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James Buchanan Born: April 23, 1791 Died: June 1, 1868 Democrat Term: March 4, 1857- March 4, 1861 Vice President: John C. Breckinridge Thematic Context: The biggest conflict during James Buchanan’s presidency was the conflict of slavery and it largely impacted the views on citizenship with the rights of African-Americans. The Dredd Scott decision largely showed where slaves stood in America at that time. The Dredd Scott case was about a slave that wanted freedom and sued the federal court for it. The Supreme Court ruled that Negroes, free or slaved, were not citizens and could not sue. This was a devastating blow to the abolitionist cause, because how could they try to turn that free blacks were even citizens? This meant that blacks basically had no rights even as free men. All the basic rights were not in order for the Negroes. This impacted the presidency, because this was the hot topic during his presidency and it lead to the Civil War, so it was huge and important. Pleasing the South and the North was hard to do and another development. “Popular sovereignty” was huge with the right of using slaves, and it resonated with the public and was a relief to the politicians. Since many areas were rising up for grabs like Kansas; it would largely be debated as to whether or not that was going to be a free state or not. The big idea during James Buchanan’s presidency is the impact from slavery concerning black man’s rights and popular sovereignty. Thesis: James Buchanan’s presidency can easily be discerned as a failure. Sectionalism broke out at an all time high and the Confederacy was formed during his time in his months as president which is the product of division in the United States. He did not make any good decisions over slavery, and thus the secession and Civil War were inevitable. There was not much he could do for the feud between abolitionists and the pro-slavery group was huge and separated the country. Every decision made by anyone concerning slavery would now upset a large portion of the United States like the Dredd Scott decision. It was a victory for the slaveryites, but not the abolitionists; they were furious. Kansas was a territory that could either be a free or slave state and went through many processes and documents to make either, but in the end it ruled out as a free state. Buchanan would try appealed more to the South with slavery and that was a wrong tactic as with Kansas. Only a minority liked the Lecompton Constitution, but Buchanan pushed for it. With the Panic of 1857 and the total absence of action from Buchanan, domestically, Buchanan did not help at all. The only good thing he did that is worth noting is stopping Britain from trying to take control of Central America. He asserted American authority over them with the Navy. He is usually seen as one of the worst president with good reason. The US of A was worse than when it started. He deserves a D. Goals: James Buchanan wanted to only have one term and that was why he did not run for reelection. The goals of the president are to satisfy the public and keep order and the biggest problems at the time were slavery and the Kansas territory. He noted in his inaugural address that “popular sovereignty” would decide this problem. Popular sovereignty did settle the problem of Kansas, but that was after a long grueling process that James Buchanan himself complicated with the Lecompton Constitution. He also acknowledged the financial problem with America which didn’t turn out too good during his term. A strange quote from the address is “the duty of preserving the Government free from the taint or even the suspicion of corruption.” He goes on to talk about public virtue and comments on money taking its place, but it is odd concerning how he let corruption happen. The fact that the Confederacy formed at the end of his term shows that he might have been able to stop it. So basically his goals were never accomplished and in history he didn’t really do much to help prevent corruption. Relationship with Congress: The relationship with congress was always shaky as views between Democrats and Republicans were high and there was no compromise. His pushing for the Lecompton Constitution worsened his relationship with Congress because it was tried and done and nobody wanted it but a few people. He selected people from both parties in his cabinet which didn’t do any good and some started to resign at the end of his presidency and he replaced them with Northerners. When the Republicans had a majority of the house in 1858, James Buchanan would veto their bills. He was liked as a politician, but not as a president. Nobody wanted him to be president again. Accomplishments: He did not have that many accomplishments for action, but his ideas were nice as noted in his inaugural address. He asserted American power over Britain when they tried to take over some territory in Central America. He prevented a full out war with the Mormon’s in Utah Territory though many consider this whole case as a failure, but he did have control over the situation. His plan to annex Cuba could be seen as nationalist idea, but he was planning on making it a slave state which would further cause fighting in America. He couldn’t really focus on foreign affairs, since Sectionalism was so large and turbulent. Looking in history; since every single event mattered and set up the Civil War he might have prolonged it, but his actions added to the Sectionalism instead of solving it. Failures: His failures are many and are not hard at all to notice. Bleeding Kansas was acknowledged in his inaugural address, but he didn’t try to solve it nicely with the public. After popular sovereignty was in use he pushed for the Lecompton Constitution to make Kansas a slave state which did not happen. He focused so much on this instead of letting the public decide and be done with it. He had feuds with people in Congress about this, because they knew that it was only making matters worse. The Panic of 1857 was another problem noted in his address though not by that name. He is presented as inept during this time though he did make a few revisions after the panic wore off. If only he acted sooner and tried to push his influence like he did with the Lecompton Constitution to help the industries in the North which were mostly affected by the crisis. He did nothing to help Sectionalism, and as a result the South seceded and formed the Confederacy towards the end of his term. He said it was unconstitutional to stop them. As a president of the United States, the primary objective is keeping the country united and safe. This is corruption and was something he was mostly against. He added greatly to the Civil War and truly has the biggest failures among the presidents. Influence: He left America hopeless in the hands of Lincoln who thankfully straightened everything out. Everything he did add to the greatness of Lincoln which history shows. His non-action tactic to trying to end the slavery problem is childish and should have been obvious to not work by him. This meant that Lincoln would have to be more aggressive with America in regaining order and dealing with the slavery issue. James Buchanan is a prime example of what a president shouldn’t be. Conclusion: The country was without a doubt worse off. The country is not even a whole country anymore with seven states seceded. This proves how idiotic James Buchanan was during his whole presidency. The country couldn’t really be in a worse state unless James Buchanan was more active and drove the country into the ground, but since he was passive he did not. He deserves a D, because he didn’t really do anything that well for the country besides the little show with Britain and the Mormon’s to an extent. All his failures heavily outweigh the little accomplishments he has. He truly is one of, if not the worst, president of the United States. Bibliography: Foner, Eric. "Dred Scott Case." //History.com//. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.

"James Buchanan." //The White House//. The White House, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.

"Miller Center." //American President: James Buchanan: Domestic Affairs//. MillerCenterUniversity of Virgina, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.

"Miller Center." //American President: James Buchanan: Foreign Affairs//. MillerCenterUniversity of Virgina, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.

"Miller Center." //American President: James Buchanan: Impact and Legacy//. MillerCenterUniversity of Virgina, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.