Franklin Pierce (political figure)

Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. A Northeastern Democrat, he was a former general and governor of New Hampshire. Pierce is known for promoting pro-slavery policies and attempting to maintain national unity amid increasing tensions over slavery. His presidency saw the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which intensified sectional conflicts. Despite his efforts to avoid conflict, his tenure was marked by divisiveness, and he is often ranked as one of the less effective presidents due to his inability to address the growing sectional crisis.