The President who served on the eve of the Civil War
Rating:
5 / 5
At the end of "James Buchanan: Our Fifteenth President," authors Gerry and Janet Souter observe that "Buchanan is remembered as a poor leader who could not solve the serious problems his nation faced." This excellent introduction to the political career of Buchanan for young readers certainly shows he was not up to the challenge of the trying times in which he served. I always knew that Buchanan was the only bachelor President and that he was the last of the "dough-faced" Presidents, leaders from Northern Free States who supported the Constitutional right of the Southern States to own slaves. But I never knew how Buchanan came to be the wrong man at the wrong time, who was only to happy to leave the White House after one term. The Souters tell how the young Buchanan fell in love with Ann Coleman, whose family cancelled their wedding plans because of reumors James only wanted to marry her for her family's money. Ann died after a sudden illness and the heartbroken Buchanan was not allowed to see her body before she was buried. Buchanan never married, turning to a political career. After 10 years in the House of Representatives until President Andrew Jackson appointed him to be minister to Russia. Buchanan returned to take a seat in the U.S. Senate and then served as President Jame K. Polk's Secretary of State. Throughout his political career Buchanan maintained that the issue of slavery could bet settled if the slave states were simply left alone, but too many Americans could not stand to have the nation allow slavery to exist. Buchanan had a few notably successes in foreign affairs, but historically he is blamed for the American Civil War in much the same way Herbert Hoover carries the blame for the Great Depression. While the Souters make it clear Buchanan was not equal to the task, most historians agree that the Civil War was inevitable by the time Buchanan took office. But then, what President does not suffer in comparison to Abraham Lincoln?This juvenile biography for younger students (9-12) focuses on providing basic information about Buchanan with "Interesting Facts" about his life and times appearing in the margins. Several chapters have a page devoted to details about his life and times: The Mexico Problem, the Dred Scott Decision, and Harriet Lane (his charming neice who served as "First Lady"). There are a couple dozen illustrations in the book and the back of this volume includes a time line of Buchanan's life, a glossary of three dozen words, information on all of the Presidents form Washington to Bush, Presidential facts, and internet sites and books for finding further information. Older students or those looking for more detailed information about Buchanan in a juvenile biography should turn next to Marlene Targ Brill's biography in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series. The "Our Presidents" books are part of the "Spirit of America" series, which focuses on the American experience in terms of history, culture, and politics. This is an excellent series for young readers to learn about the nation's Presidents.
|