4. James Madison
1805-1813
Republican
James Madison
James Madison was Jefferson's designated heir. His election to the presidency was carefully plotted out by Republicans during the Adams presidency, but had it not been for Alexander Hamilton's dissent, Madison might not have won at all. The Father of the Constitution, Madison made common cause with the French once again and invaded Upper Canada as part of the Canada War (1806-1811). The early years of the war quickly proved that America's armed forces were ridiculously out of date and unorganized. The Marquis de LaFayette was invited back to the United States to help reform the American army and turn it into a major fighting force, based on the French model. Caesar Napoleon also sent many advisors to oversee the American war effort in Canada. With French aid, the United States conquered Upper Canada, while in the south, American forces led by Andrew Jackson conquered Florida. These major successes increased Madison's popularity and contributed to early American nationalism. Madison was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second term over Federalist candidate Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton's continued schemes to undermine Madison and the Republicans culminated in his 1810 exile. With Hamilton gone, Federalist power continued to wane and Madison was succeeded by fellow Republican and his Secretary of States, James Monroe.
5. James Monroe
1813-1821
Republican
James Monroe
Monroe came into office at the height of Republican popularity. He was most notable for sending his Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, to the 1817 Berlin Conference, where he represented American interests in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars. Monroe, through Adams, made his position on European involvement in the Americas well known. It was not to be tolerated. Despite this, France controlled Louisiana to America's west and Quebec to America's north. Monroe was unable to stop the flow of American settlers into French Louisiana and eventually purchased all of Louisiana north of the 40th parallel. Monroe also quelled violence between Catholics coming in from Quebec into the new state of Canada. He faced no Federalist opposition in the 1816 election, another sign of the end of the Federalist Party that coincided with Monroe's presidency. Unfortunately for Monroe, the Republican Party began to collapse after him.
6. Andrew Jackson
1821-1825
Republican
Andrew Jackson
The election of 1824 was contested between the southern agrarian faction of the Republicans, represented by Jackson and his running mate Calhoun, against the northern faction of Vice President Crawford and his running mate John Q. Adams. Although Jackson won, the Crawford-Adams faction cried foul, accusing Jackson's supporters of bribing and threatening electors to vote for him. An attempt to legally discredit Jackson's victory failed and he became president. Jackson was notorious for attacking the sovereignty of the Cherokee Territory and the Seminole Territory. His proposed plan to move the Cherokees and Seminoles, along with other Indians, to a new territory in the far west of the nation, was blocked by the opposition faction of Congress. Jackson was frustrated by Congress at every turn and narrowly missed his opportunity to fulfill his dream of killing the Bank. Jackson, running under the new Populist name, lost the 1828 election to John Q. Adams.
7. John Quincy Adams
1825-1833
Whig
Anthony Hopkins as John Quincy Adams (from Amistad)
John Quincy Adams is frequently described as the last Republican and the first Whig for his founding of the Whig Party. Upon entering office, Adams immediately moved to make peace with the Cherokee and Seminole Indians, who had been agitated by Jackson close to the point of rebellion. He resolved their issues by granted them statehood in the Union. This upset the balance of free and slave states and put the nation on the verge of civil war. Adams once again defused the situation by supporting the Grand Compromise, which created permanent territory borders in the territories of the Louisiana Purchase and mandated the alternating admission of free and slave states. However, many worried the compromise would not last, especially as Americans moved into the remainder of French Louisiana. Indeed, these predictions came true when Caesar Napoleon II sold French Louisiana to the Kingdom of New Spain, prompting the Louisiana War. American settlers in Louisiana refused to be in New Spain and turned to their home nation. America swiftly invaded and captured the Louisiana lands and forced New Spain to come to the peace table. The resounding success of the war, combined with the Grand Compromise and a good economy strengthened by the chartering of the Third Bank saw Adams to victory in the 1828 election. Adams is regarded as one of the best American presidents for his skill at diplomacy and peacemaking and is known as the Great Unifier. However, Adams was not succeeded in office by his fellow Whig Henry Clay, as the Populist candidate was elected to office.