Chapter 20: Franklin Pierce

The southerners’ choice in 1852 is Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire who easily defeats the last Whig candidate, Winfield Scott. Pierce is the first of two consecutive presidents quickly labeled “Doughfaces” — Northern men who will do the bidding of their Southern sponsors.

After Stephen Douglas talks Pierce into supporting his disastrous 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, fraudulent elections make a mockery of PopSov voting and spark the beginning of open warfare in “Bloody Kansas” over slavery. The sack of Lawrence and the Potawatomie Massacre occur on Pierce’s watch, and he sends federal troops in to break up the Free State forces while dismissing his three appointed Territorial Governors. Open violence also reaches the capitol when abolitionist Charles Sumner is nearly caned to death on the Senate floor.

By the time his term ends, the South has lost Kansas and Pierce has lost his chances for reelection.