Franklin Pierce facts for kids
Franklin Pierce Facts For Kids - social studies skills studied in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th grades.
The 14th President of the USA
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the USA, serving his term from 1853 to 1857. He was a Northern Democrat.
Early Life
Franklin Pierce was born on 23rd November 1804 in Hillsboro, New Hampshire. His parents were Benjamin Pierce (a hero of American Revolutionary War) and Anna Kendrick Pierce. In 1824, he completed his graduation ranking fifth in class.
At the age of 24, Pierce became an elected member of the State Legislature of New Hampshire. In 2 years, he became the Speaker of the House.
Pierce went to Washington in the 1830s as the State Representative. By then he had become an alcoholic. He married Jane Means Appleton in 1834. He resigned from the Senate in 1841 and joined the temperance movement.
Pierce always had a dream of participating in the military services. His dream came true during the Mexican-American War. He started off by recruiting men as the volunteers for war in New Hampshire. In 1847, he became the Brigadier General. He led an expedition under General Winfield Scott to invade the Veracruz shores of Mexico.
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Political Career
Pierce became the leader of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire. In the Presidential election of 1852, Pierce seemed as the suitable “pro-slavery Northerner” to contest for the President’s seat. He won the election and became the 14th U.S. President.
He suffered a terrible personal tragedy just weeks after his presidential election. Pierce was traveling with his wife and son Benne when they met with an accident and he lost his 11-year old son. Earlier they had lost their other two children to disease.
Added to his woes, his Vice-President William Rufus King, died 6 weeks after inauguration. Things were about to get worse. Earlier in 1854, Pierce received a visit from the members of his own party, including Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas. Douglas informed Pierce that he was sponsoring a bill called the Kansas–Nebraska Act.
This Act is considered as one of the key moments in the whole of the American history. The Act was designed to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which bans slavery in the states above the southern border of Missouri. The intent was to let the new territories of Kansas and Nebraska – both north of the boundary – decide for themselves whether they wanted slavery or not.
Pierce signed the bill. This incident led to a lot of violence between the groups. According to Eric Foner, a renowned Professor of History at the Columbia University, “Pierce was weak and could be bullied and Douglas forced his administration to support the bill.” Pierce failed to see his role in the deterioration of his Union. Pierce genuinely thought he would have a second term, but his own party abandoned him because of his inability to handle political matters.
Later Life
Pierce returned to his home in New Hampshire. His reputation was ruined. He tried to be vocal during the Civil War – opposing presidency of Abraham Lincoln, promoting the typical Southern idea of slavery – all these made him unpopular among Northerners.
Several years after the death of his wife, he returned to heavy drinking and spent the rest of his life as a recluse. He died on 8th October 1869. His life was perhaps the saddest legacy of any president.