# Franklin Pierce

> president of the United States from 1853 to 1857

**Wikidata**: [Q12312](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12312)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Pierce)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/franklin-pierce

## Summary
Franklin Pierce was the 14th president of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. He is known for his leadership during a period of significant national and international challenges, including the Mexican-American War and the expansion of slavery in the territories.

## Biography
- Born: November 23, 1804, in Hillsborough, New Hampshire
- Nationality: American
- Education: Bowdoin College (1822–1824), Phillips Exeter Academy (1824–1826), Harvard Law School (1826–1828)
- Known for: Leading the United States during the Mexican-American War and the expansion of slavery in the territories
- Employer(s): Bowdoin College, Phillips Exeter Academy
- Field(s): Law, politics

## Contributions
Franklin Pierce served as the 14th president of the United States from 1853 to 1857. He played a key role in the Mexican-American War, which resulted in the acquisition of California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Pierce also signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed for the expansion of slavery into new territories. His presidency was marked by significant political and social challenges, including the Dred Scott decision and the growing tensions between the North and South.

## FAQs
**What was Franklin Pierce's role in the Mexican-American War?**
Franklin Pierce served as president during the Mexican-American War, which resulted in the United States acquiring significant territories, including California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

**What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and why was it significant?**
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, signed by Franklin Pierce, allowed for the expansion of slavery into new territories, which contributed to the growing tensions between the North and South and ultimately led to the Civil War.

**What was the Dred Scott decision, and how did it affect Pierce's presidency?**
The Dred Scott decision, issued during Pierce's presidency, ruled that enslaved individuals were not citizens and could not sue in federal court, further fueling the debate over slavery and the Union.

## Why They Matter
Franklin Pierce's presidency was marked by significant national and international challenges, including the Mexican-American War and the expansion of slavery in the territories. His leadership during this period had a lasting impact on the United States, shaping the country's political and social landscape. Pierce's presidency also set the stage for the Civil War, as the tensions between the North and South grew more pronounced. His actions and decisions continue to be studied and debated, highlighting the complexities of his time and the broader implications of his leadership.

## Notable For
- Served as the 14th president of the United States from 1853 to 1857
- Led the United States during the Mexican-American War, resulting in the acquisition of significant territories
- Signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed for the expansion of slavery into new territories
- Faced significant political and social challenges, including the Dred Scott decision and the growing tensions between the North and South

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Franklin Pierce was born on November 23, 1804, in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. He attended Bowdoin College from 1822 to 1824 and Phillips Exeter Academy from 1824 to 1826. He then studied law at Harvard Law School from 1826 to 1828.

### Political Career
Pierce began his political career as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and later served as a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire. He also served as the U.S. Minister to Russia and the United Kingdom before being elected as the 14th president of the United States in 1852.

### Presidency
During his presidency, Pierce faced significant challenges, including the Mexican-American War and the expansion of slavery in the territories. He signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed for the expansion of slavery into new territories, contributing to the growing tensions between the North and South. Pierce also oversaw the Dred Scott decision, which ruled that enslaved individuals were not citizens and could not sue in federal court, further fueling the debate over slavery and the Union.

### Legacy
Franklin Pierce's presidency had a lasting impact on the United States, shaping the country's political and social landscape. His leadership during the Mexican-American War and the expansion of slavery in the territories set the stage for the Civil War. Pierce's actions and decisions continue to be studied and debated, highlighting the complexities of his time and the broader implications of his leadership.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
4. The Peerage
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. SNAC
8. Find a Grave
9. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
10. GeneaStar
11. Roglo
12. Croatian Encyclopedia
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. Virtual International Authority File
15. CERL Thesaurus
16. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
17. Enciclopedia Treccani
18. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Pierce-Franklin;3956846.html)
19. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Franklin_Pierce-WE3JX6)
20. FactGrid