1. Aim: The Presidents dealing with the coming of Civil War…

2. 11. James K. Polk Born: November 2, 1795, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Occupation: Lawyer Wife: Sarah Childress Children: None President: 1845 - 1849 Political Party: Democratic Vice President: George M. Dallas Died June 15, 1849 Buried: Nashville, Tennessee Ranked: As a Near-Great President

5. Polk as President America was in the process of trying to expand westward at the time of the 1844 election. Polk ran for President stating that the US wanted Texas from Mexico as well as the Oregon Territory which was owned by Britain. Polk knew getting this land could mean war with both countries. Polk had four main goals; to lower the import tax, to set up a national treasury, to get the Oregon territory, and to make California part of the Union. Polk quickly accomplished his first three goals and began working on obtaining California. After a brief war, Polk got Texas and California from Mexico, as well as Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Polk did not seek re-election. He died two months after leaving office having greatly expanded the United States.

6. 12. Zachary Taylor Born: November 24, 1784, Orange County Virginia Occupation: Soldier Wife: Margaret Smith Children: 1 boy and 5 girls President: 1849 - 1850 (1 year and 4 months) Political Party: Whig Party Vice President: Millard Fillmore Died: July 9, 1850 Buried Louisville, Kentucky Ranked: As a Below Average President

9. Taylor as President Taylor was a career army general. He was known as Old Ruff and Ready. He was known to be honest, blunt, and straight forward. He did not know how to work with politicians. During his administration, as the country was adding new states; the question arose over slavery. Would it be allowed in the new states or not? Southern states expected Taylor to favor slavery… however, his focus was on protecting the Union. He warned Southern Congressman "that if they sought succession, he would personally lead an army against them". Zachary Taylor suddenly died on July 9, 1850 from unknown causes.

10. 13. Millard Fillmore Born: January 7, 1800, Summer Hill, Cayuga County, New York Occupation: Lawyer Wives: Abigail Powers Children: 1 boy and 1 girl President: 1850- 1853 (2 years and 8 months) Political Party: Whig Vice President: None Died: March 8, 1874 Buried: Buffalo, New York Ranked: As a Below Average President

13. Fillmore as President As the debate continued over free and slave states, Fillmore came to a compromise in which California would be free and in return the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed. According to this law, slave owners could capture a runaway slave in any state. It was also made illegal to help a runaway slave. In 1853, Fillmore sent Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan. Perry was able to meet with the Japanese Emperor after 200 years of Isolation. American trading ships began to trade in Japan. The Whig Party collapsed as a result of the Fugitive Slave Act and Fillmore did not seek re-election.

14. 14. Franklin Pierce Born: November 23, 1804, Hillsboro, New Hampshire Occupation: Lawyer Wife: Jane Appleton Children: 3 boys President: 1853 - 1857 Political Party: Democratic Vice President: William R. King Died: October 8, 1869 Buried: Concord, New Hampshire Rank: As a Below Average President

17. Pierce as President Pierce wanted to take over Hawaii, and purchase Cuba from Spain. However, he was not able to do either. He was able to obtain more land from Mexico which completed the territories of New Mexico and Arizona. Pierce then pushed the Kansas-Nebraska Act which sought to do away with the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The Missouri Compromise drew a line across America and banned slavery north of that line. The Kansas Nebraska Act would allow each state to decide whether or not to have slavery. A new political party was formed on the basis of being Anti- Slavery- The Republican Party was formed to counteract the Democratic Party. Pierce did not seek re-election because the Democrats did not offer him their nomination.

18. 15. James Buchanan Born: April 23, 1791, Franklin County, Pennsylvania Occupation: Lawyer Wife: Never Married Children: None President: 1857 - 1861 Political Party: Democratic Vice President: John C. Breckenridge Died: June 1, 1868 Buried: Lancaster, Pennsylvania Ranked: As a Below Average President

20. Buchanan as President When Buchanan was elected the most important question was slavery. Buchanan hated slavery but he believed there was nothing he could do because the Constitution did not forbid slavery. Two days after he took office, the US Supreme Court handed down the Dred Scott Decision which stated that slavery must be allowed in all territories that were not yet states. Buchanan hoped this decision would stop the debate. Buchanan desperately wanted to keep the Union together, and was struggling to do so. After the election of 1860, with Lincoln's victory one Southern State after the other began seceding. Buchanan believed he was powerless to stop it. He hoped that they would change their minds. Buchanan fully supported Lincoln during the Civil War.