Franklin Pierce: The Compromise Candidate (1853 - 1857)

Franklin Pierce, the 14th U.S. President, faced personal and political challenges. Despite his popularity, his family life was tragic, with his children dying young. Politically, he was a compromise candidate who struggled to unite his party. His presidency was marked by controversial decisions like the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which fueled tensions leading to the Civil War. His enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act alienated Northern support. After his presidency, he criticized Lincoln during the Civil War and died in 1869, leaving a legacy of a failed presidency.

What personal tragedy did Franklin Pierce face shortly before his inauguration?

• He was diagnosed with a terminal illness

• His wife passed away

• His last remaining son died in a train accident

• He lost his home in a fire

What was one of the main reasons Franklin Pierce was chosen as a presidential candidate?

• His strong abolitionist stance

• His ability to unite Northern and Southern interests

• His military success in the Civil War

• His experience as a Supreme Court judge

Which act signed by Pierce nullified the Missouri Compromise?

• The Emancipation Proclamation

• The Fugitive Slave Act

• The Kansas-Nebraska Act

• The Gadsden Purchase

What was a significant consequence of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

• It resulted in the end of the Mexican-American War

• It caused violent conflict over slavery in the American West

• It strengthened Pierce's support in the North

• It led to the annexation of Cuba

How did Franklin Pierce's political career end?

• He was re-elected for a second term

• He became a supporter of President Lincoln

• He was rejected by his party and criticized Lincoln during the Civil War

• He retired peacefully and supported the abolitionist movement