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Franklin Pierce's birth
Franklin was born near Hillsborough, New Hampshire. His parents were Anna and Benjamin Pierce. He was their sixth child. He had four brothers and three sisters. -
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Franklin Pierce's Life
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Pierce enters college.
Pierce entered Bowdoing College in Brunswick, Maine. At first, he didn't spend much time studying. Instead he did many social things. He had the second lowest grades in the class. However, he soon wised up, and spent more time studying. He graduated at the top of his class. (please note that the day and month are off by the fact that I don't know them. Thank you.) -
Pierce passed his examination to become a lawyer.
Pierce had studied to be a lawyer for three years after college. (again,sorry about the dates.) -
Pierce was elected to the New Hampshire state legislature.
He was just 24 years old.(date is off.) -
Pierce became speaker of the state legislature's lower house.
(date is off) -
Pierce was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
While he was in the House, the country was arguing about slavery.(dates off.) -
Pierce belived that the abolition movement threatened peace in the U.S.A.
He had supported the gag rules, which will not be overturned until 1844. -
Pierce marries.
He had married Jane Means Appleton. -
Pierce elected to U.S. Senate.
In 1839, he became chairman of the Senate Committee on Pensions. -
Pierce has first child.
Franklin Jr. was born. He died as a infant. They have another son in 1839, and another two years later. -
Pierce resigned from the senate.
He moves back to Concord. -
Pierce's second son dies.
He was just four years old. -
Pierce helps Polk win election.
Pierce managed the campaign in New Hampshire. As president, Polk mad Pierce the district attorney for New Hampshire. -
Texas annexed.
Mexico was angered by this action, and what added fuel to the fire was that we disaggreed upon the boundary of the United States. This is the spark of war. -
The Mexican War began.
That same year, Polk asked Pierce to be U.S, attorney general.He turned down the offer and join the U.S. Army instead. -
Pierce sailed for Veracruz,Mexico.
Soon after, he joined General Winfield Scott. They started marching towards Mexico City. -
Pierce participated in the Battle of Churubusco.
During the fighting, Pierce was thrown from his horse. He had injured his knee and could not ride for a month. However, he had stayed with his troops. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed.
This treaty ended the Mexican War.It also made Mexico give up its claim to Texas. We also gained the Mexican Cession. This land is made up of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona ,New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming.The United States payed Mexico $15 million. -
Pierce heads home.
After the war, Pierce left for Concord. There, he resumed his law practice and became active in the Democratic Party. Pierce soon became a leader in the pary's New Hampshire branch. He even served as president of the state's constitutional convention in 1850. -
Pierce nominated for candidate.
The Democratic National Convention was held in Baltimore, Maryland. Slavery was still an important issue, and the party couldn't decide on who to be thier candidate. Pierce was added on the thirty-fifth ballot, because he had adopted a neutral position on slavery. After 48 ballots Pierce recieved the nomination. Senator William R.D. King was his running mate. He was going against General Scott. Pierce had won with 254 electoral votes to 42. -
Train wreck!
Pierce's family was caught in a train wreck. Pierce and Jane was not hurt, however, their was son was killed. -
Inaugurated.
Pierce was inaugurated. He was still mourning Benjamin's death, but he was able to recite his speech from memory. Fun fact: He is the only president to say "I solemnly affirm," instead of "I solemnly swear." -
Gadsden Purchase.
Pierce sent James Gadsden to buy land west of Texas from Mexico. It was a success. We acquired nearly 30,000 square miles of land. We paid ten million dollars in exchange. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act and Bleeding Kansas
Senator Stephen A. Douglas proposed this act in January 1854, and it establishes that Kansas and Nebraska are new territories in the west. It also stated that the territories could decide whether or not to have slavery. President Pierce supported this , so it became law on May 30,1854. In Kansas, the pro-slavery people set up in Lecompton, whereas the antislavery people set up in Topeka. The people argured over who was right and violence soon broke out. The situation quickly escalated. -
Treaty of Kanagawa
Pierce sent Commodore Matthew C. Perry to Japan. Japan agreed to open two ports to the U.S.A. The United States and Japan signed the treaty on March 31. It allowed the countries to trade for the first time. -
Ostend Manifesto.
Pierce was hoping to acquire Cuba from Spain. In October, three diplomats wrote the Ostend Manifesto, which states that the United States might sieze Cuba if Spain refused to sell. Many people, however, disagreed about Cuba. many were worried that it would become a slave state. So in 1855, he was forced to abandon his plan. -
Pierce wasn't renominated.
The fighting in Kansas has slowed, but it didn't stop. Many people were angry. They lost all faith in Pierce to lead the country. Instead, the Democrats chose James Buchanan as their candidate. -
The Pierces leave Washington,D.C.
Mrs. Pierce's health was still bad. So, they traveled to the West Indies and Europe. Pierce hoped the weather would help his wife. -
Pierces move back to New Hampshire
Pierce returned to his law practice. Sometimes, he spoke in public. -
Civil War.
The American Civil War had begun. Pierce was saddened that the slavery issue had not been solved yet. As the war continues, Mrs. Pierce's health was declining. -
Jane Pierce dies.
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Franklin Pierce dies.
He was buried in the Old North Cemetery in Concord.