You might think that a few presidents in office for such a brief period would have little impact on the direction of the country. This is not always true. The fact that six U.S. presidents come from one political party, the Republicans, is evidence of this phenomenon.
These Republican presidents changed American history in significant ways because of their policies and actions as president: some helped build the foundation for future progressivism, while others hindered progress and even set back civil rights a bit.
Regardless of which Republican president you may agree with or dislike, they all played an important role in shaping the United States into what it is today — whether your perspective agrees with it or not.
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln was the first Republican president. Even though he was a Republican, he was a strong supporter of the abolition movement and signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in the southern states. He was also the first president to advocate for women’s suffrage.
As a Southern Senator before becoming president, he opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories, a focus of the Republican Party. This was a stumbling block for the party during the election, but Lincoln used his position as president to expand slavery’s boundaries and effectively put an end to the abolition movement.
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the first president to be impeached for, as many have pointed out, “impeachable offenses.” Unlike Lincoln, who was the first Republican president, Johnson was a Democrat.
He was impeached for his role in the “Johnson impeachment,” which was a reaction to his role in the assassination of Republican presidential candidate, Abraham Lincoln.
After Lincoln was shot, Johnson stated that he was “sorry the government was so small that he could not furnish the mortar for the walls.” The comment was seen as an insult to the country and the government. Johnson was impeached, tried, and ultimately acquitted of the impeachment charges.
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was a Republican who was the first president to appoint a cabinet that included a black member. He was also the first president to visit Canada and the first president to visit Europe. Grant was a strong supporter of civil rights, prohibiting racial discrimination on government land and government buildings. He was also the first president to visit a Federal prison.
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes was the first president to get nominated by a major party without having served as a general or sitting as a senator. Hayes was a Republican and the first president to have a kitchen installed in the White House. Hayes also created the first White House police force and was the first president to have his car. Hayes also was the first president to have a telephone installed in the White House.
James A. Garfield
The only Republican to get assassinated was Republican president, James A. Garfield. Garfield was the first to have a coffee table installed in the Oval Office. He also had a desk installed in the White House for the first time, and a telephone line was installed at the White House.
Garfield was the first president to have a radio installed. He was also the first president to have the Secret Service, which is still protecting the president today, created.
Chester A. Arthur
The only two-term Republican president was Arthur, who was the first president to patronize the White House kitchen and the first president to have electric lights installed.
Arthur was also the first president to have a telephone installed in the White House. Arthur was also the first president to have a radio installed.
Benjamin Harrison
The only president who was a Republican and their grandfather was the last, Harrison, was a small-town canal worker who won the presidency by defeating a Democratic incumbent.
Harrison was the only Republican to have a telephone installed in the White House. He was also the first president to have a radio installed in the White House.
Theodore Roosevelt – The Progressive President
Truman Scholar and historian Michael Beschloss wrote that Teddy Roosevelt was the most influential president of the 20th century. This is evident in the progressive policies that he pushed, including the Teddy Roosevelt Coronation Oath, which was signed into law just one day before he took office and became the Progressive President.
The Progressive president signed the first labor laws, created the first federal regulation of corporations and led the charge for the regulation of interstate commerce.
William Howard Taft – The Conservative President
The only president who was a Republican and their father was a president was conservative William Taft, who was very similar to his father in terms of policies. Taft was a strong supporter of federal subsidies for business. He also opposed the presidential election of 1912 and supported extending the voting age to 21.
Woodrow Wilson – The Progressive President
Wilson was the first president to advocate for a federal income tax, which was passed after he left office. He also created the Federal Reserve and pushed for social security. Wilson was the first president to advocate for women’s suffrage. He also established the Federal Trade Commission and created the Federal Radio Commission.
Warren G. Harding – The Incomplete Progressive
Harding was a Republican and progressive president. He was the first president to have a radio in the White House, a telephone line and a kitchen installed in the White House. He was also the first president to have his bathroom installed in the White House. Harding was also the first president to have an elevator installed in the White House.
Calvin Coolidge – The Conservative President
The only president to be a Republican and their father was a president was Calvin Coolidge, who was very similar to his father in terms of policies. Coolidge was a strong supporter of federal subsidies for business. He also opposed the presidential election of 1912 and supported extending the voting age to 21.
Herbert Hoover – The Incomplete Conservative
Hoover was a Republican and progressive president. He was the first president to have a radio in the White House, a telephone line and a kitchen installed in the White House. He was also the first president to have his own bathroom installed in the White House. Hoover was also the first president to have an elevator installed in the White House.
Zachary Taylor – The Unknown Twelfth President of the United States
Taylor was the only president whose party was not the Republican or Democratic Party. He was the only president who was not a member of the Democratic or Republican Party and is considered the first president of the United States.
He was the only president who was not elected by the people. He was elected by the state legislature and was the only president to have never been elected to any public office before being elected as president of the United States.
