Throughout the history of the United States, there have been several presidents that didn’t have a college degree. They include presidents like George Washington, Andrew Jackson, and John F. Kennedy. While this doesn’t mean they were uneducated, it does mean that they weren’t fully trained in the field of politics.
George Washington
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Despite being the first president of the United States, George Washington never earned a college degree. His family did not have the financial resources to send him to an Ivy League school. He did however earn a surveyor’s certificate from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.
In the mid-19th century, college education was not a requirement for most occupations. However, for the rich, it was a must. The presidents of the day sought out tutors and expert sources to learn more about their fields.
The presidents also sought out books and other resources that would help them learn more about the world. They often filled their libraries with great books.
In fact, the presidents were often able to learn more from hard work than from an academic education. The presidents of the day also had mentors who helped them learn.
Many of the greatest presidents also learned from their peers. Abraham Lincoln, for example, received very little academic training during his formative years. He was able to memorize a few words in English, but could not cipher or read other languages.
Despite never earning a college degree, George Washington did have a lot of achievements. He was an extremely hard worker, and he worked at many different fields of action. He also envisioned a university in the United States capital, where he would work to create a strong intellectual community.
Herbert Hoover
Despite his humble origins, Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, had a remarkable life. Not only did he succeed in becoming the richest man in the world, he also was known for his humanitarian efforts during World War I. He also was awarded honorary degrees by more than 80 universities worldwide.
Herbert Hoover was born in an Iowa village in 1874. His father was a blacksmith, and his mother, Hulda, was a pious Quaker. He grew up in a sheltered, Quaker home in West Branch, Iowa. He graduated from a Quaker school and went on to Stanford University. He studied geology and graduated with a degree in mining engineering.
He worked for several mining companies. He also worked for the United States Geological Survey. He traveled the world to look for valuable mineral deposits. He later became the president of a large San Francisco firm. He also translated Agricola’s De Re Metallica.
Herbert Hoover was a member of the conservative portion of the Republican Party. He criticized the radicalism of the New Deal, and he condemned fascism. He urged Americans to reduce the consumption of meat and other commodities. He also encouraged American farmers to grow more food to supply the Allied troops. He also built new penitentiaries and increased the number of prisoners placed on parole.
During World War I, Herbert Hoover served as the director of the Food Administration Board, a special office set up for wartime purposes. He also worked with the Commission for Relief in Belgium, which fed more than ten million people during the war. He also led a private relief campaign for starving Europeans.
Woodrow Wilson
Despite his dyslexia, Woodrow Wilson went from a struggling student to an American president with a PhD. His dissertation, Congressional Government: A Study in American Politics, became a classic of American political science.
Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia, but grew up in the South. His father was a pastor. His family had a strong Presbyterian upbringing. His father emphasized religion and British history. His mother was from Georgia. He spent his childhood in a rural area with little public education. He did not start learning to read until age 10.
He graduated from Princeton University in 1879. After graduating, Wilson taught history at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. He then returned to Princeton to become a political science professor. He taught there for fifteen years. His teaching was characterized by the “preceptorial” system, which blended old-fashioned learning with electives. He created a new administrative structure and a department of instruction. He also created a new honors program for able students.
Wilson practiced law for a short time in Atlanta, Georgia. He did not enjoy the practice of law. He returned to Princeton to teach politics and government. He pushed for Princeton to become a full-fledged university. He proposed a $12.5 million plan to turn the university into a full-fledged college.
In 1902, Woodrow Wilson became the president of Princeton University. He began a campaign to reform the American economy and administration. He introduced new laws and policies, such as child labor law. He also helped to form the League of Nations after World War I. He passed laws that prohibited unfair business practices and protected the public from corrupt trusts. He helped to end World War I by using American forces. He also helped to reform the financial system and created the Internal Revenue Service.
Andrew Jackson
Despite his early lack of formal education, Andrew Jackson is known as one of the most important presidents of all time. His tenure as president from 1829 to 1837 was marked by the creation of a number of important laws and the removal of Indian tribes from the Southern States to the West.
Jackson was also known as a stickler for discipline, a staunch advocate of the common man and a shrewd writer. In his early years, Jackson received some education, but it was sporadic and unrelated to his career. He apprenticed with a prominent lawyer for three years.
As a lawyer, Jackson became a leading figure in the Tennessee militia. He then served as a governor of Florida for a short period. He was later appointed to be public prosecutor by Governor John McNairy.
Andrew Jackson was the first president to come from the West. He was a patriot who believed that the government was the servant of the people. During the war, Jackson led several victories, including the victory at New Orleans. He argued that a win would return the government to the people, and restore the original design of the founding fathers.
Jackson was an expert writer and politician. He believed that small family farms were essential to maintaining the strength of the economy. He was determined to rid the government of the corrupt bureaucracy and recreant officeholders. He feared that aristocratic elites held too much power.
John F. Kennedy
Unlike the presidents of the past, John F. Kennedy was not a scholar. He studied outside the classroom, with the help of mentors and books. He also took advantage of his military experience and his reputation as a military hero.
In January 1960, Kennedy announced his candidacy for the presidency. He defeated the long-time incumbent Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Kennedy became the first Roman Catholic President of the United States. He was elected by a narrow margin.
Kennedy had served as a US Navy ensign and was assigned to the South Pacific. He was assigned to the PT-109, a patrol torpedo boat. It was sunk by a Japanese destroyer in August 1943. Kennedy led the survivors to safety. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism. He was also assigned to the Sixth Naval District in Charleston, South Carolina.
When the United States entered World War II, Kennedy worked with his father. When the war ended, Kennedy’s family suffered a tremendous loss. His oldest son, Joseph, was killed in the war. His youngest son, Bobby, was credited with the Peace Corps.
When Kennedy was elected, he sought to create a new agency called the Peace Corps. He also advocated extensive foreign aid for developing nations in Asia and Africa. He also advocated for higher education, including a minimum wage increase and urban renewal.
He toured the nation in the fall of 1963. He also announced plans for a comprehensive civil rights bill. He also instructed cabinet secretaries to expand opportunities for African Americans in every department. He also fought against a proposal to abolish the electoral college.
Lyndon B. Johnson
During his tenure in office, Lyndon Johnson launched many ambitious legislative initiatives, including the Great Society program. These efforts to improve the quality of life for all Americans included initiatives to reduce poverty and improve health care. In addition, Lyndon Johnson fought to protect the US from communism. He supported the 1957 Civil Rights Act and also signed the Voting Rights Act into law.
In a speech to the National Conference of Democratic Senators, Lyndon Johnson described himself as a “senator’s senator”. He worked for Richard M. Kleberg (D-TX), a newly elected member of the House of Representatives. He also served on the Armed Services Committee and the Senate Southern Caucus.
Before his time as senator, Lyndon Johnson worked in state politics in Texas. In 1935, Johnson became the director of the National Youth Administration, a program that was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program. It provided employment for teenagers during the Great Depression.
In 1963, Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as president of the United States. His term ended in 1973 when he died of a heart attack at age 64. His legacy includes the “Great Society” program, which vastly expanded the welfare state and eradicated poverty. He also championed civil rights for all races. He was re-elected five times, and earned the nickname “Landslide Lyndon”.
Lyndon Johnson was born in Johnson City, Texas, in 1908. He was raised in Stonewall, Texas, which is located in the southern part of the state. His father was a farmer and businessman, and his mother was a teacher. Lyndon’s childhood was difficult, as he was born into poverty. But he also developed a passion for politics. He attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College, and graduated in 1927. After graduating, he married Claudia “Lay Bird” Taylor. They had two daughters.
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