How to Learn the US Presidents in Order
From George Washington to today, the United States has had 47 presidencies — a classic memorization challenge for students, quiz fans and history buffs. This deck teaches them in order, with the quirks (two presidents served non-consecutive terms) that catch people out.
There are 47 cards in the deck below. You can read through them, practise them right here with the flip-card player, and then save the deck to study properly with spaced repetition — the method that makes them stick for months, not minutes.
Why the US presidents in order is hard to memorize (and the fix)
The list is long, and two names repeat because Grover Cleveland (22nd and 24th) and Donald Trump (45th and 47th) each served two non-consecutive terms — so the count of presidencies (47) is higher than the count of individuals (45).
The fix is active recall plus spaced repetition. Instead of re-reading the list (which feels productive but barely works), you test yourself — pull each answer out of memory — and you review each card on a schedule that stretches over time. Every time you successfully recall a fact, the memory gets stronger and the next review is pushed further out. That's how you go from "I saw it once" to "I just know it."
The fastest way to learn the US presidents in order
- Break it into small batches. Learn them in eras: Founders, the 1800s, the Civil War era, the early 1900s, the World War / Cold War presidents, and the modern era. Grouping by period gives each name a hook.
- Test, don't re-read. Look at the question, say the answer out loud before flipping the card. The little struggle to recall is what builds the memory — a smooth re-read does almost nothing.
- Review on a schedule. Spaced repetition shows you each card right before you'd forget it. Get one right and it comes back in a few days, then a week, then a month. Miss one and it comes back sooner.
- Keep sessions short and daily. Five to ten minutes a day beats a two-hour cram every time. Consistency is the whole game.
One fact per card. There are 47 presidencies but only 45 individuals — a favourite trick question.
The full deck: the US Presidents in Order
Here's every card in the set. Practise them above, or save the deck and let spaced repetition schedule your reviews automatically.
| Order | President |
|---|---|
| Who was the 1st president of the United States? | George Washington |
| Who was the 2nd president of the United States? | John Adams |
| Who was the 3rd president of the United States? | Thomas Jefferson |
| Who was the 4th president of the United States? | James Madison |
| Who was the 5th president of the United States? | James Monroe |
| Who was the 6th president of the United States? | John Quincy Adams |
| Who was the 7th president of the United States? | Andrew Jackson |
| Who was the 8th president of the United States? | Martin Van Buren |
| Who was the 9th president of the United States? | William Henry Harrison |
| Who was the 10th president of the United States? | John Tyler |
| Who was the 11th president of the United States? | James K. Polk |
| Who was the 12th president of the United States? | Zachary Taylor |
| Who was the 13th president of the United States? | Millard Fillmore |
| Who was the 14th president of the United States? | Franklin Pierce |
| Who was the 15th president of the United States? | James Buchanan |
| Who was the 16th president of the United States? | Abraham Lincoln |
| Who was the 17th president of the United States? | Andrew Johnson |
| Who was the 18th president of the United States? | Ulysses S. Grant |
| Who was the 19th president of the United States? | Rutherford B. Hayes |
| Who was the 20th president of the United States? | James A. Garfield |
| Who was the 21st president of the United States? | Chester A. Arthur |
| Who was the 22nd president of the United States? | Grover Cleveland |
| Who was the 23rd president of the United States? | Benjamin Harrison |
| Who was the 24th president of the United States? | Grover Cleveland |
| Who was the 25th president of the United States? | William McKinley |
| Who was the 26th president of the United States? | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Who was the 27th president of the United States? | William Howard Taft |
| Who was the 28th president of the United States? | Woodrow Wilson |
| Who was the 29th president of the United States? | Warren G. Harding |
| Who was the 30th president of the United States? | Calvin Coolidge |
| Who was the 31st president of the United States? | Herbert Hoover |
| Who was the 32nd president of the United States? | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Who was the 33rd president of the United States? | Harry S. Truman |
| Who was the 34th president of the United States? | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Who was the 35th president of the United States? | John F. Kennedy |
| Who was the 36th president of the United States? | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Who was the 37th president of the United States? | Richard Nixon |
| Who was the 38th president of the United States? | Gerald Ford |
| Who was the 39th president of the United States? | Jimmy Carter |
| Who was the 40th president of the United States? | Ronald Reagan |
| Who was the 41st president of the United States? | George H. W. Bush |
| Who was the 42nd president of the United States? | Bill Clinton |
| Who was the 43rd president of the United States? | George W. Bush |
| Who was the 44th president of the United States? | Barack Obama |
| Who was the 45th president of the United States? | Donald Trump |
| Who was the 46th president of the United States? | Joe Biden |
| Who was the 47th president of the United States? | Donald Trump |
Save this deck and actually remember it
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Study this deck free →FAQ: learning the US presidents in order
How long does it take to learn the US presidents in order?
Most people can lock in the US presidents in order within one to three weeks of short daily sessions. With spaced repetition doing 10–20 cards a day, you'll recognise them within days and recall them reliably within a couple of weeks.
What's the best way to memorize the US presidents in order?
Active recall plus spaced repetition. Test yourself instead of re-reading, and review on a schedule that spaces the cards out over time. Flashcards are built for exactly this — which is why the deck above is the fastest path.
Is this deck free?
Yes. You can practise all 47 cards on this page for free with no account. Sign up (also free) to save the deck and let spaced repetition schedule your reviews so it sticks long-term.