“The dangers of a concentration of all power in the general government of a confederacy so vast as ours are too obvious to be disregarded.”

Franklin pierce's family  Jane Means Appleton Pierce (wife)  Franklin Pierce (1836) Died in infancy  Frank Robert Pierce (1839 – 1843)  Benjamin Pierce (1841 – 1853)  Father: Benjamin Pierce, (1757 – 1839)  Hero in the War of 1812, Two Term Governor of New Hampshire  Mother: Anna Kendrick (1769 – 1838)

Political Rise to Power  New Hampshire Legislature (1829 – 1833)  U.S Representative from NH (1833 – 1837)  U.S Senator from NH (1837 – 1842)  New Hampshire Volunteers (Colonel; 1846 – 1847)  Brigadier General, U.S Army (1847 – 1848)  Part of the Democratic Party  New Hampshire proposed to nominate Pierce for presidential nomination (1852)  The delegates at the Democratic Convention, they agreed easily enough upon a platform.

Political Rise to Power (cont.)  Two months before pierce took the office, his eleven-year-son was killed in a train wreck.  In Pierce’s Inaugural Address he proclaimed an era of peace and prosperity.

Domestic Affairs (Kansas-Nebraska Act) During Pierce’s presidency, the are compromising Kansas and Nebraska had been largely unsettled. However, there were plenty of settlers in the region. Douglas proposed the Kansas- Nebraska act, which gives the citizens “popular sovereignty” over the issue of slavery in the states. In May 1854, the Kansa-Nebraska act was passed.

Foreign Affairs (Attempt to Acquire Cuba) Pierce attempted to annex Cuba from Cuba, but Spain’s stubborn king only resented the idea, and he rewrote the treaty to include threats of American military action if Spain did not comply. The more the US bullied Spain into selling Cuba, only made the nation resisted the idea of selling Cuba.

Successes  Most of Pierce’s successes came from foreign policies.  Pierce’s presidency opened trade with Japan and to the West, Central America, and Asia.  Additional land was acquired from Mexico.  Pierce also initiated plans on acquiring Alaska, the Hawaiian Islands, Nicaragua, Formosa, Dominican Republic, the Guano Islands, and Cuba.

Failures  Pierce passing the Kansas-Nebraska Act only worsen the situation of the Union, and only made the Civil war an inevitable future.  The term “Bleeding Kansas” came to symbolize the failures of his Administration.

Bloodshed in Kansas  After the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, the new territory of Kansas, became the battleground over slavery.  Abolitionists, and Proslavery agitators, quickly stormed into the state, the state became the center of debate over the issue of slavery. Violence and bloodshed soon followed.  Pierce’s failure to solve the issue of slavery, the American public saw him as indecisive and ineffective.

Political Cartoon  With Pierce’s failure to solve the issue with slavery. In this Political Cartoon, it shows that his action are geared with preservation of slavery, and ultimately makes the Civil War inevitable.

Pressured We chose this word to describe Pierce, because there are plenty of Influential and great presidents before him. Also, Pierce’s way of dealing with issues are on the weak side, he is easily pressured by other politicians, which adds more weight to his downfall.

Franklin Pierce for 2012 election? If Pierce would run for presidency I think that he would stand a chance in some aspects, because he is a war hero, but terrorism is not the only problem that we have today. Health Care, Taxes, Recession, and many more are the problems that we face today, and in my opinion, Pierce doesn’t have the experience and the insight to govern in this modern times.

Impact and Legacy  Was the mastermind behind one of the most important legislation in American History.  In the 1850s, the pro and anti slavery groups sought for leaders, and Franklin Pierce was one of them.  Pierce’s political style emphasized on cohesion and compromise.  Pierce lacked aggression that makes him an easy target for forceful politicians like his rival Stephen Douglas.

Bibliography   ents/franklinpierce ents/franklinpierce  npresident/pierce/essays/biography/8 npresident/pierce/essays/biography/8  ml ml  ors/f/franklin_pierce.html ors/f/franklin_pierce.html

Group Members  Khristian Dela Cruz  Christian Cruzado