Pierce, Franklin (1804–1869)

• Author: Paul Finkelman
• Pages: 1908

Page 1908

A New Hampshire attorney and politician, Pierce was nominated as a compromise presidential candidate by the Democrats in 1852. Pierce was a supporter of the COMPROMISE OF 1850 and a long-time opponent of abolitionists and antislavery Democrats. In 1854 he supported the KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT, which led to a mini-civil war in "bleeding Kansas." Pierce's role in the passage of this act and his generally pro-southern positions undermined most of his other legislative proposals and his popularity in the North. During the CIVIL WAR Pierce's shrill attacks on ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S administration made Pierce appear to be a full-fledged Copperhead.

PAUL FINKELMAN

(1986)

Bibliography

NICHOLS, ROY F. 1931 Franklin Pierce: Young Hickory of the Granite State. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.