Franklin Pierce Buschistory Presents – The Presidents www.buschistory.net 14th President of the US 1853-1857 Franklin Pierce

The Election 1. President: Franklin Pierce__ Number 14 VP – Rufus King   2. Political Party Democrat 3. Term of Office _1853-1857 4. Who came before and after him, and what were their Political parties? Millard Fillmore (Whig) preceded him and James Buchanan was a Democrat 5. Were there any unusual circumstances surrounding his ascent to the presidency? If so, describe the situation in specific detail. Four Democrats sought the nomination – none were Pierce. Lewis Cass (Michigan), James Buchanan (Penn.), Stephen Douglass and William L. March (New York). At the Democratic nominating convention the Democrats cast 34 separate ballots inconclusively. Virginia offered Franklin Pierce as a compromise candidate on the 35th ballot. It still took another 14 ballots for a total of 49 voting tries for Pierce to gain the nomination. He hardly had support of his party. Electors – Franklin Pierce 254, Winfield Scott 42

The Office 6. Are there any catch phrases or terms specifically associated with this president? If so, list and explain them Compromise Candidate   When he left office, was it by: choice, defeat, natural death, assassination, or resignation. Explain your answer. Pierce had committed to being a one term President. He did not run in 1856.

Domestic Issues and Events 1854 – Kansas Nebraska Act: Popular Sovereignty 1856 – Bleeding Kansas 1856- Sumner Brooks Affair Sectionalism grows throughout his presidency

Foreign Policy and Events 1853 – Gadsden Purchase – A 45,535 sq. mile piece of land along the Mexican border as part of the plan to build the Transcontinental Railroad. Cost-$10M 1854 – Ostend Manifesto – Secret deal to acquire Cuba as the southern border of the US for $120M. Once the secret negotiations were exposed Pierce repudiated the story. 1855 – Nicaragua – William Walker (pro Slavery) led a rebellion. After the successful revolution Walker became president of Nicaragua and Pierce recognized the new government.