4/23/1791 – 6/1/1868
Party: Democratic
Timeline; 1857-1861
#15 James Buchanan- Pre-Civil War President
Buchanon studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1812 where he established a successful law practice, getting into politics shortly after where he was on the Pennsylvania house of representatives (1814-1816) and U.S. house of representatives for Pennsylvania’s 3rd district (1821-1823), and the 4th district (1823-1831) where he became the chairman of the house (1829-1831). He also help positions as Minister to Russia (1832-1833), Senator of Pennsylvania (1834-1845), Secretary of State (1845-1849) and Minister to the U.K. (1853-1856). He was the only bachelor to ever serve in the White House.
1857;
- Buchanon becomes the 15th President of the United States at the age of 65. John C. Breckinridge was his Vice President.
- The Dred Scott decision is made by the Supreme Court
- President Buchanon orders Brigham Young’s removal as Governor of Utah, which sets off John D. Lee and he retaliates with what became known as the Mountain meadow massacre of Utah.
MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE
- Kansas elects Free-state legislature while pro-slavery advocates try to bring Kansas into the Union as a slave state. Lecompton constitution (Brittanica) is under discussion.
1858;
- Republicans gain control of the house as the Lincoln-Douglas debates heat up
- Lecompton constitution (Wiki) is defeated in Kansas; 10,226 to 138
- House votes to resubmit the Lecompton Constitution (Kansas Memory) in a national vote, in order to accept Kansas as a state of the Union, under Lecompton.
- English Bill passed, the bill resubmits the Lecompton Constitution (Civil War History) to Kansas with the incentive of land if ratified
- Minnesota (free) becomes the 32nd state of the Union
- Lecompton Constitution defeated again; 11,300 to 1,788
1859;
- Comstock Lode is found in Nevada, becoming the first U.S. silver strike found
COMSTOCK LODE
- Oregon (free) becomes the 33rd state of the Union
- Southern Commercial Convention kicks off where Southern slave owners try to bring back the African slave trade
- Kansas constitutional convention is back in session to determine whether Kansas will be admitted as a free or slave state.
- Kansas constitution ratified as an anti-slavery state
- John Brown’s Harper’s Ferry raid in Virginia in effort to establish abolitionist Republic in the Appalachians but he is caught and hanged for treason to the state. The brute force used to remove their threat divides the North and South states even further.
JOHN BROWN HANGING
1860;
- Republicans gain control of Senate as well as regain the House, controlling Congress
- Lincoln gives the Cooper Union address
- Lincoln is elected President
- Crittenden Compromise is put forth as a last attempt to persuade the Southern States from leaving the Union
- South Carolina secedes from the Union
- Buchanan gives his final message calling the Union a sacred trust
1861;
- Mississippi secedes from the Union
- Florida secedes from the Union
- Alabama secedes from the Union
- Georgia secedes from the Union
- Louisiana secedes from the Union
- Kansas joins the Union as a free state
- The confederacy is formed and Jefferson Davis is elected President with Alexander Stephens as his Vice President.
- Montgomery, Alabama is named Capital of the Confederacy
- Texas secedes from the Union
- Confederate Flag; Stars and Bars, is created
STARS AND BARS CONFEDERATE FLAG
Buchanan tried in vain to find a compromise to keep the South from seceding from the Union, but failed. His reputation during his years in retirement where Congress, the Republican Party, President Lincoln, the U.S. military, and national newspapers all ridiculed his handling of the Fort Sumter crisis and his failure to prevent the secession of Southern states. The Senate even drafted a resolution to condemn Buchanan. In fact, to prevent the defacing of Buchanan’s portrait, it had to be removed from the Capitol rotunda. Buchanan vigorously defended his presidency and died confident in the belief that posterity would vindicate him and redeem his reputation.
Famous quotes:
“There is nothing stable but Heaven and the Constitution.”
“The ballot box is the surest arbiter of disputes among freemen.”
“The test of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is“