency. Fillmore became chief executive in 1850 after the president’s death.
Because the Whig Party had such success at the polls, Fillmore thought a new national party was rising and that they would be able to find a middle ground in terms of slavery. Clay’s Compromise of 1850 was an attempt to appease both the North and the South while finding a way to preserve the Union. The legislation was passed just two months after Taylor’s death and Fillmore strayed from the former president’s desire to end slavery by signing the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, a provision that required the federal government to aid in the capture and return of runaway slaves to their owners. He publicly announced that, if necessary, he would call upon the military to aid in the enforcement.
While this somewhat appeased the Southerners and was partially responsible for delaying the Civil War for another decade, the move destroyed Fillmore’s political career because of the extreme unpopularity with the North over his support and actions towards the institution of slavery.
In 1852, Fillmore decided to run again for president. He was one of three candidates of the Whig Party in its last national election, which it lost. He tried again in 1856, this time as the candidate of the Know-Nothing Party, also known as the American Party. He finished in third behind Democrat James Buchanan and Republican John C. Fremont. Fillmore retired to Buffalo after the loss and became a leader in the city’s civic and cultural life.