Introduction
In the middle of the nineteenth century, the United States was in turmoil as its political parties continued to clash on many regulatory aspects. President James Buchanan was elected in 1856 and had a challenging situation to resolve, as political parties were unable to come to any agreement without governmental interventions (Shi, 560).
Discussion
However, the actions of President Buchanan did little to prevent the Civil War. During the Panic of 1857, President Buchanan did not act to prevent further damage to the nation’s economy (Shi, 561). Such a stance was detrimental to the northern states, which were more vulnerable to this crisis. The government should have implemented a solution against the growing concerns among the public.
The preference of President Buchanan toward Southern-backed initiatives played a crucial role in the growing conflict. Shi and Mayer (2019) show how Dred Scott v. Sandford reflected this notion, stating that “no State […] can by naturalizing an alien invest him with the rights and privileges secured to a citizen” (p. 364). Abolitionists’ efforts were significantly thwarted by such an outcome, while proponents of slavery benefitted greatly from it. By supporting the claim that this revised Court’s decision was aligned with the Constitution, President Buchanan only deepened the rift between the opposing parties (Shi, 563). Picking a side in such a conflict, rather than seeking a compromise, was not a solution to the problem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, President Buchanan took an impartial or one-sided position on issues that required his immediate attention and diplomatic interventions.
References
Shi, D. E. (2018). America: A narrative history (11th ed.). New York, NY: W. W. Norton.
Shi, D. E., & Mayer, H. A. (2019). For the record: A documentary history (7th ed.). New York, NY: W. W. Norton.