James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, was a man of contradictions – a skilled politician yet an indecisive leader. His presidency occurred during one of the most turbulent times in American history: the years immediately preceding the Civil War.
A Life of Public Service
Buchanan was born in Pennsylvania in 1791. He was a bright student who became a successful lawyer. His interest in politics grew, and he served in multiple positions: in the Pennsylvania legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate. He was even Secretary of State under President Polk and an ambassador to Great Britain. This wealth of experience made him seem like the perfect “steady hand” for a nation in crisis.
Sympathetic to the South
Buchanan, while personally disliking slavery, strongly believed in states’ rights. This meant he felt the federal government shouldn’t interfere with how individual states handled the slavery issue. This view made him popular in the South, but deeply unpopular in the North where anti-slavery feelings were rising.
The Presidency and the Dred Scott Decision
Buchanan desperately wanted to find a compromise to prevent the United States from fracturing. Sadly, two days after he took office, the Supreme Court issued the Dred Scott decision — a ruling that greatly expanded the reach of slavery and further inflamed tensions between North and South. Buchanan, rather than trying to calm things down, privately encouraged the court to issue a broad ruling, a decision that backfired spectacularly.
The Union Falls Apart
Buchanan’s belief in states’ rights crippled his ability to act decisively as the slaveholding South began to secede (withdraw) from the United States. He believed secession was illegal, but also thought the federal government had no right to use force to stop it. Essentially, he did nothing while the country fell apart around him.
Legacy: A Controversial Figure
James Buchanan left office a broken man as the nation descended into Civil War. Many historians believe that a stronger, more determined leader might have averted the conflict, or at least been better prepared when it arrived. Because of this, Buchanan is often ranked as one of the worst presidents in American history.
Did You Know?
- Buchanan is the only U.S. president who never married.
- He was nicknamed “Old Buck.”
- Buchanan was nearsighted and had a head tilt, which led to a somewhat unusual appearance.