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.