Index
abolitionists, 81–82, 90–91, 98, 111–12
petitions of, 17–21
Adams, Charles Francis, 33
Alabama, 37, 42, 48, 67, 76, 103
Allen, Charles B., 87
American Party, 91–92. See also Know Nothing (American) Party
Anbinder, Tyler, 88
Andrews, Israel, 57
anti-Nebraska coalitions, 84–89, 92, 97
antislavery movement, 23–24, 48, 67–68, 70, 73, 110–11. See also abolitionists; and specific issues and political factions
“Appeal of Independent Democrats in Congress to the People of the United States, The” (Free Soil Manifesto), 81
Arkansas, 103
Atchison, David R., 54, 74, 77, 91
Atherton, Charles, 39–40
Bank of the United States, 15
Banks, Nathaniel P., 92–93, 97, 106
banks and banking, 11–12, 17, 20
Barker, James W., 87
Barnburners (New York Democratic faction), 51, 68–70
Beauregard, Pierre, 29
Bennett, James Gordon, 102
Black Warrior incident, 60–62, 65
Boston Post, 20
Bradbury, James, 7
Breckinridge, John C., 76, 105, 116, 120–22
Breed’s Hill, Battle of, 5
Bright, Jesse D., 102
Bronson, Greene C., 69–70
Brooks, Preston S., 101–2
Brown, John, 107
Buchanan, James
elections of 1852 and, 39, 41–43
elections of 1856 and, 56–57, 96–97, 101–5, 109–10
elections of 1860 and, 121
as minister to Britain, 56–59, 62–64
Pierce presidency and, 48, 50–51
presidency of, 115–16, 118–19, 132
secession and, 122
Bulwer, Henry, 56
Burke, Edmund, 40–41
Burns, Anthony, 82
Butler, Andrew Pickens, 77, 101
Caldwell, Zenas, 8
Calhoun, John C., 17–19
California, 27, 34–35, 39, 55, 72–74, 109
Cameron, Simon, 67
Campbell, James, 51, 67, 87, 90, 116, 121
Campbell, John A., 122
Canadian reciprocity treaty (1854), 56–57, 78
Cass, Lewis, 32–34, 39, 41–43, 51, 58, 67, 103, 105
Chapultepec, Battle of, 29
Civil War, 2, 4, 73, 85, 111, 120, 122–25, 129, 132
Claiborne, John, 29
Clayton, John M., 56
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, 56–58
Cobb, Howell, 37
Colby, Anthony, 24
Compromise of 1850, 34–44, 46, 103
Democrats split over, 37–38, 48, 51
Kansas-Nebraska and, 75–80
Pierce and party unity and, 49–54, 59, 65–66, 70–71, 79–80, 112
Concord, Battle of, 5
Concord Regency, 33
Conscience Whigs, 33
Continental Army, 5
corporations, 11–12
Corrupt Bargain, 9
Cushing, Caleb, 30, 40, 42, 49, 52, 66, 70, 79, 123, 132
Cushing ukase, 66
Dartmouth College, 6
post–Civil War imprisonment of, 129–31
as secretary of war, 49–52, 68, 76
Davis, Varina, 130–31
Delaware, 103
Democratic Party. See also northern Democrats; southern Democrats; and other specific factions
Catholic vote and, 87
Compromise of 1850 and splits in, 35, 37–38, 40–41, 48, 79
elections of 1840–41 and, 21–22
elections of 1842 and, 38–39
elections of 1852 and, 39–40, 42–43, 45–47
elections of 1853 and, 46–48
elections of 1854–55 and, 2, 26, 80–81, 83, 89–90, 93
elections of 1856 and, 107–10
internal divisions in, despite
Kansas-Nebraska and split in, 73–85, 107–9
national platforms of, 23, 42–43, 79
Pierce and, postpresidency, 116
Pierce blind to needs of, in competitive states, 25–26
Pierce denies imperilment of, in bitter message of 1856, 110–14
Pierce’s attempt to preserve unity of, 3–4, 65–71, 79–80, 133
Pierce’s attempt to preserve unity of, and cabinet selection, 48–53
Pierce’s attempt to preserve unity of, and Kansas-Nebraska, 79–80
Pierce’s attempt to preserve unity of, in New Hampshire 1842–52, 22–23, 25
Pierce’s devotion to Jacksonian, 10, 15
Pierce’s friendships in Mexico and, 29–30
Pierce’s patronage and, 66–70, 79
Pierce’s rise in, in New Hampshire, 25
presidential nomination of 1852, 38–43
presidential nomination of 1856,56, 95–98, 101–2
presidential nomination of 1860, 119–20
presidential nomination of 1864, 125
Republican Party and, 94
strength of, in New Hampshire, 12, 16
Texas annexation and, 23
Wilmot Proviso and split in, 31–33
Democratic Party National Committee, 55
Democratic Party National Convention
of 1856, 101–6
of 1860 and split in, 120–22
of 1868, 129
Democratic Review, 58
Dickinson, Daniel S., 42, 51, 69–70, 101, 123
Dix, Dorothea, 53
Dobbin, James C., 42, 51–52, 117
Douglas, Stephen A.
elections of 1852 and, 39, 41–43, 52
elections of 1856 and, 95–96, 102–5, 108
elections of 1860 and, 120–22
Kansas-Nebraska and, 73–81, 108
Pierce presidency and, 67, 70–71
elections
of 1824, 8–9
of 1827, 9
of 1828, 9–10
of 1831, 12
of 1832, 12–14
of 1835, 16
of 1840–41, 21–22
of 1846–47, 24
of 1848, 31–34
of 1850–51, 35–37
of 1853, 46, 47–48, 69–71, 80, 88–89
of 1854, 2, 65–66, 80–81, 83, 86, 88–89
of 1855, 2, 81, 83, 86, 89–90, 97
Emancipation Proclamation, 124
Federalists, 3, 6, 9, 11–12, 16
Fessenden, William Pitt, 7
Fillmore, Millard
elections of 1852 and, 44–45
elections of 1856 and, 68, 100, 107, 109–10
Kansas-Nebraska and, 81
presidency of, 35–37, 39, 60, 68
Fish, Hamilton, 116
Florida, 103
Foote, Henry S., 37
Fort Sumter, 122–23
Freehling, William W., 122–23
Freeport Doctrine, 120
Free Soil Party, 24, 33–35, 43, 46, 48–49, 66, 81, 84–86, 96, 100
Frémont, John C., 106–7, 109–10
French, Benjamin B., 14–15, 40, 42, 126
F-Street Mess, 77–78
Fugitive Slave Act (1850), 35–37, 40–41, 43–44, 53, 82, 85, 112
Gadsden, James, 55
Garibaldi, Giuseppe, 58
Geary, John W., 108–9
German immigrants, 86
Gettysburg, Battle of, 125
Gienapp, William E., 110
Graham, William A., 45
Graves, William J., 21–22
Grimes, James W., 129
Grund, Francis, 67
Guadalupe Hidalgo, Treaty of (1848), 30–31, 55
habeas corpus, 124
Haiti, 60
Hale, John P., 7, 23–24, 32–33, 40, 46
Hammond, James H., 17–18
Hard-Shell Hunkers (New York Democratic faction), 51, 68–70, 73, 75–76, 101
Harrison, William Henry, 22
Hawthorne, Julian, 127–28
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 7, 118, 126
Hawthorne, Sophia, 118, 126–27
Hawthorne, Una, 118
Hayes, Rutherford B., 88
Herald of Freedom (abolitionist newspaper), 18–19
homestead law, 74
immigrants, 86–90
Independent States Rights Party, 15
Independent Treasury controversy, 20
Indiana, 83–84, 89, 102, 104–5, 109
Indian raids, 55
insane asylums, 53–54
Interior Department, 67
internal improvements, 11–12, 15, 25, 43, 53–54, 71, 107
Irish immigrants, 86–87
Jacksonian Democrats, 10–11, 13
Jeffersonian principles, 3, 6, 9–10
Johnson, Andrew, 47–48
impeachment of, 129
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854), 77–86, 88, 90–94, 97, 99–100, 103, 132
Kansas Territory, 77
Buchanan vs. Douglas and attempt to admit, as slave state, 119–20
election of 1856 and, 103, 108–9
“free state” vs. proslavery legislatures and violence in, 90–91, 98–100, 107–9, 113–14
Republican Party and, 99
Sumner caning and, 100–101
Kennedy, John Pendleton, 68
Know Nothing (American) Party
split in, over slavery, 91–92, 99–100, 103, 106–7, 109–10
Kossuth, Louis, 58
Latin America, 55
Lecompton Constitution, 120
Lexington, Battle of, 5
assassination of, 127
Civil War and, 122–24
Lincoln, Willie, death of, 124
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 7
March, Charles, 117
March, Clarence, 117, 119, 125, 128, 131
Marcy, William L., 38–39, 42–43, 115–17, 132
as secretary of state, 50–52, 56–58, 60–65, 69, 76
Mason, James M., 77–78
Mason, Jeremiah, 16
Masonic lodges, 12–13
Massachusetts, 12–13, 42, 46, 49, 66, 83, 89, 92, 96, 100–101
Mazzini, Giuseppe, 58
McClelland, Robert, 51, 67, 119
Mexican-American War, 1, 26–31, 40, 45
Mexican Cession, 31–32, 34–35, 112
Mexico, Gadsden Purchase and, 55
Minnesota Territory, 72
Mississippi, 37, 42, 48–49, 67
Missouri, 54, 70–74, 77, 90–91, 98, 113
Missouri Compromise (1820), 32, 65, 85, 92, 99–100
Kansas-Nebraska and repeal of, 73–78, 93–94, 112–13
Monroe Doctrine, 53
National Era (Free Soil newspaper), 81
National Republicans (Adams men), 11, 13, 15
nativists, 86–88
Navy Department, 51
Kansas-Nebraska bill and, 78–83
Pierce speech of 1856 on, 112–13
neutrality laws, 53–54, 59, 64
New England
Canadian fishing and, 56–57
elections of 1854–55 and, 89
elections of 1856 and, 96–97, 103
New Hampshire
abolitionists and, 18–19
Antimasons and, 12–13
banking and railroad charters and, 11–12
Compromise of 1850and, 36
elections of 1846 and, 24
elections of 1848 and, 33
elections of 1852 and, 39, 42, 46
elections of 1855–56 and, 83, 104, 109
elections of 1860 and, 121–22
Federalists vs. Jeffersonian Republicans in, 6
Fugitive Slave Act and, 80
Pierce’s father as governor of, 6, 9–10
Pierce’s political career in, 1, 9–11, 13–14
state constitutional convention of 1850–51 and, 44
Wilmot Proviso and, 32
New Hampshire Democratic Party, 3, 12, 32–33, 36, 42, 46, 80, 104, 121–22
Kansas-Nebraska and, 83
Pierce heads, and ousts antislavery advocates from, 22–25
Pierce nomination of 1852 and, 39–40
Pierce renomination campaign of 1856 and, 96–97
New Hampshire House of Representatives, 1, 10–11
New Hampshire Patriot, 39–40
New Mexico, 34, 36, 55, 75, 78, 93
New York City customs collector, 69–70
New York Herald, 66, 72, 102, 116
New York State Democratic Party. See also Barnburners; Hard-Shell Hunkers; Soft-Shell Hunkers
Compromise of 1850 and split in, 51, 68–70, 75–76
Kansas-Nebraska and, 82–83
Pierce nomination of 1852 and, 42
Pierce patronage and, 68–70
Pierce renomination attempt of 1856 and, 101–2, 104
Wilmot Proviso and, 32
New York State Whig Party, 68, 75–76, 80
noninterference principle, 32, 80, 103
North
Civil War and, 124
Compromise of 1850 and, 35–36, 38
elections of 1854 and new coalitions in, 83–90
elections of 1856 and realignment in, 109–10
Fugitive Slave Act and, 36
Kansas-Nebraska Act and, 81–83,90–91, 113–14
Pierce attacks antislavery movement in, 93–94, 111–14
Sumner caning and, 101
North Americans (Know Nothing faction), 100, 106–7
northern Democrats
coalitions of, with Free Soilers of 1850–51, 48–49
Compromise of 1850 and, 35, 40–41
Douglas nomination of 1860 and split with southern Democrats and, 120–21
elections of 1852–53 and, 40–41, 46
elections of 1854–55 and defeats of, 80, 83–90
elections of 1856 and, 114
Kansas-Nebraska and divisions in, 76–78, 82–83, 85–86
Pierce and split in, 67–68
Pierce nomination in 1852 and, 41, 43
Pierce renomination battle of 1856 and, 97–98, 102
Wilmot Proviso and, 32
northern Know Nothings
Kansas-Nebraska and merger of, with Republicans, 92, 99–101
rise of, 86–90
northern Whigs, 31–32
Compromise of 1850 and, 35–36, 38–39
elections of 1852 and, 36–37, 43–45
elections of 1852–55 and weakness of, 47–48, 84–86, 88–89
Kansas-Nebraska and, 80, 82–83
O’Conor, Charles, 130
Ohio Peace Democrats, 124
Order of the Star Spangled Banner, 87
Order of United Americans, 87–88
Oregon territory, 72
Ostend Manifesto (1854), 64, 65
Panic
of 1837, 20
of 1857, 119
patronage, 66–70, 79, 95, 101–2, 121, 132
Peace Convention of 1861, 123
Pennsylvania, 13, 41, 51, 57, 67, 70, 83, 89, 97, 104, 109
People’s Party, 85
Phillips, Philip, 76–77
Pierce, Anna Kendrick (mother), 5
Pierce, Benjamin (father), 5–6, 9–10, 28
Pierce, Benjamin (son), 33
death of, 50
Pierce, Franklin
abolitionist petitions and Gag Rule and, 17–21
annual message to Congress of 1853, 71–72, 79
annual message to Congress of 1855, 58
annual message to Congress of 1856 and attack on antislavery forces, 110–14
appointed U.S. attorney for New Hampshire by Polk, 27
birth, education, and youth of, 3,5–9
birth and death of first child and, 18
birth of son Frank Robert and, 21
Buchanan presidency and, 115–16
burned in effigy in New Hampshire, 102
cabinet selections of, and focus on party unity, 47–52
Catholic vote and, 87
Civil War and, 2, 119–20, 122–25
Clayton-Bulwer treaty and,57–59
Compromise of 1850 and, 36, 40–41, 65
Crimean War and, 58–59
Cuba and, 59–65
death of Hawthorne and,126–27
death of Lincoln and, 127
death of Marcy, Dobbin, and Means and, 117
death of sons and, 1–2, 18, 50
death of wife and, 125–27
Democratic unity as obsession of, 2–4, 22–23, 25–26, 47–48, 65–71, 84, 121–22, 133
diplomatic appointments of, as president, 54–65, 68
domestic policy and, 71
drinking of, 7–8, 23, 29, 125, 127,128, 131
early political ascent of, in New Hampshire, 1, 9–11, 24–25
elected to U.S. House, 1, 7, 13–15, 17–19, 27
elected to U.S. Senate, 1, 19–22
election of, as president, in 1852, 1, 7, 25–26, 34, 39–46
elections of 1824 and, 9
elections of 1848 and, 32–34
elections of 1854 and reversals of, as president, 65
elections of 1856 and, 109–11
elections of 1860, 119–22
farms in New Hampshire and, 119, 128
father’s career and, 5–6, 9, 28
finances of, postpresidency, 115
foreign policy of, as president, 39, 52–65, 78
friendships of, in Congress, 14–16
friendships of, in Mexico, 29–30, 40
friendship with Davis, 119–20, 129–31
friendship with French, 14–15
friendship with Hawthorne, 7, 118, 126
friendship with March, 117, 125, 128
Fugitive Slave Act and, 40–41, 82
Gadsden Purchase and, 55
Gag Rule and, 24–25
generosity of, 127
Great Britain and Canadian and Central American treaties and, 55–58
Hale opposed by, for antislavery stance, 23–24
inauguration of, 47, 50, 52–53
internal improvements subsidies opposed by, 12, 25, 43, 53–54, 71, 107
Johnson impeachment and, 129
Kansas-Nebraska Act and expansion of Compromise of 1850 backed by, 72–83, 90–94, 112–13
Kansas proslavery vs. “free-state” legislatures and, 98–99, 101, 107–9
marriage and family life of, 2,15–18, 33, 115–16
Mexican-American War and, 1, 26–30, 45
New Hampshire Democratic Party headed by, and ouster of antislavery advocates, 22–25, 32–33, 36, 40
New Hampshire state constitutional convention of 1850–51 and, 44
New York Hard-vs. Soft-Shell factions and, 51
North Hampton shore cottage of, 128
Ostend Manifesto and, 64–65
patronage appointments by, as president, 66–71, 73, 79
personality, looks, and charm of, 1–2, 6–11, 116, 126
Polk presidency and, 27–28
presidency of, and low ranking, 2–3, 132–33
presidency of, defended by Webster, 132
renomination battle of, in 1856, 2, 95–98, 101–6
Republican Party and, 93, 97–101
retirement and old age of, 115–20,128–29
speech by, after loss of nomination in 1856, 105–6
speech by, at Concord rally of July 4, 1863, 125
transcontinental railroad and, 72
travels by, after retirement, 117–20
Pierce, Frank Robert (son), 21
death of, 28
Pierce, Henry (brother), 119, 127
Pierce, Jane Means Appleton (wife), 21–22, 33, 95, 123, 130, 132
birth and death of first son and, 18
birth of son Frank and, 21
death of, 125–27
death of son Benjamin and, 50, 52
marries Pierce, 15–16
presidential campaign and, 39, 41, 43
retirement and, 115–19
political parties
need for external competition to prevent fragmentation of, 3, 25
realignment of 1856 and, 109–10
rise of new, in 1854–55, 84–90
Polk, James K., 23, 27–28, 30–31, 33, 48–51, 39, 60
popular sovereignty, 32, 34, 75
Pottawatomie Creek massacre, 107
Protestants, 45
Quitman, John A., 29–30, 61–62, 105
railroads, 11–12
transcontinental, 55, 71–72, 74
Raleigh Register, 48
recessions
of 1837, 20
of 1854, 87
of 1857, 119
Republican Party, 7
Buchanan presidency and, 118–19
Civil War and, 123–24
elections of 1856 and, 93, 99–101, 103, 106–10
elections of 1860 and, 73, 121–22
emergence and growth of, 73, 85, 89, 92–93, 97
Johnson and, 129
Richardson, William A., 104
Robinson, Charles, 107–8
Rothschild banking house, 55, 62
Russia, 58–59
Santa Anna, Antonio López de, 55
Scott, Winfield, 28, 30, 37, 44–46
secession, 37, 73, 119, 122–23
Second American Party System, 11
Seward, William H., 75, 80, 89, 124
Seymour, Horatio, 129
Shields, James, 30
slavery
Compromise of 1850 and, 34–38, 53
elections of 1848 and, 32–34
elections of 1852–53 and, 46, 79
Kansas-Nebraska and Compromise of 1850 controversy over, 53, 73–83, 90–91, 93–94, 107–8, 112–14
Know Nothings split over, 92, 99–100
Missouri Compromise and, 32–34, 112–14
Republican opposition to, 85, 99
Texas and, 23
Washington, D.C., and, 17–18, 35
western territories and, 17, 31–32
Slidell, John, 59
Smith, Persifor, 108
Soft-Shell Hunkers (New York Democratic faction), 51, 68–70, 76, 101–2
South
Compromise of 1850 and, 35–38
Jackson presidency and, 15
Kansas-Nebraska and, 81–82
Know Nothings and, 88
Missouri Compromise and, 112
Pierce message to Congress of 1855 and, 93–94
Pierce nomination in 1852 and, 43
Pierce Seeks approval of, 15
Republicans vs., 101
secession of, 122–23
secession threat of, over Wilmot Proviso, 30–32
South Carolina Nullifiers, 15
Breckinridge nomination of 1860 and, 120–21
Compromise of 1850 and, 37–38, 40–41, 48, 52, 67–68, 75
Kansas-Nebraska and, 73–78, 113
Know Nothings and, 89–90
Pierce appointments and, 49, 52, 66–68, 70, 73
Pierce election of 1852 and, 39–41, 43
Pierce renomination campaign of 1856 and, 96–97, 103–4
split into Southern Rights and “Union” parties, 37
Wilmot Proviso and, 81
southern Know Nothings, 92
Southern Rights Party, 37, 48–50, 66
southern Whigs, 31–32
Compromise of 1850 and, 35–37, 39
elections of 1852 and, 36–37, 39, 43–46
Kansas-Nebraska and, 76, 80–82
states’ rights, 129
Stephens, Alexander H., 37, 67
Stowe, Calvin, 7
Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 7
Stuart, Alexander H. H., 68
Sumner, Charles, 100–101, 106, 109
Sumner, Edwin, 107–8
Taylor, Zachary, 27, 31–35, 39, 45, 56, 60
Texas, 103–4
annexation controversy and, 23, 30, 60
Compromise of 1850 and, 34–35
Ticonderoga, Battle of, 5
Treasury Department, 70
Tyler, John, 54
“Union” parties, 37, 43, 67–68, 75
U.S. Congress, 16, 20, 27–28, 30–32, 34–36, 46, 62, 79, 112–13
Kansas-Nebraska Act and, 72–73, 80–83, 89–93
Pierce’s career in, 1, 13–21, 24–25, 43
Pierce vetoes and, 107
realignment of 1856 and, 109–10
U.S. Constitution, 42, 43, 53, 111
U.S. House of Representatives, 71
abolitionist petitions and, 18
Black Warrior incident and, 61
Compromise of 1850 and, 35
Jackson and, 15
Kansas-Nebraska Act and, 76–77, 81–82, 85, 91, 108
Speaker elections and fragmentation of, in 1855–56, 58, 89–93, 97
Whig domination of, in 1840, 21–22
Wilmot Proviso and, 30–31
U.S. Senate, 14–15, 24, 30, 49
abolitionist petitions and, 18–21
Compromise of 1850 and, 35, 37, 49
Kansas-Nebraska Act and, 74–78, 80–81, 85, 108
Pierce presidency and, 54–55, 57–58, 61, 70–71
Sumner caning in, 100–101
Utah territory, 34, 36, 75, 78, 93
Vallandigham, Clement L., 124–25
Van Buren, Martin, 3, 14, 33, 43, 46, 68, 117
Vera Cruz, capture of, 28
Vicksburg, capture of, 125
Virginia, 42, 49, 54, 68, 77, 101, 103
voting rights, 87
Walker, William, 54
Walker Tariff (1846), 71
Wallner, Peter A., 63
War Department, 68
War of 1812, 5
Washington, D.C., slavery in, 17–18, 35
Washington, George, 5
Webster, Daniel, 35–36, 44–45, 49
Webster, Sidney, 40, 52, 96, 132
Weed, Thurlow, 106
West, 31–32, 74. See also specific states and territories
Whig Party, 7, 12, 16, 20, 52. See also northern Whigs; southern Whigs
Compromise of 1850 and split in, 35–39
elections of 1840 and, 21–22
elections of 1845–47 and, 23–24
elections of 1848 and, 30–34
elections of 1851–53 and, 32, 36–37, 43–48, 70
elections of 1854–55 and, 84
emergence of, in 1833–34, 15
Kansas-Nebraska and split in, 73–74, 76, 79–83
Pierce presidency and, 49, 68, 70–72, 79
Wilmot Proviso and, 31–32
White, Hugh Lawson, 14
Wilkins, William, 14
Wilmot, David, 30
Wilmot Proviso, 30–32, 34–37, 73, 81
Wilson, Henry, 92
working class, 86–88
Young America (Democratic faction), 39, 43, 52–53, 57–59, 63