James Buchanan Research Paper

James Buchanan Jr. was born on April 23, 1791, in to Cove Gap, Pennsylvania. He attended Old Stone Academy and later Dickinson Collge. He was nearly suspended in Dickinson for less than appealing behavior but managed to graduate in 1809. He then moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to study law and was admitted to the bar in 1812. After this, he enlisted in the military at the beginning of the War of 1812. James Jr. was part of the defense of Baltimore. In 1814 he was elected as a member of the Federalist Party of Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He then continued his early political career by winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives where he served five consecutive terms. In 1832 he was appointed as Andrew Jackson’s envoy to

He was also criticized for never marrying and his age. Dirty tactics soon evolved into a rumor that the tilt to Buchanan’s head was because at one point he tried to hang himseld, and not from poor eyesight. Enevtually, Buchanan asserted his point of slavery: individual states and territories should deal with slavery within their borders. Fremont opposed, but his exposed Catholicism lost him support. Buchanan won all of the Southern and border states, save for Maryland, but only had four Northern states to his name. The electoral college was meant to be a slam dunk. Buchanan won with less than half if the popular vote. Though he was enthusiastic in his campaign, upon winning thr Presidency, Buchanan grew weary. But take the job, he did. A major factor to Buchanan’s campaign was his slavery is a matter for the states and territories to decide. He appointed Lewis Cass as his Secretary os State (1857-1860), and later, Jermiah S. Black (1860-1861). Buchanan had theree Secretary of the Treasury: Howell Cobb (1857-1861), Philip F. Thomas (1860-1861), and John A. Dix (1861). His two Secretaries of Defense were John B. Floyd (1857-1861) and Joseph Holt (1861). Buchanan appointed two Attorney Generals: Jeremiah S. Black (1857-1861) and Edwin M. Stanton