Preview

Was James Buchanan A Success Or Failure Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
884 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Was James Buchanan A Success Or Failure Essay
On March 4, 1857 James Buchanan was sworn in as the 15th president of the United States of America, after defeating Republican candidate John C. Fremont. Serving as the President during the run up to the Civil War, his inability to stop the southern states drive towards secession. Therefore, leading many historians to believe that his presidency was a complete failure. (Biography) Unfortunately, with this title attached to his name all of his achievements and attributes to this country were disregarded and overlooked. The question that continues to linger in American History is was James Buchanan really a complete disaster?
James Buchanan was always interested in political affairs, even before he became President. Buchanan began what would become a long political career when he was elected as a member of the Federalist Party to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He then won a seat in U.S. House of Representative, where he served five consecutive terms. (Frediel) This was not enough for James Buchanan because soon after he was appointed as an envoy to Russia by then …show more content…
Buchanan also cut the budget and added stricter regulation of banks but refused to commit to the Federal government to relief measures. President James Buchanan faced his final crisis--the secession of South Carolina.
Unable to secure support in Congress Buchanan found his administration paralyzed. This was compounded by Lincoln's refusal to agree to any policy before actually becoming president. Buchanan did support efforts to conciliate the two sides, but when these failed, so did the Union. Many Northerners blamed Buchanan for the failing of the Union and the ensuing Civil War. Buchanan asserted that states did not have the right to secede; He also believed he had no power to stop
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Review of James K. Polk and the Expansionist Impulse
    • 1271 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Review of James K. Polk and the Expansionist Impulse

    James Knox Polk, a candidate of the Democratic Party in 1844, became the US president between 1845 and1849; however, he remains largely forgotten today, in the popular US imagination, because memories concerning his presidency had been overcome by memories of the most famous presidents like Abraham Lincoln. Remembrance of Polk as the 11th U.S president can be more despised than loved by many, because, as a leader, he resorted to expand the US territory by all means. His presidency deserves scrutiny, since he oversaw an era of intense internal agreement in the nation that led to the outbreak of the Civil War in the 19th century. He served a one-term presidency, and his predecessor was John Tyler.…

    • 1271 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ulysses S. Grant Do More Harm Than Good
    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ulysses S. Grant Do More Harm Than Good

    Grant’s private secretary was part of this scandal and Grant defended him. This is what really defines his presidency because overall he didn’t do a lot of positives for the country. Another economic disaster was the Panic of 1873 during his second term which was when the New York Stock Exchange was suspended trading for ten days. With little finance experience Grant tried to fix it by instructing the Treasury Secretary to buy government bonds putting money into the system. This created what’s called the Long Depression which made many railroads become…

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Lincoln's Presidency and Its Hallmarks on Future Presidents, Such as Teddy Roosevelt
    • 1999 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Lincoln's Presidency and Its Hallmarks on Future Presidents, Such as Teddy Roosevelt

    Lincoln entered the Presidency rooted in the beliefs that the executive branch’s power came second to the legislative, as stated in the Constitution. His “immediate predecessors—Democrats Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan—had set the pattern for a weak executive, conceiving their roles as little more than clerks...who either approved or disapproved legislation developed from Congress’s agenda,” (Brinkley and Dyer, 2004, 175). However, following the secession of seven southern states immediately after Lincoln’s election, his focus became reuniting the union: “he sought to reassure his fellow countrymen and to prevent more states from seceding,” (Brinkley and Dyer, 2004, 175). To accomplish this, Lincoln was headfast in his decisions, often reaching beyond traditional executive power and, in effect, overriding the other branches of government. These decisions were extremely controversial: Groiler Encyclopedia says, “As a commander in chief Lincoln was soon noted for vigorous…

    • 1999 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did James K. Polk Influence The Government
    • 1899 Words
    • 8 Pages

    How Did James K. Polk Influence The Government

    James K. Polk was involved in politics for much of his life, but he probably wouldn't have predicted that he would become the 11th president of the United States. Polk was the leading contender of the Democratic nomination for vice president when he was nominated to run for president. Much of his popularity can be attributed to his desire to expand the territory controlled by the U.S.. Polk was not well known at the time, and when he became the president he was referred to as the first "dark horse" president. President James K. Polk was in office from 1845-1849 and he was the last strong president in office prior to the Civil War ("James K. Polk"). Polk's strong cabinet, along with help from a Democratic…

    • 1899 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    How Did President Jackson's Contribution To The President Of The United States
    • 1080 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How Did President Jackson's Contribution To The President Of The United States

    The president of the United States, one of the leading figures in the country, one who can make decisions and laws, some of which will determine the future of America for years to come, and one of their jobs is to help manage the country, especially in times of crisis. During the nineteenth and twentieth-centuries, many crises arose following the foundation of America, such as how Jackson managed the nullification crisis and preserved the Union, Abraham Lincoln’s approach to slavery issues with the Emancipation Proclamation, and the preservation of the Union once again during the Civil War, as well as Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal during the Great Depression that brought America into a national recovery. These three significant leaders, Jackson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt, effectively managed the issues they were presented throughout their individual presidencies, and made decisions that positively affected the future of America and its welfare.…

    • 1080 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Civil War: Why Did The South Secede?
    • 734 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Civil War: Why Did The South Secede?

    Today everyone says the reason the South left the Union was; Slavery. Slavery was not the only factor that led the South to secede. In fact, some of the wealthiest slaveholders opposed secession. They believed, for good reason, that slavery would actually be safer in the Union than out of it. Most people aren’t aware that, even as president, Lincoln supported a proposed constitutional amendment that would have guaranteed slavery’s continuation forever. Lincoln mentioned his support for this amendment in his first inaugural address. Another factor that led to the South seceding was the way the North Republicans and the way they voiced their feelings towards the south. I believe the North would have put up a protest towards the South, but nothing as big and bloody and unnecessary as what initially ended up happening between the states.…

    • 734 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Harriet Beecher Stowe's Argumentative Essay
    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Harriet Beecher Stowe's Argumentative Essay

    Those who disagree with him and his point of view, joined the seceding states. Those who disagreed were the South. The south were devastated that Lincoln was the new president. They thought that the south had no voice in the national government (textbook). They were convinced that Lincoln and the congress are agreed on the topic of slavery ( textbook). Therefore, southern states came into conclusion that they didn't want to stay with a Republican president that is an abolitionist. However, Lincoln never stated that he didn't support slavery. People assumed that because of what he says in his speeches. Soon enough, southern states started seceding. South Carolina was the first to secede from the Union ( Packet Document 5). Later on, 7 other states such as Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas has seceded (Packet Document 5). Although, the national government state that all states are independent ( Packet Document 5). So all those states have the full right to secede and no one can tell them…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    James K. Polk Achievements
    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages

    James K. Polk Achievements

    Born on November 2, 1795, in Mecklenburg, North Carolina (A+E), James K. Polk moved to Columbia, Tennessee, at age 11 (Britannica). He graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina in 1818 (White House). He passed the bar exam in 1920 and opened a law practice in Columbia. Polk entered politics in 1823, when he served in the Tennessee State Legislature. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1825 (A+E). He was part of the House of Representatives for 14 years and was speaker for 4 of those years. James K. Polk was America's best president. He became president in 1844 and accomplished all of his major goals during his one term in office, such as expanding U.S. territory, establishing an independent Treasury, and reducing the tariffs.…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Is James Buchanan Successful
    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Why Is James Buchanan Successful

    James Buchanan was a very polemical president during office. James Buchanan was born in Pennsylvania and was the fifteenth president of the United States of America. He was very successful in school during his life. James Buchanan was elected president during a very difficult time in the U.S because of the separation of the democratic party and right before the Civil War, which is one of the reasons James Buchanan was considered one of the worst presidents in the U.S. Even though he tried to keep peace between the north and the south. Also James Buchanan was involved in many treaties like the Oregon Treaty. Buchanan occupied many jobs throughout his political career.…

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Who Was Lincoln The Best President
    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Who Was Lincoln The Best President

    First, Lincoln prevented free voting to allow for the states to decide their own fate. One could easily argue that Lincoln began an entire war, not over slavery, but over state's rights. Lincoln staunchly felt a strong, centralized government was necessary and he clearly wasn't…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Similarities Between Abraham Lincoln And Martin Luther King
    • 1176 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Similarities Between Abraham Lincoln And Martin Luther King

    As the President he made the Republican party into a strong organization. Then he issued the emancipation proclamation. Which freed the slaves , but caused the country to go into war. Even on the brink of war he managed to get most northern democrats to join the Unions cause. (1)After winning a long drawn out war with 620,000 casualties northern and southern troops(8),and he got re elected in 1864.…

    • 1176 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Was The Civil War Inevitable
    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Why Was The Civil War Inevitable

    They depended greatly on the North for their industries and factories, because they had very few. They also opposed federal spending on internal improvements and they wanted no tariffs. Even despite having a somewhat weak economy, the South wanted to gain their independence to become their own country, and to have their own way of life, which included slavery as legal. When Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860, the South thought that they would have no voice in the government, considering that Abraham Lincoln was against slavery. In hopes of being their own country, the South had no intention of fighting a war. However, before the war started, the South was unwilling to compromise. They thought that slavery should be allowed in all of the territories. They disagreed to the Missouri Compromise and to parts of the Compromise of 1850. Many felt that these compromises were unfair and biased. The South felt that their way of life and views on slavery were right and just. They turned to what they thought was their only choice: seceding from the Union. This enrage the North, which was one of the main causes of the Civil War.…

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Buchanan And Monderman Essay
    • 1392 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Buchanan And Monderman Essay

    Public spaces are places which we have to share with others and where people apply shared values. Social order is very important within people’s lives and it is about how people co exist with others and material things around them. ‘Social order is constantly having to be remade’ (Silva, 2009, P. 311) especially as it provides rules, norms and expectations that enable people to go about their daily life.…

    • 1392 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    James Buchanan
    • 537 Words
    • 2 Pages

    James Buchanan

    James Buchanan is the only president to remain a bachelor for his entire life. Historians agree that James was one of the worst presidents for his apparent indifferences on the civil war. The controversy of slavery divided the nation at his time of presidency. James Buchanan carried the reputation of a northern man with southern principles, causing tension between the already segregated nation with the complication of slavery.…

    • 537 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Lincoln
    • 262 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Lincoln

    Secession was a clearly a big issue certainly around the times of Lincoln’s presidency. Desperation to keep the Union together was cautiously argued by Lincoln in his first Inaugural speech, delivered on March 4th, 1861. President Lincoln was clearly against the idea of secession by any State.…

    • 262 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics