Virginia dynasty

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The Virginia dynasty is a term sometimes used to describe the fact that four of the first five presidents of the United States were from Virginia. The term sometimes excludes George Washington, who, though a Virginia planter, was closely aligned with the policies of the Federalist Party, and was succeeded by his vice president, John Adams of Massachusetts. The first five presidents were, in order, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. The defeat of Adams in 1800 by Jefferson, his vice president who had previously served as Washington's secretary of state, marked the true beginning of the Virginia dynasty. The dynasty is usually associated with what is now called the Democratic-Republican Party, although it was generally referred to as simply the "Republican", "Democratic", or "Jeffersonian" Party at the time. Jefferson served two terms before retiring, in the Washingtonian precedent. He was succeeded by Madison, his secretary of state who was...

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