Welcome to Part Fourteen! It’s time for the president with the most tragic life, often known as Handsome Frank. Let’s dive into the administration of Franklin Pierce:
Inauguration- 4th March 1853
Franklin Pierce was sworn in on this day at the US Capitol Building by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. The day was extremely bittersweet. Just two months earlier, on the 6th January, a tragedy had occurred. Pierce, his wife Jane and their only surviving son ‘Benny’ were on the train to DC when it was derailed. Benny had been standing on a seat looking out of a window when it happened, and was thus essentially decapitated. He was the only death. Pierce’s wife Jane was already a fragile lady, and was broken by her last child’s death. Pierce began his inaugural address as such: ‘My Countrymen: It a relief to feel that no heart but my own can know the personal regret and bitter sorrow over which I have been borne to a position so suitable for others rather than desirable for myself.’ The weather was windy with light snow that increased during the Inaugural Ball. Pierce’s inauguration was unique for several reasons. Firstly, his ticket mate William R. King was in Spanish Cuba in an attempt to soothe his illness. He was the only VP to be inaugurated abroad. Secondly, Pierce ‘affirmed’ his oath rather than swear it, the only one to do so, and did so on a book of law as opposed to a Bible. Thirdly, Pierce spoke the oath from memory.
Cabinet sworn in- 7th March 1853
Pierce’s Cabinet was sworn in on this day. They all remained in their posts throughout his administration, the only time this has ever happened in US history.
- Death of Vice President William King- 18th April 1853
Another death struck a blow to the Pierce Administration. Vice President King had returned from Cuba and had arrived back at his home on the 16th April. Two days later, King died, becoming the third Vice President to die in office. Pierce lasted the rest of his term without a VP, as was custom at the time, but would pay tribute to King in his first State of the Union address.
Speaking tour begins- 10th July 1853
Pierce began a speaking tour of several states, encompassing Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. He had won all but one of those states (Vermont).
Opens the Crystal Palace Exhibition- 14th July 1853
Pierce opened the Crystal Palace Exhibition in New York City, New York, on this day. Also known as the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, it showed a number of inventions created in the US and abroad. The exhibition, which ran for over a year, saw over one million visitors and the demonstration of Elisha Otis’ elevator (lift for us properly-speaking Brits).
Speaking tour ends- 22nd July 1853
Pierce’s tour ended on this day.
First State of the Union Address- 5th September 1853
Pierce’s first State of the Union Address was delivered today. He struck a conciliatory tone at the beginning- ‘The interest with which the people of the Republic anticipate the assembling of Congress and the fulfillment on that occasion of the duty imposed upon a new President is one of the best evidences of their capacity to realize the hopes of the founders of a political system at once complex and symmetrical.’ Other issues raised included religious tolerance, diplomatic relations, opening the door to Japan, balance of the treasury and the army. He ended with a tribute to Vice President King ‘Having occupied almost continuously for more than thirty years a seat in one or the other of the two Houses of Congress, and having by his singular purity and wisdom secured unbounded confidence and universal respect, his failing health was watched by the nation with painful solicitude. His loss to the country, under all the circumstances, has been justly regarded as irreparable.’ His final words were also conciliatory ‘I hope it may be my privilege to deserve and secure not only your cordial cooperation in great public measures, but also those relations of mutual confidence and regard which it is always so desirable to cultivate between members of coordinate branches of the Government.’
Gadsden Treaty is signed- 30th December 1853
On this day, the Gadsden Treaty was signed. A joint venture between the USA and Mexico, it saw the former pay the latter $10M in exchange for a 29,670 square mile piece of land. It would be added to the contiguous United States, making up part of Arizona and New Mexico. The treaty was named for James Gasden, US Minister to Mexico.
Proclamation 60- 18th June 1854
Piece issued Proclamation 60 on this day. In the vein of former presidents, he urged American citizens not to attempt ‘unlawful’ invasions of Mexico- ‘warning all persons who shall connect themselves with any such enterprise or expedition that the penalties of the law denounced against such criminal conduct will be rigidly enforced.’
Republican Party is founded- 20th March 1854
In a small schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisconsin, the Republican Party was founded. It was founded by a group of fifty anti-Slavery Whigs. Their first candidate was co-founder John C. Frémont in 1856, who came second. They had more luck in 1860 with Abraham Lincoln. The Republicans are now one of the two major parties of the United States, along with the Democrats, and have produced nineteen presidents.
The Treaty of Kanagawa is signed- 31st March 1854
Commodore Matthew Perry and Tokugawa Shogunate signed the Treaty of Kanagawa on this day. He had been sent by President Millard Fillmore to open up trade with Japan, a country known for its rather isolationist stance. Arriving when Pierce had taken over, Perry cajoled and even threatened the Japanese into signing the treaty. It produced a number of benefits, including mutual peace, assistance to shipwrecked sailors and temporary freedom of movement.
Gadsden Purchase Treaty is ratified- 25th April 1854
The treaty was ratified by the Senate on this day.
Boston Slave Riot- 26th May 1854
Last week, I talked about riots in Boston over slavery under Millard Fillmore, and this time, it’s happening again. Like Shadrach Minkins, Anthony Burns was a slave from Virginia. Educated and deeply religious, Burns escaped Richmond in February. He was arrested under the Fugitive Slave Act and kept under strict guard. On the night of the 26th May, a group of twenty-five men attacked and attempted to break into the Boston Courthouse to rescue Burns. Their actions led to the death of twenty-four year-old guard James Batchelder. They failed to rescue Burns, many were arrested, and unrelated abolitionists were also brought in. Pierce sent in Marines to police the city during the trial. Burns was sent back to Virginia but was eventually freed.
Signs the Kansas-Nebraska Act- 30th May 1854
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, perhaps one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in US history, was signed by Piece on this day. Slavery, as we saw just now, was still an incredibly contentious issue in the country. Senator Stephen A. Douglas proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This would allow those in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to vote on slavery as opposed to the federal government. In order to pass the bill, it would also see the Missouri Compromise repealed. The bill passed, and Pierce signed it. This led to the so-called ‘Bleeding Kansas,’ in which both pro-slavery and aboltionists spilled into Kansas in attempts to get citizen to vote their way. The Pottawatomie Massacre, which we’ll discuss later, is just one example of the violence that came from the Act.
Signs act confirming children born in the US to foreign people are citizens- 10th February 1855
Birthright citizenship was confirmed by Piece on this date, when he signed an act confirming the children born in the US to foreign citizens are citizens. This act remains law to this day, though not without controversy.
Recommends Kansas statehood- 24th January 1856
Piece recommended Kansas statehood on this day, though this would not occur until the end of the James Buchanan presidency.
Proclamation 66- 11th February 1856
Pierce demanded law and order in Kansas via Proclamation 66. To all those committing violence in the territory, he said ‘I call on the citizens, both of adjoining and of distant States, to abstain from unauthorized intermeddling in the local concerns of the Territory, admonishing them that its organic law is to be executed with impartial justice, that all individual acts of illegal interference will incur condign punishment, and that any endeavor to intervene by organized force will be firmly withstood.’
Sacking of Lawrence- 21st May 1856
Lawrence had been founded as an anti-slavery town by abolitionists from Massachusetts. On this day, a pro-slavery gang led by Samuel J. Jones sacked the town, burning down buildings and dismantling press offices. Despite only one accidental death, it showed the violence of Bleeding Kansas.
Charles Sumner is attacked on Congress floor- 22nd May 1856
Charles Sumner was a so-called ‘Radical Republican,’ known for being a hardcore abolitionist who angered pro-slavery Democrats. Two days prior, on the 20th May, Sumner had denounced a number of pro-slavery politicians in a lengthy, passionate speech. The attacks made were personal, as he mocked Andrew Butler’s poor speech following a stroke. This angered many Democrats, especially Butler’s cousin Preston Brooks. On the 22nd, Brooks approached Sumner and began beating him angrily with a cane. Brooks continued even as Sumner begged for mercy and became unconscious. Several bystanders attempted to intervene, but it took some time before Brooks could be held back. There was literal blood on the Senate floor. Sumner was nearly killed, and took months to recover. He became a hero in the North but was mocked in the South, conversely, those in the South lionised Brooks. Sumner would not return to the Senate permanently for another three years.
The Pottawatomie Massacre- 24th May 1856
The attack on Sumner was a catalyst for the Pottawatomie Massacre that happened on this date. Whilst John Brown would become more famous for his raid on Harper’s Ferry three years later, he was also the main force in the Pottawatomie Massacre. On this date, Brown led an anti slavery party made up of five of his sons and three other associates crossed into an area of Kansas. He shot one man, whilst his sons hacked the man’s two older sons to death, sparing one. Two more men were later killed after being interrogated.
The Battle of Osawatomie- 30th August 1856
Brown was not done with Pottawatomie. He was initially not involved in the Battle of Osawatomie, in which the town was attacked by a mob pro-slavery raiders. When Brown’s son Frederick was shot and killed, he attempted to defend the town. His group of forty was massively outnumbered by the pro-slavers, who killed more abolitionists and burned the town to the ground. Brown managed to once again escape capture, and spent the next three years on the run.
Pierce loses renomination by his party- 2nd June 1856
Deeply unpopular, Pierce went into the 1856 Democratic National Convention with a battle on his hands. After about fifteen ballots, it was clear that Pierce was going to struggle to get the nomination. Pierce swung his support to Senator Stephen Douglas, but James Buchanan won. Pierce is the last incumbent president to have actively been in contention for renomination but lost.
Last Whig Party Convention is held- 17th/18th September 1856
The Whig Party, once a dominant political force, held its last convention over these days. It nominated former president Millard Fillmore to lead the ticket, and Andrew Jackson’s nephew Andrew Donelson alongside him. They also ran under the American ‘Know Nothing’ Party. The ticket came third overall in the election, and the Whigs would never again hold power.
Signs Tariff Act of 1857- 3rd March 1857
On his last full day in office, Pierce signed the Tariff Act of 1857. This reduced tariffs by around 20% and allowed more goods to be imported without levies and duties.
Leaves office- 4th March 1857
Franklin Pierce left office on this day, handing the keys over to James Buchanan. He remained engaged in politics and also toured Europe with Jane. On the subject of the Civil War, Pierce was a Unionist but also a major critic of President Lincoln, his rhetoric angering Northerners and abolitionists. His tragic wife Jane died in 1863. Franklin Pierce became very ill in 1869. With no wife and children, Pierce had to rely on a caretaker hired by his family. Franklin Pierce died alone on the 8th October 1869, aged sixty-four. Pierce is remembered poorly by historians and the public alike, seen as one of the worst and most forgettable presidents. One is more likely to remember him as an alcoholic.
That’s it for Franklin Pierce. Tune in next week for James Buchanan, in which we’ll see him deal with a big Supreme Court decision, financial panic and the seeds of the Civil War.
