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Was James Buchanan A Success Or Failure Essay

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Was James Buchanan A Success Or Failure Essay
On March 4, 1857 James Buchanan was sworn in as the 15th president of the United States of America, after defeating Republican candidate John C. Fremont. Serving as the President during the run up to the Civil War, his inability to stop the southern states drive towards secession. Therefore, leading many historians to believe that his presidency was a complete failure. (Biography) Unfortunately, with this title attached to his name all of his achievements and attributes to this country were disregarded and overlooked. The question that continues to linger in American History is was James Buchanan really a complete disaster?
James Buchanan was always interested in political affairs, even before he became President. Buchanan began what would become a long political career when he was elected as a member of the Federalist Party to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He then won a seat in U.S. House of Representative, where he served five consecutive terms. (Frediel) This was not enough for James Buchanan because soon after he was appointed as an envoy to Russia by then …show more content…
Buchanan also cut the budget and added stricter regulation of banks but refused to commit to the Federal government to relief measures. President James Buchanan faced his final crisis--the secession of South Carolina.
Unable to secure support in Congress Buchanan found his administration paralyzed. This was compounded by Lincoln's refusal to agree to any policy before actually becoming president. Buchanan did support efforts to conciliate the two sides, but when these failed, so did the Union. Many Northerners blamed Buchanan for the failing of the Union and the ensuing Civil War. Buchanan asserted that states did not have the right to secede; He also believed he had no power to stop
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