3 Major Political Events Of Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States from 1853 to 1857. He was, in fact, one of the most controversial presidents the U.S. has ever had. During his inaugural speech, he talked about an era of peace and prosperity at home and pointed out that the U.S would have to acquire additional possessions to secure it. |
Here are the three major political events that took place during Franklin Pierce's presidency.
In 1853, when the U.S was looking for expanding its markets, Commodore Perry, by a show of navy, forced Japan to open up its doors for foreign trade. Consequently, the whole Far Eastern markets opened up for the U.S. This paved the way for the establishment of the presence of America in the Pacific.
In 1854, the Ostend Manifesto was adopted, and clearly portrayed to the world the extent to which the South was ready to go to get hold of territories that support slavery. The trouble started in 1854 when Spain seized an American ship following which the Southern diplomats argued that they could take over Cuba by force. Though the President declared null and void the Ostend Manifesto, there were signs of strong protest in Europe.
In 1853, as a part of the Gadsden Purchase, the U.S. bought a stretch of land which is presently a part of Arizona and New Mexico. In 1854, the controversial Kansas-Nebraska bill was proposed by Senator Stephen A. Douglas to repeal the Missouri Compromise and reopen the option towards people to choose between slavery and no slavery. The ensuing incidents caused extreme trouble and saw the southerners and northerners trying to control Kansas resulting in shooting. Ruffians from across the border crossed from Missouri to vote pro-slave and the bill failed. This became the prelude to the Civil War.
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