Happy President’s Day!
The third Monday of February is Presidents Day in the USA. It started with a celebration of George Washington’s birthday, February 22, 1732, and now it is a celebration of all the Presidents of the US.
Most children do not have school on this day. And if you work for a bank, school or government office, you do not have to work either. Yeah! In addition to enjoying your day off with your family, take this opportunity to learn, with your children, about one or more US presidents (great and not-so-great!). Ask your children to pick one or two past Presidents and see what you can learn. Make sure to find out where he was born so you can find that place on the US map.
The streets in my town are named after Presidents. One of the lesser-known presidents has Pierce Street named after him, so I did a little research to learn more about him. After all, he has a street named after him in my town, so shouldn’t I know a little something about him?
Franklin Pierce
- 14th US President (served from 1853-1857)
- At the time he was 49, the youngest President to be elected
- Political Party - Democrat
- Born 1804 in NH
- Died in 1869
- Education - Bowdoin College (studied law and graduated in 1824)
- Wife - Jane Means Appleton
- 3 Sons, all of whom died
- Former Fist Lady Barbara Pierce Bush is a descendant of Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce had a long political career, serving in the House and the Senate before becoming President.He was also a General in the Mexican-American War. During his presidency, he lived with great personal tragedy, as he and his wife, Jane, lost their first 2 sons at birth. Their 3rd son was killed in a train accident at age 11. Jane was understandably in a terrible state following his death, and was said to have never recovered from the tragedy.
Pierce ’s presidency was best known for the passing of the controversial Kansas-Nebraska Act, a bill introduced by Senator Stephen Douglas. Essentially it allowed the new territories to choose slavery (or not) for themselves, overturning the 1820 Missouri Compromise (which regulated slavery). The Kansas-Nebraska Act resulted in massive protesting and turmoil for Pierce. The ramifications changed history, as some outraged Democrats bonded with Whigs and others to create the Republican Party.
Pierce was unable to obtain a nomination by his party for a second presidential term. He was believed by many to be a “weak” President and was succeeded by fellow Democrat, James Buchanan.
Reference: The Reader’s companion to the American Presidency. 2000. Edited by Alan Brinkley and Davis Dyer.