7 Most Influential Presidents

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt spent four terms in office - 12 years and greatly impacted America. Roosevelt took office in the midst of the Great Depression. When he took office, he immediately called Congress to a special session and declared a four day banking holiday. The first Hundred Days of Roosevelt's term were marked by the passage of 15 major laws. Some of the most important legislative acts of his New Deal included - Civilian Conversation Corps (CCC): hired more than three million men to work on various projects, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): used the Tennessee River to provide electricity for the depressed area, National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA): created the Public Works Administration to provide aid to cities for construction and the National Recovery Administration to help businesses, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): corrected abuses which led to the stock market crash, Work Progress Administration (WPA): hired many people for variety of projects including in the arts, and Social Security Act: created the Social Security System.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson faced a lot of controversy with the transferring of power from Federalist John Adams. Jefferson allowed the Alien and Sedition Acts to end without renewal, he had the tax on liquor that caused the Whiskey Rebellion repealed and reduced government revenue leading Jefferson to cut costs by reducing the military, relayed instead on state militias.

The court case of Marbury v. Madison also took place and set up the Supreme Court's power to rule federal acts unconstitutional. In 1803, Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory from France for $15 million - this was considered to be one of the most important acts during his administration. And in 1807, Jefferson ended the foreign slave trade and established the precedent of Executive Privilege. At the end of Jefferson's second term, he signed the Embargo Act of 1807.

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt was determined to build a canal across Panama. America helped Panama gain their independence from Columbia and then the U.S. created a treaty with Panama to gain the canal zone in exchange for $10 million plus annual payments. During Roosevelt's presidency the Monroe Doctrine was put into action - which is one of the keystones of American foreign policy. The doctrine says that the western hemisphere is off limits to foreign encroachment.

In 1904-05, during the Russo-Japanese War, Roosevelt was the mediator of peace between the two countries and was later awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1906. Moreover, Roosevelt was known for his progressive policies - this earned him the nickname Trust Buster. His administration used existing antitrust laws to fight against corruption in the railroad, oil, and other industries.

Should Guns Be Allowed in Churches?

Is it okay for Christians to bring weapons into church for self-defense? Read next feature >