George Washington was the first U.S. President and a general during the American revolution. He set precedents including making a cabinet, staying neutral, and served 2 terms. He then retired as president and gave warnings for future America like:

Stay out of foreign affairs
Stay neutral
Avoid political parties

John Adams became president on March 4th, 1797. He was a federalist. He was the president involved with the XYZ affair where France demanded a bribe from the U.S in order to pay off their debt from them from the American Revolution. He didn't pay the bribe and the. Prepared for war. However, he didn't go to war.

Thomas Jefferson became president on March 4th, 1801. He was a Democratic Republican. He was offered the Louisiana territory by Napolean. On October 20, 1803 senate approves the Louisiana purchase and buys it. He chose Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the area.

James Madison became president on March 4, 1809. He was the founder of the democratic-Republican Party. He was the president during the war of 1812 which was a war where the United States' strength was tested. Great Britain was taking American ships and making the sailors on the ships fight for the British which this was the main cause of the war. The war ended on December 24, 1814 with the Treaty of Ghent.

James Monroe became president on March 4, 1817. He created the Monroe Doctrine which was an exclusive statement of American policy that warned Europeans not to interfere with Americans. It included 4 basic points:
The U.S would not interfere with affairs of European nations.
The U.S would recognize and not interfere with colonies that existed before in North and South America.
The Western Hemisphere was off limits to future colonization.
Any Europeans attempting to colonize or interfere with nations in the Western Hemisphere would be considered a hostile act.

John Quincy Adams became president on March 4, 1825. He chose Henry clay to be Secretary of State which then he created a plan that was known as the American system which was a series of measures intended to make the United States economically self sufficient. He did many things to build up the economy including pushing for a national bank that would provide one single currency to make interstate trade easier. Clay then wanted the money from tariffs to be used to make roads and canals to unite the whole country.

Andrew Jackson became president on March 4, 1829. There was a dispute where Calhoun, Jackson's Vice President made a response to a tariff and made the states' rights doctrine which stated since the states formed to national government, they should have more power. There was a deeper conflict between supporters and opponents. This dispute became known as the nullification crisis. Jackson responded and ended it. He also went on to attack the bank because he claimed that it was an unconstitutional extension of the power of congress.