US Presidents and the Presidency - Essay Example

The most outstanding leaders in American history include the founding fathers or early leaders: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson; those who presided in times of internal and external conflict: Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt; intercontinental political leaders like James Monroe who declared the American hemisphere off-limits for European colonialist invaders; Woodrow Wilson and his isolationist and international concepts. Erstwhile stately global leaders presiding throughout the Cold War period like Harry S.

Truman, John F. Kennedy. Other notable presidents are those who rebuilt the American economy including Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. The 21st century has heralded the threat of international terrorism particularly against American interests in addition to the current global financial crisis. The 43rd president George W. Bush was the first president of the new millennium who has been accused of inciting and provoking the wrath of the Islamic terrorists. The current president, Barrack Obama is also remarkable historically in being the first African American president in addition to have being the only one born outside the continental USA.

One of the most outstanding American presidents is Abraham Lincoln the 16th US president, who has been credited for his significant leadership, preserving the United States union when it was threatened by bitter internal turmoil from the breakaway southern Confederate states. The main cause of the conflict was the latter opposition to the abolition of slave trade in the US intended to grant African Americans freedom; hence, he is accredited for ending slavery in America. Lincoln successfully consolidated his power base within the Republican Party by integrating the moderate Copperheads faction and the abolitionist Radical Republicans as well as gravitating public opinion to his favour.

During his famous Gettysburg