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1856 election
'''James Buchanan''' was the 15th president of the United States, serving from 1857-1861. He was born on April 23, 1791 in Cove Gap. He was President during the unsuccessful raid on Harper's Ferry by [[John Brown]]. He left office shortly before the firing on Fort Sumter and [[Civil War]] started. He died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on June 1, 1868 at age 78. <ref> Encyclopedia of Presidents James Buchanan by Marlene Targ Brill, Children's Press, 1988. </ref>
'''James Buchanan''' was the 15th president of the United States, serving from 1857-1861. He was born on April 23, 1791 in Cove Gap. He was President during the unsuccessful raid on Harper's Ferry by [[John Brown]]. He left office shortly before the firing on Fort Sumter and [[Civil War]] started. He died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on June 1, 1868 at age 78. <ref> Encyclopedia of Presidents James Buchanan by Marlene Targ Brill, Children's Press, 1988. </ref>
Buchanan was elected in 1856. The 1856 election was very good for the upstart [[Republican Party]], which was formed in opposition to slavery. Republican candidate [[John Fremont]] did not manage to capture enough votes to defeat Buchanan, but the party would seat its next presidential nominee in the [[White House]] for years later. Buchanan also ran against former President [[Millard Fillmore]], who ran as a part of the "Know Nothing Party", a third party formed largely in opposition to immigration and [[Catholic]] influence. <ref>http://www.multied.com/elections/1856.html</ref> Buchanan received 174, Fremont received 116, and Fillmore received 8.
Buchanan's presidency was marred by several disasters stemming from misgauging of public opinion. He did not realize the political weight of the importance of slavery, despite the storm clouds brewing that would soon lead to the Civil War. He felt that the [[Dred Scott]] court decision had settled the issue for good. Also, the newly acquired territory of [[Kansas]] was struggling to decide on a constitution, and several drafts had been proposed, which differed widely on a number of issues, most notably slavery. Buchanan publicly supported the pro-slavery LeCompton Constitution, which was rejected both by most Kansans and by [[Congress]].
Buchanan's presidency was marred by several disasters stemming from misgauging of public opinion. He did not realize the political weight of the importance of slavery, despite the storm clouds brewing that would soon lead to the Civil War. He felt that the [[Dred Scott]] court decision had settled the issue for good. Also, the newly acquired territory of [[Kansas]] was struggling to decide on a constitution, and several drafts had been proposed, which differed widely on a number of issues, most notably slavery. Buchanan publicly supported the pro-slavery LeCompton Constitution, which was rejected both by most Kansans and by [[Congress]].