President James Buchanan

Definition

President James Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. He is often criticized for his handling of Southern secession before the Civil War, as he believed that individual states did not have a right to secede but also lacked constitutional authority to prevent it.

Related terms

Secession Crisis (1860-61): This term refers to the period leading up to the Civil War when several Southern states seceded from the Union in response to Abraham Lincoln's election as President.

Dred Scott v. Sandford: This term refers to a Supreme Court case decided in 1857 which ruled that enslaved African Americans were property rather than citizens and therefore had no right to sue in federal court.

Compromise of 1850: This term refers to a package of legislative measures aimed at addressing issues related to slavery and territorial expansion, including California's admission as a free state and stricter fugitive slave laws.