Presidential Decisions That Still Influence Daily Life LEGACIES IN ACTION
From the dollar bill in your pocket to the National Parks you explore and the highways you drive on, the legacies of America’s presidents are all around us even long after their terms are over. This Presidents Day is a perfect time to reflect on some of the presidents whose contributions didn’t just shape history; they still impact our daily lives today. Leaders like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Barack Obama made decisions that continue to influence our society. George Washington Our nation’s first president, George Washington, didn’t just set the tone for presidential dignity and decorum; he voluntarily created term limits. Known for leading the country to victory in the American Revolutionary War, Washington earned the people’s trust and showed great restraint of power. He helped to establish the executive branch that we still have in place today and worked to ensure Americans had a sound system to elect future presidents. Though Washington was beloved and could have served term after term, he willingly stepped away from the role after two terms. Every president to follow, except FDR, did the same, and the 22nd Amendment would later cement the term limits in place today. Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, is widely regarded as one of the country’s most influential leaders. His most lasting contributions to the world we know today were the preservation of the Union, the ideals of Democracy being “by the people for the people,” and the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which ended slavery in the Confederacy. Though he began the Civil War with one goal, to save the Union, he would go on to create the possibility for civil and social freedom for African Americans. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was an early step in racial equality. Though slavery was not entirely abolished until the 13th Amendment in 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation was a vital precursor for the liberation of African Americans.
protecting wildlands and created the United States
Forest Service (USFS) in 1901. He added to the national forests in the West and reserved lands for public use. During his presidency, Roosevelt established five national parks and 150 national forests and preserved 230 million acres of public land. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or FDR, was the
defining figure during the Great Depression, promising the people a “new deal.” Pulling the country out of economic hard times, the policies he created set the stage for our financial future today. He laid the foundation for Social Security and public housing through safety nets that prevent Americans from falling just below any level of basic dignity. He helped to create the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and his New Deal sought to make the benefits of American life more equal and attainable for all. He also guided the country through World War II and into a global power. Lyndon Johnson Though people often think about President John F. Kennedy when it comes to advancing civil rights, Lyndon Johnson was the force behind much of the civil rights legislation. Taking office after John Kennedy’s assassination, his administration helped pass legislation to protect our land, air, water, and quality of life. He created aid for education, Medicare, and Medicaid, which are still used today. His programs aimed to help Americans stay out of poverty and get adequate health care. Johnson inaugurated major changes to American society by signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Barack Obama Barack Obama became the first African American president in 2008. He provided stability after the Great Recession and raised the bar for science and technology in the White House. His most significant achievement that still impacts us today is the Affordable
Teddy Roosevelt If you have ever enjoyed the beauty of nature in one of our country’s National Parks, you have President Teddy Roosevelt to thank. The 26th president was the youngest in history at age 42 and led the nation toward progressive reforms. Known as the conservationist president, Roosevelt believed in
Care Act. Obamacare made health insurance more attainable, helping millions of Americans get basic health coverage.
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