James Buchanan (D) 15 th President of the USA, 1857-1861

1. James Buchanan (D)15th President of the USA, 1857-1861 By Amelia Schweitzer

2. Born on April 23, 1791 in Mercersburg, PA to an Irish father and American mother. 2nd of 11 children Expelled: Attended Dickinson College in PA, expelled for breaking the rules, returned as high honors student Lawyer: Studied law in Lancaster, PA in 1809, and began working by 1812. Produced immense fortune. Soldier and Legislator: Federalist and opposed 2nd war with Britain. However volunteered as a private to protect Baltimore in the War of 1812. Served in PA legislator for two terms beginning in 1814. Tragedy: returned to politics after his estranged fiancé died. She may have committed suicide. Congressman: served in US House of Representatives from 1820-1830. Broke with Federalist party and supported Andrew Jackson. Diplomat: appointed by Jackson as minister to Russia in 1831. secured first trade treaty between the 2 countries. Senator: was elected by PA legislature to fill vacant position in US Senate in 1834, served until 1845. Secretary of State: appointed by James Knox Polk. Texas annexation, Mexican war, Oregon fever Minister to GB: appointed by Pierce, Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (neither country should have possessions in Central America) Failed. Wrote Ostend Manifesto (set up for US to purchase Cuba from Spain). 1849-1856 Presidential Election: Away in London during infamous Kansas – Nebraska Act of 1854. Nominated by Democratic Party in 1856. Occupational & Educational Background 1791 Early Life and Education Political and Public Career 1812 1820 1834 1849 1856

3. BACKGROUND CONTINUED VP and Cabinet • Vice President: John Breckinridge, of Kentucky • Secretary of State Lewis Cass (1857-60) Jeremiah S. Black (1860-61) • Secretary of the Treasury Howell Cobb (1857-60) Philip F. Thomas (1860-61) John A. Dix (1861) • Secretary of War John B. Floyd (1857-60) Joseph Holt (1861) • Attorney General Jeremiah S. Black (1857-60) Edwin M. Stanton (1860-61) • Postmaster General Aaron V. Brown (1857-59) Joseph Holt (1859-61) Horatio King (1861) • Secretary of the Navy Isaac Toucey (1857-61) • Secretary of the Interior Jacob Thompson (1857-61) • Supreme Court Appointments: Justice Nathan Clifford (1858-81) States admitted to the Union: • Minnesota .………………………………1858 • Free state • Oregon…………………………………..1859 • Free state • Kansas....………………………………...1861 Presidential Opponents Republicans: Sen. John Fremont (R-CA) Sen. William Dayton (R-NJ) Whigs and “Know-Nothings”: Former President Millard Fillmore Former Minister to Prussia Andrew Donelson (in order)

4. Buchanan’s Election Place of Nominating Convention: Cincinnati Ballot on which nominated: 17 Major Opponents: Fremont (Republican) and Fillmore (“Know Nothing”) Electoral Vote: Buchanan 174, Fremont (114), Fillmore, 8 Popular Vote: Buchanan 1,832,955; Fremont 1,339,932; Fillmore 871,731 Age at Inauguration: 65 Why he won: he was in England at the time of the Kansas Nebraska Act, Fillmore votes took away votes from the Fremont campaign. CAMPAIGN & ELECTION 1852 – lost Democratic Nomination to Franklin Pierce. Was however appointed Minister to GB. 1856 - won 1860 – did not run. Lincoln won DIRTY POLITICS Democrats called Fremont "Black Republican" and made frequent jabs at his out-of-wedlock birth. Republicans made fun of Buchanan's age and bachelorhood , called him "Ten-Cent Jimmy“, and said that Buchanan tilted his head because he had once tried to hang himself. “I had hoped for the nomination in 1844, again in 1848, and even in 1852, but now I would hesitate to take it. Before many years the abolitionists will bring war upon this land. It may come during the next presidential term.”

5. Political and Social Events

6. ONGOING ISSUES: BLEEDING KANSAS (1853-1861) The Kansas Nebraska Act stated that the slavery question would be decided by popular sovereignty not by the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which said that slavery, could not extend above the 36' 30" line. • Finally in September 1856, a new territorial governor, John W. Geary, arrived in Kansas and began to restore order. In total, approximately 55 people died in "Bleeding Kansas."In July 1859, Kansas adopted a Free State constitution. Kansas applied for admittance to the Union, but did not become a state until 1861 after the Confederate states seceded. Once it became a state, Kansas sent more troops than any other state in the Union. Though most settlers who had come to Kansas from the North and the South were only interested in new farming lands, Abolitionists and Southerners flocked to Kansas to fight to win popular sovereignty Violence erupted throughout the territory and escalated as time went on. On May 21, 1856, a group of proslavery men burned the Free State Hotel. In retaliation, abolitionist John Brown led a group of men on an attack at Pottawatomie Creek, killing five proslavery men. The violence that followed was dubbed “Bleeding Kansas”.

7. Impending Crisis of the South (1857) In 1857, Hinton Helper, the son of a farmer in North Carolina published “The Impeding Crisis of the South.” He argued that slavery prohibited economic prosperity in the South by comparing statistics from slave states and free states. Helper called for non-slave-holding whites to overthrow slave owners in the south. “During the 1860 presidential campaign, the New York Tribune distributed 500 copies of the book a day, considering it the most effective propaganda against slavery ever written. Many Southerners burned it, fearful that it would divide the white population.” Sources for information and images include docsouth.unc.edu and www.gathkinsons.net and digitalhistory.uh.edu

8. 1857: Harper’s weekly begins publication and the Financial Panic Harper’s weekly was the most read magazine during the civil war. It included illustrations and in depth stories about important people and events of the war. It was created by publisher Harper & Brothers and featured cartoonist Thomas Nast. The Panic of 1857 Causes: the failure of the NY branch of the Ohio Insurance and Trust Co, the removal of British credit, the drop in grain prices, the pile up of manufactured goods in warehouses, the overbuilt rail system, too much land speculation, and 30,000 lbs of gold lost at sea. Significance: The panic spread to Europe and Latin America. The country showed no signs of improvement for more than a year and a half. July 5, 1861 Issue cartoons.osu.edu, u-s-history.com, www.sonofthesouth.net

9. DRED SCOTT DECISION 1857 LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES 1858 A slave, Dred Scott had been taken into a territory where slavery was illegal. The court ruled that all people of African ancestry -- slaves as well as those who were free -- could never become citizens of the United States and therefore could not sue in federal court. The court also ruled that the federal government did not have the power to prohibit slavery in its territories.. As a result, several Northerners, Abolitionists passed “personal liberty laws”, encouraging people to disobey unjust laws. What: The Lincoln Douglas Debates Who: Stephen Douglas, the incumbent Senator (elected in 1847) and political newcomer, Abraham Lincoln Why: Douglas helped enact the Compromise of 1850 and was a proponent of Popular Sovereignty, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which led to "Bleeding Kansas“. However Lincoln stated that the US could not survive as half-slave and half-free states. Where: Illinois When: 1858, during Buchanan’s candidacy So What?: Though Lincoln did not win the senate seat, he won the Presidency in 1860. The Debates brought national attention to Lincoln and prompted the end of compromises.

10. JOHN BROWN AND HARPER’S FERRY (1859) , THE PONY EXPRESS (APRIL 3rd 1860 – OCT 1861) Who: John Brown, an abolitionist who grew up in Ohio and was an anti-slavery outlaw who had been involved in other bloodsheds. What: planned to raid a US arsenal with 18 followers to encourage slaves to rebel, but he and his followers were captured, some killed, by Robert E Lee. When: Oct. 1859, during Buchanan’s candidacy. Where: Harper’s Ferry in what is now WV Why: to encourage slaves to rebel So What: Brown was put on trial and sent to the gallows. Northerners protested, thinking it was unfair. An on land mail service from CA through Oregon. Ended when telegram started being used.

11. Financial Firsts: Macy’s Opens in NYC, Comstock Lode Discovered, Edwin L Drake drills first oil well August 27, 1859 -Drake and Seneco Oil Company were looking for alternatives to Wale Oil. Digging did not worlk well but drilling did. On August 27, 1859, hit “pay dirt!” Using a steam engine and iron pipes, Drake was able to erect about ten barrels of oil. Soon after oil fields began springing up in PA and the Petroleum Industry was born. Opened by Rowland Hussey Macy as a “Fancy Dry Goods” store in 1858 in NYC First of its kind Comstock Lode 1859 -silver discovered in Nevada, east of the Sierras http://www.thelampworks.com/lw_edwin_drake.htmhttp://laurela.us/shopping/macys-celebrates-150-year-anniversary/ http://orangemercury.blogspot.com/2010/10/this-day-in-shopping-history-1858-macys.html http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B000J0M2D4

12. ONGOING ISSUES: SUCCESSION AND THE CONFEDERATION On Dec 20, 1860, SC was the 1st state to secede from the union after Lincoln wins the election Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas secede from the Union. On January 9th 1861 an unarmed merchant ship, arrives with troops and supplies to reinforce Ft. Sumter (a Union stronghold). The ship is fired upon and retreats. (“Ft. Sumter” occurs several months later) February 18th 1861 Jefferson Davis becomes Confederate President

13. Slide 6: Impact Postponed, but did not prevent the Civil War. It can be argued that he both intensified it and that he dulled it. Was able to keep many western states on the side of the Union including Oregon and Minnesota Ended “bleeding Kansas ”. Kansas became a free state and a member of the Union Stabilized foreign policy in Central America and in Europe Though it was ignored, he had an idea to build the Panama Canal Many southern states seceded including NC, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana Appointed a Supreme Court Justice HisVP became an important Confederate leader John Brown was executed (not pardoned) Dred Scott Decision (though this was really the court’s fault)

14. SLIDE 5 - QUOTES Buchanan's strengths were also his flaws. His political canniness and ability to avoid major controversies led to his successes but also prevented him from being an effective leader. In fact, he tried to avoid being a leader, feeling that wasn't the purpose of his position. While it is unlikely that he could have averted the Civil War, he wound up being ineffective in even slowing down the drive to conflict. -MrLiteral @amazon.com Instead of being characterized as an inept failure, Buchanan comes across as an accomplished statesman who was dedicated to the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law who was caught in a "no win" situation as President. In seeking a compromise solution to avoid the impending holocaust of the Civil War when a compromise solution was probably no longer possible, Buchanan appear as a tragic figure more than as an abysmal failure. -a history buff “historybuff”@amazon.com "Buchanan assumed leadership of the United States when an unprecedented wave of angry passion was sweeping the nation. That he held the hostile sections in check during these revolutionary times was in itself a remarkable achievement. His weaknesses in the stormy years of his presidency were magnified by enraged partisans of the North and the South. " -author, Phillip S Klein he exacerbated a situation that Franklin Pierce had helped to create -Steve Fast @amazon.com

15. Slide 7: Personal Reflection Amelia Schweitzer, October 23, 2011 I did not have room to write my sources at the bottom of the pages. I used the same sources throughout the slides. Here they are: http://www.american-presidents.org/2007/03/james-buchanan-and-election-of-1856.html www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2932.html http://www.illinoiscivilwar.org/debates.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2952.html And The World Book Encyclopedia 1967 (b, ci, d, f, jk) (my quotes were from the comments about a book about Buchanan by Klein since I could not find quotes anywhere else. I looked and looked. I had to be ingenious.)