Learning US History through the Presidents

Memorizing Key Events in Presidential Terms Increases Focus

Feb 7, 2009 Michael Streich

Students that memorize the presidents by their term in office can more easily relate key events and concepts in American History and better understand cause and effect.

In studying American History, particularly in advanced placement courses or similar upper level classes, memorizing the chronological list of United States presidents can lead to a better understanding of the flow and events in American History as well as improve test scores. Although memorization in history is not effective overall in that facts and concepts must be taught simultaneously, memorization of the presidents has distinct advantages.

The Benefits of Memorizing the Presidents

Memorizing the presidents should be an on-going process. Students should begin this process with their studies of the early Republic, beginning with George Washington, and continue the process throughout the rest of the term. Ultimately, students, if they are continually tested or quizzed for reinforcement, will be able to recall each president in chronological order. This is most easily done by year since presidential elections occur every four years.

As the memorization of presidents proceeds, students should begin to list two or three key events that correspond to each president’s term in office. It is this aspect of the exercise that enables students to chronologically understand and recall the major events and movements in American History.

As an example, a cumulative test question might bring together the Alien and Sedition Acts, Lincoln’s limiting of free speech, the Palmer Raids, and McCarthyism. All events relate to a common concept, the abrogation of personal freedoms, yet each occurred at different times in American History. Phrased as a question:

All of the following attempted to limit the protection of First Amendment rights except:

1. The Palmer Raids
2. Lincoln’s suspension of Habeas Corpus
3. The Alien and Sedition Acts
4. The Monroe Doctrine
5. McCarthyism

Knowing the chronology and how it fits into presidential terms, students can immediately identify the Monroe Doctrine as the correct answer. The Monroe Doctrine was a foreign policy declaration during the presidency of James Monroe. All of the other items, although occurring in different periods, are tied together by the common notion that personal freedoms were limited.

Students will also be able to fit key events into definite time periods. The Mexican War is associated with James Polk (1844); the Spanish American War with William McKinley (1898) and so forth. Hence, the Clayton Anti-Trust Act can easily be identified with Woodrow Wilson (1912).

Understanding the Bigger Picture

At the very least, students will be able to identify chronologically the most important events such as the years of the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. This also enhances cause and effect: some causes of World War II can be traced to World War I; the Korean War and Vietnam are tied to the outbreak of the Cold War and Containment theory (Harry Truman).

Using the presidents to teach and understand American History adds organization to the chronological narrative at a time when many citizens have scant knowledge of who Zach Taylor or Warren Harding were in American History. There are even those who believe that notables like Henry Clay were presidents, something Clay would have relished, having attempted the presidency three times.

The copyright of the article Learning US History through the Presidents in Teacher Tips/Training is owned by Michael Streich. Permission to republish Learning US History through the Presidents in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Abraham Lincoln

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Aug 5, 2009 2:23 PM

Guest :

I can suggest one addition to this article, a concept I call Great Dates. These are years in which a lot happens. 1861 is a good example. Lincoln sworn in. Firing on Fort Sumter. War starts. Battles of Bull Run. (First developed in my article "26: How to Teach history, Etc," where I discussed teaching all of American history in terms of about 20 dates for children, perhaps 40 for high school students.)

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