James Buchanan

        James Buchanan was born in April 23, 1791 in a cabin in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania.

James father came to America as a Scotch-Irish in 1783. At the age of six his family

moved to Mercersberg PA. where his father would open a general store . James was the

second of eleven in his family. James was able to go to school where he lived but when

he was not studying he was helping his father in the shop.

        James father made James work hard and taught James that he must be ready to take

care for his brothers and sister when James father died. At the age of sixteen James

father sent him to Dickinson College in Carlisle PA. James was a serious student but he

also wanted to have a good time. He began to smoke a drink with the other students, and

later was expelled from college. He begged for them to take him back, and he would turn

over a new leaf. He was allowed to return and graduated on high honors. After college he

left and went to study law in Lancaster PA. James worked hard and later became a

successful lawyer. He made more than 11,000 a year. James became a canidate for the

Pennsylavania legislature in 1814. But the war of 1812 was growing fast. The British Had

just burned down Washingto D.C. James volunteered to serve his country so he joined a

calvary company. Buchanan returned for the election and won a seat in legislature in

1814. He served another term and returnd to Lancaster.

            James Buchanan became a popular person in Lancaster and was invited to many

partys and dinners. At one party he met a girl named Ann Coleman. They later got

engaged. In the spring of 1819 there were rumors that James was seeing another girl. Ann

got upset and went to stay with her sister in Philadelphia. Later she died over an

overdose of landuam. James promised to never marry again.

            James went back to politics to try to forget about Ann. The federlists party was

looking for someone to run for candidate for congress. James agreed and in 1820 he was

elected to House of Represtatives. He served for 10 years. During the time in Congress

Buchanan changed his part to Democratic. In 1831 President Jackson asked James to

become minister to Russia. James agreed and went to Russia the next year. While he was

in Russia he made the first trade agreements between United States and Russia. When he

came back to the USA he was elected to the Senate. There he would serve till 1845.

           By 1844 he waited for the president nomination and gave all his support to James

Polk. James Polk won the nomination and election. Then President Polk assigned James

Buchanan to the secratary of state. While Polks term of President a war brokeout between

USA and Mexico. James Buchanan as Secratary of State arranged a peace treaty in 1848.

By this treaty United States purchased all the land from Texas to the Pacific Ocean.

           When Polk left office Buchanan also retired. For four years he lived in the country

and bought a Mansion near Lancaster PA.

          James could not stay away from politics. In 1852 he was a canidate for the running

of president. He was beaten by Franklin Pierce

          President Pierce made James minister to Great Britain in 1853. While Buchanan was

in england congress passed the Kansas-Nebrasa Act it permitted slavery in regions of the

Northwest. When the Democratic met in 1856 to pick a candidate for president they

wanted someone who would be wanted by the north and the south. They elected

Buchanan and he beat Millard Fillmore in the race. Buchanan became the first bachelor to

become president. He also became the first man from PA to become president. On March

4, 1857 James was elected president.

          Two days after Jame's inauguration the Supreme Court declared the Dred Scott

case that Congress did not have any power over slavery. James played a big role in

slavery. After James  retired from politics he went back to Lancaster were he would die

seven years later.