Franklin Pierce served as the 14th President of the United States from 1853 to 1857. His presidency was marked by increasing sectional divisions over slavery, and his inability to effectively manage these tensions is a significant part of his legacy. Pierce’s time in office came during a turbulent period in U.S. history, and his decisions, particularly around the issue of slavery, would have lasting consequences for the country.
Early Life and Education
A Humble Beginning
Franklin Pierce was born on November 23, 1804, in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, to a prominent family. His father, Benjamin Pierce, was a Revolutionary War hero and served as governor of New Hampshire. Despite his privileged background, Franklin’s early life was not without struggles. He experienced personal hardships, including the loss of several siblings and his own battles with health issues.
Education and Early Ambitions
Pierce attended Bowdoin College in Maine, where he formed close friendships with future political figures, such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, the famous author. Though not an outstanding student, Pierce excelled in law and graduated in 1824. Afterward, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1827, beginning his practice in New Hampshire.
Political Career Before the Presidency
Early Political Involvement
Pierce’s political career began when he was elected to the New Hampshire State Legislature in 1829. His reputation as a moderate politician quickly grew, and by 1833, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Pierce served two terms in Congress, where he supported internal improvements and protective tariffs, both of which were popular issues in his region.
Senator and Military Service
In 1837, Pierce moved to the U.S. Senate, where he served until 1842. Though his tenure was brief, he gained a reputation for being a practical and approachable politician, appealing to both Northern and Southern factions. Pierce also volunteered for military service during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), where he served as a brigadier general. His service earned him respect and solidified his reputation as a capable leader, though he faced personal struggles, including the death of his son, which affected him deeply.
Election to the Presidency
The 1852 Election
In 1852, the Democratic Party was searching for a candidate who could unite the North and South, as tensions over slavery were reaching a boiling point. Franklin Pierce, known for his moderate views, was nominated. His appeal to both sides of the slavery debate helped him secure the Democratic nomination, and he won the presidency in a landslide victory against the Whig Party’s Winfield Scott.
Why Pierce Was Chosen
Pierce was seen as a political outsider with no strong ties to the controversial issues of slavery, which made him a palatable choice for both factions of the Democratic Party. His moderate stance and lack of a strong political record on slavery made him an ideal candidate to bring some sense of unity to a divided nation.
Presidency (1853–1857)
Early Actions as President
When Franklin Pierce took office in 1853, he was faced with a nation already divided over the issue of slavery. He sought to maintain national unity through compromise, but the situation was becoming increasingly difficult to manage. His presidency would be defined by his attempts to expand the nation’s territories and his controversial decisions regarding the future of slavery in new states.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The most defining event of Pierce’s presidency was the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. The act, which he strongly supported, allowed for the creation of the Kansas and Nebraska territories, where the issue of slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty. This decision effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise, which had previously banned slavery in those territories. The result was violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers, a period known as “Bleeding Kansas.”
The Kansas-Nebraska Act led to the rise of the Republican Party, which was founded on opposition to the expansion of slavery, and further deepened the sectional divisions in the country. Pierce’s support of the act and his handling of the violence in Kansas tarnished his presidency and contributed to his eventual political downfall.
Foreign Policy and Expansion
In addition to domestic issues, Pierce focused on expanding U.S. influence abroad. One of his key foreign policy achievements was the Gadsden Purchase in 1853, which acquired land from Mexico to facilitate the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad. He also supported the Ostend Manifesto (1854), which sought to justify the U.S. acquisition of Cuba, but the document was widely criticized and further alienated Northern Democrats.
The Decline of Pierce’s Popularity
Rising Tensions and Political Backlash
By the end of his first term, Franklin Pierce’s presidency had become increasingly unpopular. His support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed the expansion of slavery into new territories, was deeply divisive. The violence in Kansas, as well as the growing power of the Republican Party, made Pierce’s position untenable. His failure to address the growing sectional crisis and his inability to unite the country in the face of these tensions left him with little political support by the time he left office.
The Republican Challenge
The rise of the Republican Party, which was staunchly anti-slavery, represented a major challenge to Pierce’s political agenda. The party’s formation and growing influence reflected the deepening divisions within the country, and Pierce’s inability to respond effectively contributed to his decline in popularity.
Post-Presidency
Retirement and Personal Struggles
After leaving the White House in 1857, Pierce retired from public life. He struggled with personal grief, including the loss of his son, and became increasingly reclusive. Pierce’s life after the presidency was marked by personal hardships, including a growing dependence on alcohol.
Though he briefly considered running for president again, Pierce ultimately faded from the national spotlight. He spent his remaining years in New Hampshire, and he passed away on October 8, 1869, at the age of 64.
Legacy and Historical Assessment
The Mixed Legacy of Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce’s presidency is often viewed with skepticism by historians. While he was a moderate politician with a desire to maintain national unity, his decisions, particularly the Kansas-Nebraska Act, are seen as fueling the divisions that led to the Civil War. His failure to manage the issue of slavery and his inability to address the growing sectional tensions left a lasting negative impact on the nation.
Ranked Poorly by Historians
Pierce’s presidency is frequently ranked among the least successful in U.S. history. His support for the expansion of slavery, combined with his inability to calm tensions between North and South, has led to a historical assessment that is largely critical of his leadership. Despite his moderate intentions, his time in office is considered a significant failure in the context of the lead-up to the Civil War.
Conclusion
Franklin Pierce’s presidency was marked by the rising storm of sectional conflict over slavery. Though he was chosen as a unifying figure, his support for policies that favored the South, especially the Kansas-Nebraska Act, only deepened the divisions in the country. His inability to address the underlying issues of slavery and his personal struggles contributed to his fall from grace. Today, Pierce’s legacy is largely defined by his failures to prevent the country’s descent into civil war, and he remains one of the least regarded presidents in American history.