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PragerU: Five-Minute Videos - Franklin Pierce: A Torn President in a Torn Country

<p>Franklin Pierce, America’s 14th President, had two simple goals: keep his party together and keep his country calm through the storm of the slavery debate. Simple, but not easy. Joseph Fornieri, Professor of Political Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology, explains how Pierce’s leadership (or lack thereof) pushed America toward civil war.</p>

Franklin Pierce: A Torn President in a Torn Country

By all accounts, Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States, was a fine person,

These are all characteristics you want and a friend, and Pierce had many, but they don't

Unfortunately, Pierce's appointment with history came when such a leader was sorely needed.

Tries he might to fill the role, Pierce couldn't do it.

Pierce was born November 23rd, 1804 in Hillsboro, New Hampshire.

Raised in the shadow of his prominent father, Benjamin, a revolutionary war hero, Franklin

began his political career shortly after graduating from Bowdoin College in 1824.

In addition to his good looks, he was an eloquent speaker, gifted with a photographic

memory he almost always spoke without notes, connecting directly to his audience.

He won his first election in 1829 to the New Hampshire State Legislature.

In 1832, he was elected to Congress, and by 1837, he was a U.S. senator, the youngest

The overriding political issue of the day was slavery.

To understand Pierce, we need to understand his position on this issue.

While not a slave owner himself, Pierce believed that the Constitution committed the federal

Not surprisingly, Pierce's position endeared him to his southern colleagues.

This support was key to his political career.

By 1842, Pierce was ready to leave Washington.

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0:00.0	By all accounts, Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States, was a fine person,
0:07.4	charming, caring, deeply empathetic.
0:10.8	These are all characteristics you want and a friend, and Pierce had many, but they don't
0:14.6	necessarily make for a strong leader.
0:17.4	Unfortunately, Pierce's appointment with history came when such a leader was sorely needed.
0:22.2	Tries he might to fill the role, Pierce couldn't do it.
0:26.2	Pierce was born November 23rd, 1804 in Hillsboro, New Hampshire.
0:31.0	Raised in the shadow of his prominent father, Benjamin, a revolutionary war hero, Franklin
0:36.2	began his political career shortly after graduating from Bowdoin College in 1824.
0:42.2	He was a political natural.
0:43.8	In addition to his good looks, he was an eloquent speaker, gifted with a photographic
0:48.0	memory he almost always spoke without notes, connecting directly to his audience.
0:53.3	He won his first election in 1829 to the New Hampshire State Legislature.
0:58.0	In 1832, he was elected to Congress, and by 1837, he was a U.S. senator, the youngest
1:04.4	member at the time.
1:06.0	The overriding political issue of the day was slavery.
1:09.4	To understand Pierce, we need to understand his position on this issue.
1:13.6	While not a slave owner himself, Pierce believed that the Constitution committed the federal
1:18.3	government to protecting slavery.
1:21.4	Not surprisingly, Pierce's position endeared him to his southern colleagues.
1:25.8	This support was key to his political career.
1:29.3	By 1842, Pierce was ready to leave Washington.
	...

Franklin Pierce: A Torn President in a Torn Country

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