Evolution Of The U.S. Presidency

2 Pages 589 Words

Forty-three Americans have held the job of President of the United States. Each has had their own story and their own way of doing the job. Each of them has also had a great impact on how the presidency works today. When analyzing the role of today’s president, it is important to look back at the historical evolution of the presidency and some of the key figures that have helped it along. Let’s take a look at the history of the presidency, its key figures, and why these figures are important.
The beginning of the presidency was greatly influenced by historical experience. The earliest example of executive power in the colonies was the position of royal governor, in which the king appointed to govern each colony. The colonists did not trust these governors and began to feel as if they were still in Great Britain. After declaring independence, the strong distrust of an executive leader remained. At the Philadelphia Convention, the framers wanted to form a different kind of executive authority, but worried about its power. They wanted an office that would be strong enough to govern, but not so strong that it could abuse power. They also worried about how long the president’s term would be. Many of the Framer’s concerns were put to rest when they decided that George Washington would be the first president. They left many of the little details of the office up to him to decide. Washington became one of many of the key figures that helped evolve the presidency.
The first 3 presidents set the tone for those to come after them. George Washington set the 2 term precedent and set many of the traditions seen today. John Adams had poor leadership skills and most likely hastened the development of political parties. Thomas Jefferson expanded the role of the president in congress and expanded the idea of inherent powers through the Louisiana Purchase. These presidents had a variety of impacts on the office.
Congress remained in control...