Picture from an e-mail author unknown  Music "Yes I Would If I Only Could" by Simon & Garfunkel from CD "The Best of"

Most prominent Political Parties of the United States:

Federalists

National Republican Party

Democrat-Republican Party

Democrat Party

Whig Party

Republican Party

History & Politics (who was in office & when at bottom of page)

Politically correct Christmas

Congressional terms begin Jan 3 - following the election in November of even years and are for 2 years. Click on the link and learn how everyone voted and what changed each year. Congress has more to do with what is and isn't in this country than the President. 

The President is there to lead and guide, agree and veto.  He can also declare war in case of an emergence but the Congress and Senate have to ratify it within a given time limit or the war is over. 

The Vice President is there to break the tie should there be one in the Senate.  He is also there to promote the Presidents ideas, be a diplomat and other things.

President Barrack H. Obama, Vice President Joe Biden January 20 2009 - January 2017 Democratic

112th US Congress Jan 3 2010 - Jan 3 2017 (Senate Majority - House Majority -)

11lth US Congress Jan 3 2009 - Jan 3 2010 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)         US Capitol 2007

President George W Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney Jan 20 2001 - Jan 20 2009 Republican 

110th US Congress Jan 3 2007 - Jan 3 2009 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

Automotive Industry Crisis 2008 -

Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 -

Recession 2007-

109th US Congress Jan 3 2005 - Jan 3 2007 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Republican)

Hurricane Katrina 2005 Destroyed FL, AL, MS, LA coasts including New Orleans LA

108th US Congress Jan 3 2003 - Jan 3 2005 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Republican)

Second Haitian Rebellion 2004 Republic of Haiti vs National Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Haiti vs US, Minustah

107th US Congress Jan 3 2001 - Jan 3 2003 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Republican)

War on Terrorism 2001 US, United Kingdom, other NATO Countries, Non NATO participants: Australia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, India, Israel, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Lebanon, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, S Africa, Sweden vs Taliban, Al-Qaeda other targets: Al-Shabaab, Islamic Courts Union, Fatah al-Islam, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-3-Mohammed, Jemaah Islamiyah, Abu Sayyaf, Iriqi insurgents, Hamas, Hezbollah, Rajah Sulalman Movement, Somali Pirates, Baath Party Loyalists

President  William Clinton, Vice President Al Gore Jan 20 1993 - Jan 20 2001 Democratic

106th US Congress Jan 3 1999 - Jan 3 2001 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Republican)

105th US Congress  Jan 3 1997 - Jan 3 1999 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority Republican)

104th US Congress Jan 3 1995 - Jan 3 1997 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority Republican)

103rd US Congress Jan 3 1993 - Jan 3 1995 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

Illegal Immigration 1994 economic crisis in Mexico caused unauthorized Colombian residents in the US to triple

Yugoslav Wars 1994-1999 (US involvement) Croatia vs Republic of Serbian Krajina; Slovenia vs Yugoslav People's Army; Croatia, CR Herzeg-Bosnia vs Republic of Bosnia & Herzegovina vs FR Yugoslavia, Republic of Srpska, Republic of Serbian Krajina, AP Western Bosnia; Croatia, Republic of Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Republic of Srpska, Republic of Serbian Krajina, A: Western Bosnia / NATO

First Haitian Rebellion 1994 (US involvement) US, Poland vs Haiti

President  George H. W. Bush, Vice President  Dan Quayle Jan 20 1989 - Jan 20 1993 Republican

102nd US Congress  Jan 3 1991 - Jan 3 1993 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

Somali Civil War 1992-1994 (US involvement)

Iraq Conflict 1991-2003 (US involvement) US, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Italy vs Iraq

Persian Gulf War 1991 (US involvement) Kuwait, US, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Egypt, France, Syria, Morocco, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, Canada other coalition forces vs Iraq (Iraq invaded Kuwait - a US alli)

101st US Congress Jan 3 1989 - Jan 3 1991 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

Second Panama Conflict 1989-1990 (US involvement) Panama vs US

President  Ronald Reagan, Vice President George H. W. Bush Jan 20 1981 - Jan 20 1989 Republican

100th US Congress  Jan 3 1987 - Jan 3 1989  (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

Iran-Iraq War 1987-1989 (US involvement) Iran, PUK, KDP, IMU, SCIRI vs Iraq, Kuwait, People's Mujahedin of Iran, Arab League (US rendered Military aid to Iraq)

99th US Congress Jan 3 1985 - Jan 3 1987 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Democratic)

President Jimmy Carter, Vice President Walter Mondale Jan 20 1977 - Jan 20 1981 Democrat

98th US Senate & Congress Jan 3 1983 - Jan 3 1985 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Democratic)

Grenada Conflict 1983 (US involvement) US, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines vs Grenada, Cuba (advisors - N Korea, Soviet Union, Bulgaria, E Germany, Libya

97th US Congress Jan 3 1981 - Jan 3 1983 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Democratic)

Libya Conflict 1981-1989 (US involvement)

Contra War 1981-1990 Nicaragua, US vs FSLN/Contra (in El Salvador)

96th US Congress Jan 3 1979 - Jan 3 1981 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

95th US Congress Jan 3 1977 - Jan 3 1979 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

President Gerald Ford, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977 Republican

94th US Congress Jan 3 1975 - Jan 3 1977 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

President Richard Nixon (73) /Gerald Ford/(74), Vice President Spiro Agnew (73)/Gerald Ford (73/74)/Nelson Rockefeller (74) (Republican)

93rd US Congress Jan 3 1973 - Jan 3 1975 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

President Richard Nixon, Vice President Spiro Agnew January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 (Republican)

 92nd US Congress Jan 3 1971 - Jan 3 1973 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

91st US Congress Jan 3 1969 - Jan 3 1971 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

President Lyndon Johnson, Vice President  Hubert Humphrey November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969 (Democratic)

90th US Congress Jan 3 1967 - Jan 3 1969 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

Second Korean War 1966-1976 S Korea vs N Korea

89th US Congress Jan 3 1965 - Jan 3 1967 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

Second Dominican Republic Conflict 1965-1966

President John F. Kennedy 1961-1963/Lyndon Johnson 1963-1969, Vice President Lyndon Johnson 1961-1963/Hubert Humphrey 1963-1969 (Democrat)

88th US Congress Jan 3 1963 - Jan 3 1965 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon Johnson Jan 20 1961-Nov 22 1963 Democratic

87th US Congress Jan 3 1961 - Jan 3 1963 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

Vietnam War 1962-1975 (US involvement) S Vietnam, US, S Korea, Australia, Philippines, New Zealand, Khmer Republic, Thailand, Kingdom of Laos, Republic of China vs North Vietnam, Viet Cong, Khmer Rouge, Pathet Lao, People's Republic of China, Soviet Union, N Korea

Cuban Missile Crisis 1961 (US Involvement) US vs Soviet Union (missiles shipped and erected in Cuba by the Soviet Union - USSR removed them)

President Dwight Eisenhower, Vice President Richard Nixon Jan 20 1953 - Jan 20 1961 Republican

86th US Congress Jan 3 1959 - Jan 3 1961 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

85th US Congress Jan 3 1957 - Jan 3 1959 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

Lebanon Crisis 1958 (US Involvement) War between Muslims and Maronite Christians (political and religious war)

84th US Congress Jan 3 1955 - Jan 3 1957 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

83rd US Congress  Jan 3 1953 - Jan 3 1955 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Republican)

82nd US Congress Jan 3 1951 - Jan 3 1953 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

President Harry S. Truman, Vice President vacant/Alben W. Barkely  April 12 1945 - Jan 20 1953 Democratic

81st US Congress Jan 3 1949 - Jan 3 1951 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

Korean War 1950-1953 United Nations (UN Resolution 84): Republic of Korea, US, United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, S Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Iran vs Democratic People's Republic of Korea, People's Republic of China, Soviet Union (result of a division of the country after the surrender of Japan at the 38th parallel with US troops in the South and Soviet troops in the North) Remains a police state.

80th US Congress Jan 3, 1947 – Jan 3, 1949 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority Republican) 

Greek Civil War 1947-1949 (US involvement) National Army supported by US, United Kingdom vs Democratic Army of Greece, N.O.F. partisans supported by Soviet Union, People's Republic of Albania

79th US Congress Jan 3, 1945 – Jan 3, 1947 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Vice President John Nance Garner/Henry A Wallace/Harry S Truman March 4 1933 - April 12 1945 Democratic

78th US Congress, Jan 3, 1943 – Jan 3, 1945 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

77th US Congress Jan 3, 1941 – Jan 3, 1943 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

World War II 1941-1945 (US involvement) Soviet Union, US, United Kingdom, China, Poland, France, Canada, Australia, New Zeland, S Africa, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece, Norway and others vs Germany, Japan, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Thailand, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia and others (We were financing the war in Europe; but we entered the war physically when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor)

76th US Congress Jan 3, 1939 – Jan 3, 1941 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

75th US Congress Jan 3 1937 - Jan 3 1939 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

74th US Congress Jan 3 1935 - Jan 3 1937 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

73rd US Congress Mar 4 1933 - Jan 3 1935 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic) 

Herbert Hoover, Charles Curtis Mar 4 1929 - Mar 4 1933 Republican

72nd US Congress Mar 4 1931 - Mar 4 1933 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Democratic)

71st US Congress Mar 4 1929 - Mar 4 1931 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Republican)

Great Depression 1929-1940

Calvin Coolidge, vacant/Charles G. Dawes August 2 1923 - March 4 1929 Republican

70th US Congress Mar 1927 - Mar 4 1929 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Republican)

69th US Congress Mar 1925 - Mar 4 1927 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Republican)

William G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge March 4 1921 - August 2 1923 Republican

68th US Congress Mar 4 1923 - Mar 4 1925 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Republican)

67th US Congress Mar 4 1921 - Mar 4 1923 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Republican)

Woodrow Wilson, Thomas R. Marshall March 4 1913 - March 4 1921 Democratic

66th US Congress Mar 4 1919 - Mar 4 1921 (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Republican)

65th US Congress Mar 4 1917 - Mar 4 1919 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

Russian Revolution 1918-1920 (US involvement) Russian Empire, Russian Provisional Government vs Bolshevik Party (civilians)

World War 1 1917-1918 (US involvement) Russia, France, United Kingdom, Italy, US, Serbia, Belgium, Romania, Greece, Japan vs Austria-Hungary, German Empire, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria

64th US Congress Mar 4 1915 - Mar 4 1917  (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)

63rd US Congress Mar 4 1913 - Mar 4 1915 (Senate Majority - Democratic, House Majority - Democratic)   

William Howard Taft, James S. Sherman/vacant March 4 1909 - March 4 1913 Republican

62nd US Congress Mar 4 1911 - 1913 (Senate Majority - Republican, Senate House - Democratic 

61st US Congress Mar 4 1909 - Mar 4 1911  (Senate Majority - Republican, House Majority - Republican)

US Capitol 1906

Theodore Roosevelt, Charles W. Fairbanks Sept 14 1901 - March 4 1909 Republican

Mexican Revolution 1914-1918 (US involvement-financial)

Banana Wars - 1907-1934 US vs Central America & Caribbean/Union of Banana Exporting Countries (Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic) (Economic interests/shipping and exports)

William McKinley, Garret Hobart/vacant March 4 1897 - Sept 14 1901 Republican

Boxer Rebellion 1899-1901 Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, France, US, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary vs Righteous Harmony Society (anti-imperialism, anti-Christian), Qing Empire (China - attacking Christian missions)

Philippine-American War 1899-1913 First Philippine Republic, Revolutionary Forces, Pulajanes, Sultanate of Sulu, Moro vs US, Phillippine Constabulary, Phillippine Scouts

Second Samoan Civil War 1899 (US involvement) Germany vs United Kingdom vs United States vs Samoa (control over island for refueling ships)

Spanish-American War 1898 US vs US, Cuba, Katipunan, Phillippines vs Kingdom of Spain (Independence for Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam & the Philippine Islands from Spain)

Battle of Sugar Point 1898 Bear Island Pillager Indians vs US (Minnesota)

Grover Cleveland, Adlai E Stevenson 1 March 4 1893 - March 4 1897 Democratic

US Ca2 274 pitol 189Acres

Benjamin Harrison, Levi P. Morton March 4 1889 - March 4 1893 Republican

Pine Ridge Campaign 1890-1891 Sioux Indians vs US

Ghost Dance War 1890-1891 Native Americans vs US (Wounded Knee Massacre)

Grover Cleveland, Thomas A Hendricks/vacant March 4 1885 - March 4 1889 Democratic

Chester A Arthur, vacant Sept 19 1881 - Mar 4 1885 Republican

James A Garfield, Chester A Arthur March 4 1881 - Sept 19 1881 Republican

Rutherford B. Hayes, William A Wheeler March 4 1877 - March 4 1881 Republican

Ute War 1879-1880 US vs Ute Indians (Colorado)

Sheepeater Indian War 1879 US vs Turakina/Shoshone Indians (Idaho)

Cheyenne War 1878-1879 US vs Cheyenne Indians (Oklahoma/Trail of Tears)

Bannock War 1878 Bannock, Shoshone Indians vs US (Idaho, E Washington, E Oregon, W Montana

Nez Perce War 1877 US vs Nez Perce Indians (Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming & Montana)

Ulysses S. Grant, Henry Wilson/vacant March 4 1869-March 4 1877 Republican

Black Hills War 1876-1877 US, Shoshone, Crow, Pawnee Indians vs Lakota, Cheyenne, Arapaho Indians (Dakotas)

Red River War 1874-1875 US Army vs Comanche, Kiowa, S Cheyenne, Arapaho Indians (Texas, Oklahoma)

Modoc War 1872-1873 Modoc Indians vs US (S Oregon and N California)

Andrew Johnson, vacant April 15 1865 - March 4 1869 Democrat National Union/National Union Independent

United States Expedition to Korea 1866-1871 (US involvement) US Navy vs Joseon Army the United States (failed to secure their diplomatic objectives until 1882)

Red Cloud's War 1866-1868 US vs Lakota, Cheyenne, Arapaho in Wyoming & Montana Territory

Formosan Expedition 1867 no information

Abraham Lincoln, Hannibal Hamlin/Andrew Johnson March 4 1861 - April 15 1865 Republican National Union

Japanese Conflict 1863-1864 (US involvement) United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, US vs Choshu

American Civil War 1861-1865 United States of America (Union) vs Confederate States of  America (Confederacy) Union victory; reconstruction, slavery abolished; national government strengthened; South impoverished

James Buchanan, John C. Breckinridge March 4 1857-March 4 1861 Democratic

Pig War 1859 US vs United Kingdom (dispute over San Juan Islands - ultimately arbitrated to the US)

Utah War 1857 US vs Deseret/Utah Mormons (Nauvoo Legion) A full pardon for seditions and treason on condition they accept US Federal Authority

Second Opium War 1856-1859 (US involvement) United Kingdom, French Empire, US vs Qing Dynasty

Franklin Pierce, William R. King/vacant March 4 1853-March 4 1857 Democratic

Kansas Border War 1854-1860 Kansas Abolitionists vs Missouri Slave Owners (Harpers Ferry 1859)

Nicaraguan Expedition 1854 Bombardment of San Juan Del Norte (no information

Millard Fillmore, Vacant July 9 1850 - March 4 1853 Whig

Apache Wars 1851-1900 US, American Settlers, Confederate States Army vs Apache Indians

Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore March 4 1849 - July 9 1850 Whig

James K. Polk, George M. Dallas March 4 1845-March 4 1849 Democratic

Cayuse War 1847-1855 US vs Cayuse (Crow Indians)

Navajo Wars 1846-1863 US, Mexico vs Navajo, Apache

Mexican-American War 1846-1848 US vs Mexico (to secure borders in Texas, California, Arizona/Mexico)

Milwaukee Bridge War 1845 Wisconsin Citizens on the E side of the Wisconsin river vs Citizens on the W side of the river (over the construction of a bridge crossing the Milwaukee River)

US Capitol 1846

John Tyler, Vacant April 4 1841-March 4 1845 (April 4 1841-Sept 13 1841) Wig/(Sept 13-1841 - March 4 1845) Independent

Dorr Rebellion 1841-1842 US vs RI citizen Thomas W. Dorr (he declared war because he did not think people who did not own land should be allowed to vote.

William Henry Harrison, John Tyler March 4 1841-April 4 1841 Whig

Martin Van Buren, Richard Mentor Johnson March 4 1837-March 4 1841 Democratic

Aroostook War 1838-1839 US vs British Empire/British North America (Maine - New Brunswick border) Undeclared war

Mormon War 1838 Non Mormons vs Mormons in NW Missouri

Andrew Jackson, John C. Calhoun/Martin Van Buren March 4, 1829-March 4, 1837 Democratic

Texas Revolution 1835 - 1836/1848 Texas/US Settlers vs Mexico (Texas became a Cuntry in 1836; US annexation of Texas 1845-1846)

Sumatran War Feb 6 - 9 1832, 1838 US vs Quallah Battoo, Sumantra

Black Hawk War 1832 US vs Illinois & Michigan (Black Hawk Indians)

John Quincy Adams, John C. Calhoun March 4 1825 - March 4 1829 Democratic-Republican National Republican

Winnebago War 1827 US vs Le Fevre (Winnebago Indians) of SW Wisconsin

James Monroe, Daniel D. Tompkins March 4 1817 - March 4 1825 Democratic-Republican

Seminole Wars 1817-1858 US vs Florida (Seminole Indians)

James Madison, George Clinton/Eldridge Gerry March 4 1809 - March 4 1817 Democratic-Republican

Second Barbary War 1815 US/United Kingdom/UK of the Netherlands vs Ottoman Empire's N African regencies (Algiers, Tripoli & Tunis) (Naval War)

War of 1812 1812-1815 US vs British Empire

US Capitol 1814 burned in War of 1812

Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Burr/George Clinton March 4 1801 - March 4 1809 Democratic-Republican

President John Adams, Vice President Thomas Jefferson March 4 1797 - March 4 1801 Federalist

First Barbary War 1801-1805 US/Swedish vs Ottoman Empire's N African regencies (Algiers, Tripoli & Tunis) (Naval War)

Quasi-War 1798-1800 US vs France (Naval War)

US Capitol 1800

President George Washington, Vice President John Adams April 30 1789 - March 4 1797 Independent

Northwest Indian War 1785-1795 US vs Western Confederacy

American Revolution 1775-1783 US Patriots (Colonials) & France vs United Kingdom, American Loyalists, Anhalt-Zerbst, Ansbach-Bayreuth, Hanover Hesse-Hanah, Hesse Kassel Brunswich Wolfenbuttel, Waldeck-Pyrmont, Iroquois, Cherokee

(many of your political questions can be answered at http://politics.answers.com/ where you find history, definitions of political terms, how our government works, etc) Thank you Stuart Hultgren, Research Assistant with Answers.com for letting me know that I had a broken link.  I appreciate your interest in my site.

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