Reply #4: George Washington [View All]

[leyton]

- Established a policy of isolationism, which I'd say was quite successful, especially when compared to the exploits of certain meddlesome 20th- and 21st-century presidents (cough cough Dubya, cough cough Reagan).

- Established the two-term limit. He was popular enough to have remained in office as long as he wanted, but instead he realized that there needed to be a better precedent.

- Won the Revolutionary war. 'Nuff said.

Jefferson and Jackson would probably be my second choices (a tie). Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase, which was a brilliant move, and as someone has already said, Jackson shifted the country from aristocracy to democracy. However, Jackson gets marked down in my book for the trail of tears (at least, I think that was him) and Jefferson because he opposed the national bank.