Had he never been president James Buchanan would be well-remembered as an accomplished Pennsylvanian politician. Unfortunately, he won the 1856 election
Henry Clay never missed an opportunity to make fun of Buchanan, who was widely regarded as a weakling and a conniver long before he ever reached the White House.
It's funny that both bitter enemies, Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson, had a common enemy and whipping boy in James Bucannan. I often winder if they had a conversation or two regarding Bucannan.
I am just approaching this documentary. I heard his episode in the Presidential podcast series. I guess they did not educate me much on him, but perhaps enough. I do want to learn more about him. Anyhow, I comment because Buchanan seemed pretty strong willed in his views to be arrogant enough to keep in his viewpoint of how America should go. He somehow refused and did not understand what the hell was going on around him. He felt he was up to the task with his long resume and maybe the only qualified. Is this correct?
@@mmjahink I have no love for Trump, but trying to hold some sort of moral position while making a comment like that is laughable. Obviously I don't know you in real life. All I know about you is this comment, but based on this comment I don't see you as a better person than Trump. That is really, truly, horrendously disgusting.
A very tragic portrayal of a lifetime politician that ultimately could not ascertain the difference between human rights and politics. Concise, insightful and frankly scary commentary of the man that preceded Lincoln. • excellent, my awareness is improved ! Thank you for the post 👍
That War was coming no matter who was president. While ending slavery was not the initial reason for the war, it neverless was a major thorn in the relations between north and south.
buchanon claimed secession was illeagal but didnt have the legal power to stop it. that makes zero sense. and while he sat on his fat ass the rebel states formed there goverment and armies. he may not have prevented civil war had he acted, but by not acting he guarenteed a longer costlier war
Lincoln personally was ardently opposed to slavery when he assumed the presidency, but he just wasn't willing to use his Executive Powers to end it until the Civil War broke out of Ft. Sumter.
He should have taken a gradual approach. Not just a sudden act that upset the whole economy. Step one: Make a law to force slave owners to pay wages to slaves. Step 2. Allow slaves to purchase themselves with their own wages at a set price. Step 3, Make it permanent. That wouldn't have caused a war that killed thousands of people. Step 4, since most slaves are no longer slaves, pass a law to make slavery illegal. By then, nobody would care.
Shows how important leadership is. If instead of Lincoln, Buchanan had become president in march of 1861,the union would have perished from the face of the earth. Where are are leaders today? Leaders that inspire true hope,integrity within the american people. As in the 1850's weak leadership based on personal ambition, partisan,regional appeals,rather then a noble and just cause, that seek to divide us rather then unite us as a people and nation,will eventually tear a nation apart. Far to often in the recent past our leaders have looked like those of that earlier time,leading themselves,us and our country off of a cliff. America has always had blind unbelievable luck when faced with the ultimate challenges,that have faced our country. Both internal and external threats. We are here today because of leaders like Washington,Lincoln,FDR. Other nations in those ultimate times of peril,have had only a Buchanan to guide them,which is why most are are only footnotes to history today. In 2020 let us chose wisely and make sure that in the distant mists of time,world historians wont recount that unlike in 1861 where we elected a Lincoln we elected a Buchanan leading no matter how long a road it took,to our ultimate demise as the great union we are known as of today.
He believe slavery was wrong on moral grounds however he did nothing to stop it preferring to appease the South. He also supported the Dred Scott decision in which the Supreme Court ruled that blacks were property. Lastly, when the South seceded, he did nothing. This unfortunately overshadows any noble action he may have done.
It sounds like he was good at all the other roles such as foreign diplomat and Lawyer, just not the President role. Difference between Statesman and Politician.
There would have been no peace between North and South even if the South gained it's independence. The Abolitionists would have controlled Congress and revoked the 1850 fugitive slave law greatly encouraging the underground railroad.The plantation owners would have face serious revolts like Nat Turners and the Northners, although racist, would have embittered towards the South. They would not only refused any treaty returning slaves but supported slave revolts.
He may have not been able to stop it, but allowing traitors to stay in hus government (including his own vice president) assured it would be for worse then it should have been.
The Southern Planter class caused that war! They refused to accept that industrialization was changing their way of life. Industrialization was making slavey outdated but again they refused to work for a solution to end it. The southern planter class is entirely responsible for that war.!
He was considered the worst of all the Presidents or was he.... What would you have done to bring the Union under control???? I would love to see a movie made of his life story... I think he was an interesting man...
He was a southern democrat. Mormonism was a big supporter. When B sent the US army to Utah his object was to weaken the north in the coming war. The army marched in late May making it Obviously Impossible to make Salt Lake before the snow. What he was really doing was providing Mormonism with food and materials. The so called Utah War had zero shots fired and zero deaths.
what do you mean by unconstitutional legislation? Could mean that you would have supported slavery in the territories? Was the civil war initially fought to free the slaves, no but the issue of slavery was never to far beyond either
Boiled down to a State's Rights issue. The States felt the Constitution gave the power to the individual States rather than having to uphold what the Gov't stated as law.
Why was the South so eager to leave the union? Yes there were tariff and other economic issues involved but slavery hung large in the background of these issues. One way or another the South was going to have to free the slaves. Yes, Lincoln was racist and started the war to keep the south in the Union but as time went on he ended slavery
Trump never led us into a war. Loud-mouthed, ignorant and doesn't know when to shut his mouth, but not a bad president. One thing is, before the pandemic, people had jobs. And once it's over, people will regret having Biden when they don't have jobs.
Troy McKinley He also allowed several states to secede, leading to the civil war. He sent union troops into Utah to remove the governor without telling him he was fired, leading to the apocalyptic Mormons going scorched earth. The Scott case. Ignoring virtually every single problem he faced. No, my friend, we don't need his kind.
zach taylor a southern slaveholder who was our 12th president, wanted to stop the extension of slavery into the territories. the souths response was to ptomise secession and war if he suceeded. the radicals on both sides assured it would only end in war
If you look at the language, you'll notice for a while that the southern states were willing to compromise on slavery, "You can have slavery here but not here. That works for us." It's the abolitionists who are intransigent. However, how can one compromise on something that is inherently evil?
Had he never been president James Buchanan would be well-remembered as an accomplished Pennsylvanian politician. Unfortunately, he won the 1856 election
Henry Clay never missed an opportunity to make fun of Buchanan, who was widely regarded as a weakling and a conniver long before he ever reached the White House.
It's funny that both bitter enemies, Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson, had a common enemy and whipping boy in James Bucannan. I often winder if they had a conversation or two regarding Bucannan.
I am just approaching this documentary. I heard his episode in the Presidential podcast series. I guess they did not educate me much on him, but perhaps enough. I do want to learn more about him. Anyhow, I comment because Buchanan seemed pretty strong willed in his views to be arrogant enough to keep in his viewpoint of how America should go. He somehow refused and did not understand what the hell was going on around him. He felt he was up to the task with his long resume and maybe the only qualified. Is this correct?
Andrew Jackson called him "Aunt Fancy"
What I learned from these Presidential stories, is, to be President you had to have some tragic event in your life.
If that's true, what's Trump's tragedy? He's had a pretty amazing life.
@@mmjahink i heard he got abused as a child
@@Lxcid13 Pity that, his abuser(s) should have finished the job when they had the chance.
@@mmjahink his brother was an alcoholic who died early
@@mmjahink I have no love for Trump, but trying to hold some sort of moral position while making a comment like that is laughable. Obviously I don't know you in real life. All I know about you is this comment, but based on this comment I don't see you as a better person than Trump. That is really, truly, horrendously disgusting.
A very tragic portrayal of a lifetime politician that ultimately could not ascertain the difference between human rights and politics. Concise, insightful and frankly scary commentary of the man that preceded Lincoln.
• excellent, my awareness is improved !
Thank you for the post 👍
You amadan
I'm really into the Presidents. These are really good stories!
Really old comment
I like how they pick the voice actors--most of whom are not really actors at all--to portray the presidents.
That War was coming no matter who was president. While ending slavery was not the initial reason for the war, it neverless was a major thorn in the relations between north and south.
buchanon claimed secession was illeagal but didnt have the legal power to stop it. that makes zero sense. and while he sat on his fat ass the rebel states formed there goverment and armies. he may not have prevented civil war had he acted, but by not acting he guarenteed a longer costlier war
@@mesmerismx probably. Because he wasn't for that compromise that Fillmore was for.
Lincoln personally was ardently opposed to slavery when he assumed the presidency, but he just wasn't willing to use his Executive Powers to end it until the Civil War broke out of Ft. Sumter.
Even though from his speeches in the House when he was a Whig or whatever.
He should have taken a gradual approach. Not just a sudden act that upset the whole economy. Step one: Make a law to force slave owners to pay wages to slaves. Step 2. Allow slaves to purchase themselves with their own wages at a set price. Step 3, Make it permanent. That wouldn't have caused a war that killed thousands of people. Step 4, since most slaves are no longer slaves, pass a law to make slavery illegal. By then, nobody would care.
Shows how important leadership is.
If instead of Lincoln, Buchanan had become president in march of 1861,the union would have perished from the face of the earth.
Where are are leaders today?
Leaders that inspire true hope,integrity within the american people.
As in the 1850's weak leadership based on personal ambition, partisan,regional appeals,rather then a noble and just cause, that seek to divide us rather then unite us as a people and nation,will eventually tear a nation apart.
Far to often in the recent past our leaders have looked like those of that earlier time,leading themselves,us and our country off of a cliff.
America has always had blind unbelievable luck when faced with the ultimate challenges,that have faced our country.
Both internal and external threats.
We are here today because of leaders like Washington,Lincoln,FDR.
Other nations in those ultimate times of peril,have had only a Buchanan to guide them,which is why most are are only footnotes to history today.
In 2020 let us chose wisely and make sure that in the distant mists of time,world historians wont recount that unlike in 1861 where we elected a Lincoln we elected a Buchanan leading no matter how long a road it took,to our ultimate demise as the great union we are known as of today.
thank you so much for this video! it helped me a lot !
Buchanan would go to the slave market when he was President, buy slaves, take them to Pa. and set them free.
He believe slavery was wrong on moral grounds however he did nothing to stop it preferring to appease the South. He also supported the Dred Scott decision in which the Supreme Court ruled that blacks were property. Lastly, when the South seceded, he did nothing. This unfortunately overshadows any noble action he may have done.
+Francisco Miranda if the definition of 'masterful politiciom' is 'two faced, hypocritcial and cowardly' then buchanon is the best
It sounds like he was good at all the other roles such as foreign diplomat and Lawyer, just not the President role. Difference between Statesman and Politician.
There would have been no peace between North and South even if the South gained it's independence. The Abolitionists would have controlled Congress and revoked the 1850 fugitive slave law greatly encouraging the underground railroad.The plantation owners would have face serious revolts like Nat Turners and the Northners, although racist, would have embittered towards the South. They would not only refused any treaty returning slaves but supported slave revolts.
He may have not been able to stop it, but allowing traitors to stay in hus government (including his own vice president) assured it would be for worse then it should have been.
The Southern Planter class caused that war! They refused to accept that industrialization was changing their way of life. Industrialization was making slavey outdated but again they refused to work for a solution to end it. The southern planter class is entirely responsible for that war.!
That's true. Buchanan was merely a symptom of the cancer of slavery, and Lincoln had to be the surgeon to cut it out
You really spelled president wrong in the title
Who cares
True
@@paweltrawicki2200 I care only a little
I’m sure it will be fixed any day now
Any day now...@@johnnylongfeather3086
If it wasn't for the Dred Scott decision, where do you think Buchanan would be placed in presidential rankings?
Still bad. He was indecisive and let events overwhelm him. He did virtually nothing to help stop the Panic of 1857, for example.
probably somewhere in the bottom 10 somewhere.
He was considered the worst of all the Presidents or was he.... What would you have done to bring the Union under control???? I would love to see a movie made of his life story... I think he was an interesting man...
anone noticed the "A"?
James Buchanan refused to use force to stop Southern secession and respected the 10th Amendment.
i am related to him
I wonder what that song starting at 2:18 is!
One sons is a rendition of the Battle Cry of Freedom.
A action that cost the live over over 600,000 americans.....good call
7:20 including his own vice president
He was a southern democrat. Mormonism was a big supporter. When B sent the US army to Utah his object was to weaken the north in the coming war. The army marched in late May making it Obviously Impossible to make Salt Lake before the snow. What he was really doing was providing Mormonism with food and materials. The so called Utah War had zero shots fired and zero deaths.
Lancaster PA is pronounced Lang kister.
what do you mean by unconstitutional legislation? Could mean that you would have supported slavery in the territories? Was the civil war initially fought to free the slaves, no but the issue of slavery was never to far beyond either
Boiled down to a State's Rights issue. The States felt the Constitution gave the power to the individual States rather than having to uphold what the Gov't stated as law.
Why was the South so eager to leave the union? Yes there were tariff and other economic issues involved but slavery hung large in the background of these issues. One way or another the South was going to have to free the slaves. Yes, Lincoln was racist and started the war to keep the south in the Union but as time went on he ended slavery
When you make Trump seem like a mediocore president by comparison
See Warren G Harding for 20th century Trump. Fellow con man
Trump is unreal. Love him.
Buchannan was the worst president in US history... until January 20, 2017.
Trump never led us into a war. Loud-mouthed, ignorant and doesn't know when to shut his mouth, but not a bad president. One thing is, before the pandemic, people had jobs. And once it's over, people will regret having Biden when they don't have jobs.
presidency is a crown of thornes? buddy u arent jesus..judas is more like it
a??
He was gay.
Not enough evidence.
WOW!!!
Bachelor President; No First Lady, No First Children, just one man leading one great nation. I think that's what America needs right now!
Troy McKinley He also allowed several states to secede, leading to the civil war. He sent union troops into Utah to remove the governor without telling him he was fired, leading to the apocalyptic Mormons going scorched earth. The Scott case. Ignoring virtually every single problem he faced. No, my friend, we don't need his kind.
Most historians think Buchanan was homosexual.
@@jec1ny Well, technically most historians say that there is no evidence to support or deny the claim that Buchanan was a homosexual.
Well at least he is now no longer the worst president in history!
Gay
Buch makes me puke
I wonder if the abolitionists had not been so unyielding and radical....maybe slavery could have been eradicated peacefully over time?
zach taylor a southern slaveholder who was our 12th president, wanted to stop the extension of slavery into the territories. the souths response was to ptomise secession and war if he suceeded. the radicals on both sides assured it would only end in war
With all due respect, it was the wicked and unyielding institution of slavery that made it impossible for the matter to be settled peacefully.
Cool Cat it was going to end in war either way. There’s no way that type of system would end peacefully. Plus they were radicals for a good reason.
reGeNeRaTe X exactly
If you look at the language, you'll notice for a while that the southern states were willing to compromise on slavery, "You can have slavery here but not here. That works for us." It's the abolitionists who are intransigent. However, how can one compromise on something that is inherently evil?
Washington was the fifteenth President of the usa
no he wasn't...
He was First idiot
Washington was the first USA president idiot. Seems like you need to read up on your history
He probably got confused right after he read Zane Hitchcox’s comment
ew
noob
@@freeunderratedmusic4273 loser