Presidents 8-15 perpetuated slavery. Meet #8, Martin Van Buren 

References 

Widmer, T. (2005). Martin Van Buren: The American Presidents Series: The 8th president, 1837–1841. Times Books.

(2024). Martin Van Buren: America's first politician. Oxford University Press. [1, 2]

White House. (n.d.). Hannah Hoes Van Buren. whitehouse.gov 

Bernstein, P. L. (2005). Wedding of the waters: The Erie canal and the making of a great nation. W. W. Norton & Company.

Blight, D. W. (2018). Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Simon & Schuster.

Meacham, J. (2008). American lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Random House

Moser, H. D. (2018, March 7). Andrew Jackson. Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 19, 2026, from http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/andrew-jackson

Smith, M. B. (1906). The first forty years of Washington society: Portrayed by the family letters of Mrs. Samuel Harrison Smith (Margaret Bayard) (G. Hunt, Ed.). [The First Forty Years of Washington Society]. C. Scribner's Sons

Merry, R. W. (2009). A country of vast designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War, and the conquest of the American continent. Simon & Schuster. [1, 2]

Traub, J. (2016). John Quincy Adams: Militant spirit. Basic Books

Nagel, P. C. (1997). John Quincy Adams: A public life, a private life. Alfred A. Knopf.

Meacham, J. (2026). American struggle: Democracy, dissent, and the pursuit of a more perfect union: An anthology. Random House

Dickey, J. D. (2014). Empire of mud: The secret history of Washington, DC. Lyons Press

Leahy, C. J. (2020). President without a party: The life of John Tyler. LSU Press

Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

Do you really know Andrew Jackson? 

References 

Meacham, J. (2008). American lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Random House

Moser, H. D. (2018, March 7). Andrew Jackson. Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 19, 2026, from http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/andrew-jackson

Smith, M. B. (1906). The first forty years of Washington society: Portrayed by the family letters of Mrs. Samuel Harrison Smith (Margaret Bayard) (G. Hunt, Ed.). [The First Forty Years of Washington Society]. C. Scribner's Sons

(2024). Martin Van Buren: America's first politician. Oxford University Press. [1, 2]

Merry, R. W. (2009). A country of vast designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War, and the conquest of the American continent. Simon & Schuster. [1, 2]

Traub, J. (2016). John Quincy Adams: Militant spirit. Basic Books

Nagel, P. C. (1997). John Quincy Adams: A public life, a private life. Alfred A. Knopf.

McGrath, T. (2020). James Monroe: A Life. Dutton

Meacham, J. (2026). American struggle: Democracy, dissent, and the pursuit of a more perfect union: An anthology. Random House

Dickey, J. D. (2014). Empire of mud: The secret history of Washington, DC. Lyons Press

Thomas, L. (2016). Louisa: The extraordinary life of Mrs. Adams. Penguin Press

Leahy, C. J. (2020). President without a party: The life of John Tyler. LSU Press

Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

JQA Battles Slaveocracy, Louisa takes the most adventurous trip of any first lady and a little about the Corrupt Bargain 

References 

Traub, J. (2016). John Quincy Adams: Militant spirit. Basic Books

Nagel, P. C. (1997). John Quincy Adams: A public life, a private life. Alfred A. Knopf.

Thomas, L. (2016). Louisa: The extraordinary life of Mrs. Adams. Penguin Press

Meacham, J. (2008). American lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Random House

McGrath, T. (2020). James Monroe: A Life. Dutton

Brookhiser, R. (2011). James Madison. Basic Books

Cost, J. (2021). James Madison: America's first partisan. Basic Books.

Gutzman, K. R. C. (2012). James Madison and the making of America. St. Martin's Press

Larson, E. J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign. Free Press.

Meacham, J. (2012). Thomas Jefferson: The art of power. Random House.

Gordon-Reed, A. (1997). Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American controversy. University Press of Virginia.

Chervinsky, L. M. (2020). The cabinet: George Washington and the creation of an American institution. Harvard University Press.

McCullough, D. (2001). John Adams. Simon & Schuster.

Ellis, J. J. (1993). Passionate sage: The character and legacy of John Adams. W. W. Norton & Company.

Chernow, R. (2010). Washington: A life. Penguin Books.

Winik, J. (2007). The great upheaval: America and the birth of the modern world, 1788–1800. HarperCollins.

Dickey, J. D. (2014). Empire of mud: The secret history of Washington, DC. Lyons Press

Smith, M. B. (1906). The first forty years of Washington society: Portrayed by the family letters of Mrs. Samuel Harrison Smith (Margaret Bayard) (G. Hunt, Ed.). [The First Forty Years of Washington Society]. C. Scribner's Sons

Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

See how James and Elizabeth Monroe rescued the wife of the Marquis de Lafayette 

References 

McGrath, T. (2020). James Monroe: A Life. Dutton

Traub, J. (2016). John Quincy Adams: Militant spirit. Basic Books

Nagel, P. C. (1997). John Quincy Adams: A public life, a private life. Alfred A. Knopf.

Brookhiser, R. (2011). James Madison. Basic Books

Cost, J. (2021). James Madison: America's first partisan. Basic Books.

Gutzman, K. R. C. (2012). James Madison and the making of America. St. Martin's Press

Larson, E. J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign. Free Press.

Meacham, J. (2012). Thomas Jefferson: The art of power. Random House.

Gordon-Reed, A. (1997). Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American controversy. University Press of Virginia.

Chervinsky, L. M. (2020). The cabinet: George Washington and the creation of an American institution. Harvard University Press.

McCullough, D. (2001). John Adams. Simon & Schuster.

Ellis, J. J. (1993). Passionate sage: The character and legacy of John Adams. W. W. Norton & Company.

Chernow, R. (2010). Washington: A life. Penguin Books.

Winik, J. (2007). The great upheaval: America and the birth of the modern world, 1788–1800. HarperCollins.

Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

James scored big when Dolley entered his life 

References 

Brookhiser, R. (2011). James Madison. Basic Books

Cost, J. (2021). James Madison: America's first partisan. Basic Books.

Gutzman, K. R. C. (2012). James Madison and the making of America. St. Martin's Press

Larson, E. J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign. Free Press.

Meacham, J. (2012). Thomas Jefferson: The art of power. Random House.

Gordon-Reed, A. (1997). Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American controversy. University Press of Virginia.

Chervinsky, L. M. (2020). The cabinet: George Washington and the creation of an American institution. Harvard University Press.

McCullough, D. (2001). John Adams. Simon & Schuster.

Ellis, J. J. (1993). Passionate sage: The character and legacy of John Adams. W. W. Norton & Company.

McGrath, T. (2020). James Monroe: A Life. Dutton

Chernow, R. (2010). Washington: A life. Penguin Books.

Winik, J. (2007). The great upheaval: America and the birth of the modern world, 1788–1800. HarperCollins.

Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

References 

Meacham, J. (2012). Thomas Jefferson: The art of power. Random House. 

Gordon-Reed, A. (1997). Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American controversy. University Press of Virginia. 

Larson, E. J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign. Free Press. 

Chervinsky, L. M. (2020). The cabinet: George Washington and the creation of an American institution. Harvard University Press. 

McCullough, D. (2001). John Adams. Simon & Schuster. 

Ellis, J. J. (1993). Passionate sage: The character and legacy of John Adams. W. W. Norton & Company. 

McGrath, T. (2020). James Monroe: A Life. Dutton 

Chernow, R. (2010). Washington: A life. Penguin Books. 

Winik, J. (2007). The great upheaval: America and the birth of the modern world, 1788–1800. HarperCollins. 

Brookhiser, R. (2011). James Madison. Basic Books 

Cost, J. (2021). James Madison: America's first partisan. Basic Books. 

Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

References 

McCullough, D. (2001). John Adams. Simon & Schuster. 

Ellis, J. J. (1993). Passionate sage: The character and legacy of John Adams. W. W. Norton & Company. 

John Quincy Adams: Militant spirit. Basic Books. [1] 

Chernow, R. (2010). Washington: A life. Penguin Books. 

Larson, E. J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign. Free Press. 

Winik, J. (2007). The great upheaval: America and the birth of the modern world, 1788–1800. HarperCollins. 

Marchick, D., Tippett, A., & Wilson, A. J. (2022). The peaceful transfer of power: An oral history of America's presidential transitions. University of Virginia Press. 

Chervinsky, L. M. (2020). The cabinet: George Washington and the creation of an American institution. Harvard University Press. 

Thomas, L. (2016). Louisa: The extraordinary life of Mrs. Adams. Penguin Press. [1] 

Meacham, J. (2012). Thomas Jefferson: The art of power. Random House. 

Brookhiser, R. (2011). James Madison. Basic Books 

Cost, J. (2021). James Madison: America's first partisan. Basic Books. 

Hamilton, A., Madison, J., & Jay, J. (2014). The federalist papers (L. Goldman, Ed.). Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1787–1788). 

Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

References 

Winik, J. (2001). April 1865: The month that saved America. HarperCollins.

Chernow, R. (2010). Washington: A life. Penguin Books.

Larson, E. J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign. Free Press.

Winik, J. (2007). The great upheaval: America and the birth of the modern world, 1788–1800. HarperCollins.

McGrath, T. (2020). James Monroe: A life. Dutton

Marchick, D., Tippett, A., & Wilson, A. J. (2022). The peaceful transfer of power: An oral history of America's presidential transitions. University of Virginia Press.

Chervinsky, L. M. (2020). The cabinet: George Washington and the creation of an American institution. Harvard University Press.

Cost, J. (2021). James Madison: America's first partisan. Basic Books.

McCullough, D. (2001). John Adams. Simon & Schuster.

Meacham, J. (2012). Thomas Jefferson: The art of power. Random House.

Brookhiser, R. (2011). James Madison. Basic Books

Hamilton, A., Madison, J., & Jay, J. (2014). The federalist papers (L. Goldman, Ed.). Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1787–1788).

Ellis, J. J. (1993). Passionate sage: The character and legacy of John Adams. W. W. Norton & Company.

Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

An introductory  deep dive into the personalities of the American Presidents reveals their character and leadership qualities of the best. 

Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?