Franklin Pierce

Definition

Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. His presidency is often associated with the failure of compromise over the issue of slavery, particularly due to his support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed for the possibility of slavery in territories where it had previously been banned. This decision intensified national divisions and ultimately contributed to the breakdown of political agreements aimed at maintaining peace between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Pierce was a Northern Democrat who supported the expansion of slavery into the territories, which alienated many members of his party.
2. His administration was marked by significant violence in Kansas, known as 'Bleeding Kansas,' as pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers clashed.
3. The Kansas-Nebraska Act, which Pierce championed, effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, leading to increased tensions over slavery.
4. Pierce's presidency struggled with issues like corruption and infighting within his administration, which further diminished his popularity.
5. He was unable to unite the increasingly fragmented Democratic Party, which faced growing opposition from emerging anti-slavery factions like the Republicans.

Review Questions

• How did Franklin Pierce's support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act illustrate the challenges of compromise during his presidency?
  • Franklin Pierce's support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act exemplified the difficulties of compromise as it permitted popular sovereignty to determine the status of slavery in new territories. This directly undermined previous agreements like the Missouri Compromise and led to violent confrontations in Kansas. Instead of resolving sectional tensions, Pierce's actions exacerbated divisions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups, showcasing how attempts at compromise failed during this critical period.
• Discuss how Franklin Pierce's presidency contributed to the events leading up to the Civil War.
  • Franklin Pierce's presidency played a pivotal role in escalating tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War. His backing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act opened old wounds regarding slavery and prompted violent clashes known as 'Bleeding Kansas.' Additionally, Pierce's inability to navigate or mitigate conflicts within his party and between factions across the nation further polarized public opinion, setting a course toward confrontation rather than reconciliation.
• Evaluate how Franklin Pierce's political decisions reflected broader national sentiments regarding slavery and sectionalism in pre-Civil War America.
  • Franklin Pierce's political decisions mirrored the growing national divide over slavery and sectionalism leading up to the Civil War. By advocating for policies that expanded slavery into new territories, he appealed to Southern Democrats but alienated Northern constituents and anti-slavery advocates. This reflected a nation grappling with conflicting ideologies about freedom, rights, and state power. As tensions mounted, Pierce's inability to unify his party or promote lasting compromises illustrated how deeply ingrained sectional interests were shaping American politics during this tumultuous era.

Related terms

Kansas-Nebraska Act:

An 1854 law that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing settlers to decide on the legality of slavery through popular sovereignty.

Compromise of 1850: A series of laws passed in 1850 aimed at resolving conflicts between slave and free states, including admitting California as a free state and enforcing a stricter Fugitive Slave Act.

Dred Scott Decision: An 1857 Supreme Court ruling that declared African Americans could not be American citizens and that Congress lacked authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories.