Franklin Pierce Facts & Worksheets

• At Bowdoin, Pierce began to flourish. He built lasting friendships, including with Nathaniel Hawthorne, who would later become one of America’s greatest writers. By the time he graduated in 1824, Pierce had risen academically, finishing fifth in his class. More importantly, he discovered a natural ability for debate and public speaking, skills that would serve him throughout his career.
• After graduation, he studied law with a local judge and later at Northampton Law School in Massachusetts. He passed the bar in 1827 and returned to New Hampshire to practise law. At just 24 years old, he entered the New Hampshire House of Representatives. His speaking skills, charm, and loyalty to the Democratic Party earned him a reputation quickly, and by 1831, he had become Speaker of the House.
• In 1834, Pierce married Jane Means Appleton, daughter of a former Bowdoin president. Jane was shy, deeply religious, and disliked politics. Their marriage was often clouded by tragedy: they had three children, all of whom died young. These losses weighed heavily on Jane and Franklin alike, and he increasingly turned to alcohol to cope. Still, his political career advanced. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives beginning in 1833 and then the Senate from 1837, usually backing Democratic positions and often trying to avoid extreme stances on slavery.

MILITARY LIFE

• When the Mexican-American War began in 1846, Pierce volunteered for service. He was appointed brigadier general in 1847 by President James K. Polk, despite having no military experience. Critics called it a political appointment, but Pierce worked hard to live up to the responsibility.
• He fought under General Winfield Scott and was present at the battles of Contreras and Churubusco. At Contreras, his horse stumbled, throwing him violently and injuring him badly. Even so, Pierce returned to the field quickly, showing determination if not exceptional command. His willingness to endure pain impressed some soldiers and helped build his reputation.
• Back home, he was welcomed as a war hero. The image of Pierce as courageous and loyal helped strengthen his political future. His wartime friendships, particularly with Jefferson Davis—later president of the Confederacy—also influenced his later career.
• Although his time in the army was brief, it gave him credibility and a new seriousness. 
• Yet it also deepened his already sombre outlook. Witnessing the suffering of soldiers made him even more aware of the costs of leadership. 
• After the war, Pierce declined offers for national roles, such as U.S. Attorney General, preferring to return to New Hampshire, practise law, and guide fellow Democrats from behind the scenes.

PRESIDENCY AND CHALLENGES

• In the election of 1852, Pierce emerged as a compromise candidate after the Democratic convention stalled for dozens of ballots. He was relatively unknown nationally, but this made him acceptable to different party factions. He defeated his old commander, General Winfield Scott, in the general election with ease.
• His presidency began under a cloud of tragedy. Just before his inauguration, his last surviving son, Benjamin, was killed in a train accident. Both Franklin and Jane were devastated. Jane withdrew almost completely from public life, believing their family’s misfortunes were divine punishment. Pierce, though outwardly steady, was inwardly consumed with grief and increasingly relied on alcohol.
• Despite this heavy burden, he aimed to strengthen the nation. His administration expanded American trade, pursued diplomatic ventures, and achieved the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, acquiring land from Mexico to support a potential southern railroad. These achievements, however, were overshadowed by his handling of slavery.
• Economically, Pierce promoted tariff reductions to encourage foreign trade, and his administration worked to improve federal land distribution policies. 
• He also invested in infrastructure, supporting new railroads, roads, and harbour improvements to boost commerce and westward expansion. 
• Administratively, he strengthened the federal civil service system by appointing loyal Democrats, though this often led to accusations of partisanship.
• The Kansas-Nebraska Act, which he signed in 1854, allowed settlers in those territories to decide whether to permit slavery. This overturned the Missouri Compromise and ignited fierce conflict. Violence soon broke out between pro- and anti-slavery groups, an episode later called “Bleeding Kansas.” Instead of calming tensions, Pierce’s support for the Act deepened division. Northerners felt betrayed, while Southerners saw him as sympathetic but not forceful enough.
• His foreign policy also created controversy. The Ostend Manifesto, a secret document suggesting the U.S. should acquire Cuba—even by force if Spain refused—was leaked to the public. Northerners suspected this was an attempt to expand slavery, and Pierce’s reputation took another blow.
• Other foreign affairs also shaped his presidency. In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry was sent to Japan, successfully opening the country to American trade and marking a key step in U.S. expansion into Asia. 
• In Central America, Pierce’s administration became entangled with filibuster William Walker’s efforts to control Nicaragua, which caused international criticism and concerns over U.S. motives in Latin America. 
• These actions reflected a wider pattern of expansionism during his term, as the United States sought greater influence abroad while struggling with divisions at home.
• By 1856, Pierce had lost support across the political spectrum. His own party refused to renominate him, making him the first sitting president denied a second term by his own party.

LATER LIFE AND LEGACY OF FRANKLIN PIERCE

• After leaving office, Pierce returned to New Hampshire. He and Jane travelled to Europe, hoping to recover from their grief, but happiness never really returned to them. Jane grew increasingly ill and passed away in 1863 from tuberculosis. Pierce, lonely and struggling, turned more heavily to alcohol.
• When the Civil War began, Pierce’s image suffered further. While he opposed secession, he was critical of President Abraham Lincoln’s expansion of executive power. Many Northerners viewed his criticism as unpatriotic during wartime. His continued friendship with Jefferson Davis and other Southern leaders made him appear sympathetic to the Confederacy.