Chester Arthur
Chester Arthur was born in Vermont to Irish parents. The 21st President of the United States received many comments about “looking like a president” even before his term, though this only became true when President James Garfield was assassinated in 1881. As the vice president, he took over the presidency and one of his most significant moves was enacting the Pendleton Act, which ensured that government jobs were awarded via a merit-based system instead of political affiliations and relations. He also legislated a federal immigration law that aimed to halt the immigration of “paupers, criminals, and lunatics.”
Chester Arthur
Martin Van Buren
President Martin Van Buren served from 1837 until 1841. His term coincided with the Panic of 1837, an economic crisis that erupted three months into his presidency. It is largely considered to be the first great depression in US history. Van Buren was called ‘the Little Magician’ after he pushed for the independence of the US treasury to prevent corruption. He was the secretary of state under Andrew Jackson before he became the president. Later on, he became the so-called “minister to Great Britain.” Van Buren received some criticism when businesses and banks closed down because of the economic situation. Despite everything, he put into motion efforts to improve the economy, though he never received proper credit as he was no longer president when things started to change for the better.
Martin Van Buren