Franklin Pierce: The Compromise Candidate (1853 - 1857)

Franklin Pierce, the 14th U.S. President, faced personal and political challenges. Despite his popularity, his family life was tragic, with his children dying young. Politically, he was a compromise candidate who struggled to unite his party. His presidency was marked by controversial decisions like the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which fueled tensions leading to the Civil War. His enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act alienated Northern support. After his presidency, he criticized Lincoln during the Civil War and died in 1869, leaving a legacy of a failed presidency.

What were the political consequences of Pierce's criticism of President Lincoln during the Civil War?

In what ways did Franklin Pierce's presidency contribute to the tensions leading up to the Civil War?