Who was the best U.S. President from 1808-1852, and why? James Madison James Monroe John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren William Henry Harrison John Tyler James Knox Polk Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore
When you say "best" do you mean accomplishing what they set out to do upon inauguration or "best" as in one we favor? I actually don't favor any of them, but I have a pick for Best as far as accomplishment goes. I wouldn't even bother with the next 1853- segment. We all know who it is. There can be no debate!
This isn't exactly the greatest list of Presidents. I have to choose Madison by virtue of being the tentpole behind the Constitution.
Oh just wait for some of the reconstruction and early progressive era presidents. Those are some doozies. I would pick Madison if his presidency included the constitutional era. But his presidency gave us an imperialist war. I would pick Polk but his did too. A meh list. John Q had some points but helped bring about the second party system in the U.S. This timeframe arguably had the best statesmen located in Congress, not the WH. edit: John Q helped begin, not end, second party system. Corrected.
That might be the best thing about any of them. I might pick Monroe only because his Era of Good Feelings might be less aggressively empire-building than the others. If Best means accomplished what he set out to do: Polk hands down. Grew the size of the U.S. with a war under false pretenses. Did it in a single term too.
Best as in your opinion of their accomplishments... or whatever you interpret "best" to be. This is definitely the worst segment of the list. Some good things on them... Madison- father of the Constitution, but he didn't do that as President... botched the War of 1812 Monroe- he wasn't divisive? does that count? JQ Adams- competent but not particularly noteworthy Jackson- more democratic, but only for white men. Then there's the whole Trail of Tears and the corruption Van Buren- ummmm... he wasn't Harding/Buchanan-level bad? Harrison- he didn't have enough time to do anything bad (or good) Tyler- uhhh Polk- competent, did what he set out to do, but the Mexican-American War was controversial Taylor- uhhhhhh Fillmore- uhhhhhhhhh So, as President... maybe Adams or Polk?
I would interpret Best as being most accomplished in what they set out to do and their actions having far-reaching consequences. In that regard, I pick Polk. John Q is a close second just for basically starting the second party system in the U.S. and allowing the ascendancy of Jacksonian politics. More a consequence of his presidency than accomplishments during it. Monroe: Monroe doctrine had lasting consequences for intervention and ruled this hemispheres foreign policy for years to come. But Polk. And he did it in one term. He died shortly after his term ended. He worked himself to death.
Anyone who says "Fillmore" gets a boot to the head. I picked JQA because I really enjoyed Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of him in Amistad.
Polk. I highly recommend reading A Country Of Vast Designs, which is excellent work detailing Polk and the Mexican War. As Shane said already, he worked himself to death. I don't think another President accomplished more in a single term with such long lasting effects as Polk. I do also like Quincy Adams, and I give him a ton of credit for continuing to serve in congress, even after being President. Not many men would continue to serve in a lower office after being the Commander In Chief, but he continued to do so all the way until his death. I too enjoyed Hopkins' portrayal of him, and my favorite scene in the film is when he gives his speech to the Supreme Court.
I'm admittedly not very familiar with this period in American history, but I voted for JQA on the basis of the Smithsonian Institute.
Not sure where you're getting at here, as I said nothing about him seeking office. I'm giving him credit for continuing to serve in government, even after being President. Edit: Unless you're talking about ex Presidents in modern times.
JQA. Abolishionist, supported the National Bank, education, and public works, and opposed imperialistic expansion.
Ol' JQ is often overlooked. Also the only former president to be elected to the House after his presidency. Might be an example of how the perceptions of the presidency has changed over time. Can you imagine a former president becoming a congressperson now? The media would hound him and ask: why?
http://mentalfloss.com/article/29842/president-john-tylers-grandsons-are-still-alive I should have voted for this guy.
This was mentioned here on the JCC some months ago. It is amazing to consider but Tyler was….spritely…for his entire life it seems.
James Madison co-opted the most popular aspects of the Federalist platform for the Democratic-Republican party. This ultimately lead to the Federalists being confined to New England and then to the extinction of the Federalists. I can't help but compare this to how Bill Clinton's centrism turned many states blue and how the Republicans are today suffering as a result.
Very astute observation DLOT. The Federalists position against the War of 1812 didn't help them much either.
Polk is arguably one of the strongest presidents in history. Not necessarily the same thing as desirable or good, considering the debacle of the Mexican-American War., but unquestionably an incredible executive. The public kind of skips from Jackson to Lincoln, or even Jefferson/Madison to Lincoln, and in a lot of cases I understand why, but this guy should really be a lot more well known. I can't forgive Tyler for supporting the Confederacy. One of the blackest marks on any president. Fillmore at least opened up Japan...
One of the reasons I picked Polk is how much of his agenda he managed to accomplish in one term as well as the far reaching consequences of the territorial expansion resulting from the war with Mexico. Plenty of contingencies on the road to the Civil War for sure so it wasn't inevitable, but the war against Mexico set up and exacerbated sectional differences perhaps unlike anything up to that time in our republic.
