***History Tournament RND 1:"Worse American President, J.Buchanan vs. A.Johnson"

INTRODUCTION & PREMISES:I as Pro will be arguing that James Buchanan is the worse American president ever. Keep in mind, Buchanan's presidency was riddled with disaster and he was only president for four year years(1857-1861.) I think the primary reason that James Buchanan was the worse president is due to his inaction during "Secessionist Winter." "Secessionist Winter" ultimately lead to the American Civil War taking place in 1861.ARGUMENTS:#1. Kansas-Nebraska ActPresident James Buchanan held the moderate Democrat view in the 1840s and 1850s that states should allow their citizens to chose whether they were a slave state or not. In 1854, James Buchanan signed into law the Kansas-Nebraska Act once it pass Congress that year[1]. The passing of the legislation did primarily two things and led to a horrible conclusion. First, the Congress avoided taking stance on the slavery issue at the time. The issue had been boiling since the founding of the United States but started igniting tense debates since the 1830s. The Kansa-Nebraska Act merely prolonged an issue that was inevitably had to be confronted in some capacity due to electoral and moral issues that were being brought forth. Second, the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act caused "Bleeding Kansas." "Bleeding Kansas" was a low intenseity conflict between pro-slavery settlers and anti-slavery settlers. Buchanan did absolutely nothing to end the conflict in Kansas between the pro-slavery crowd and the anti-slavery crowd.Finally the Kanss-Nebraska Act lead to two different Constitutions being submitted to Congress, one pro-slavery and the other anti-slavery. Buchanan pushed the pro-slavery constitution to be ratified which it ultimately was ratified[2].[1]http://www.historyplace.com...[2]https://historyengine.richmond.edu...#2. The Utah WarPresident James Buchanan insitigated the Utah War when he decided to appoint a new territorial governor and new public officials without the people of Utah's consent[3]. The president intervened in Utah because of the dispute with Mormons living in Utah. The conflict had been muted somewhat under President Fillmore who appointed Brigham Young as the territorial governor. Buchanan would disrupt this shaky peace by intervening in Utah. Buchanan was militarily intervened in Utah which lead to an indecisive conclusion.[3]http://www.historynet.com...#3. The Four Way Election of 1860The election of 1860 was a four way election between Northern Democrats, Southern Democrats, Republicans, and Constitutional Unionists. Some of the responsibility of the split between the Democrats was on the head of James Buchanan. Buchanan played a divisive role in the election rather than being the man of peace and reconcilation. buchanan stood solidly behind his Vice President John Breckinridge. Buchanan could of played a better role and united the Democrats in that election rather than intigating more polarization which ultimately lead to the American Civil War in 1861.[4]http://www.civilwar-online.com...#4. "Secessionist Winter"Buchanan was warned several states were going to secede if Abraham Lincoln won the election in 1860. When the secessions did happen, Buchanan did absolutely nothing. Instead, he idly sat by and awaited for Lincon to be inaugurated. Buchanan again could of played a role of reconcilation or a played an iron hand to force the states back into the Union.Instead failed attempts by independent statesmen happened which resulted in nothing as we know now.[5]http://www.u-s-history.com...#5. Buchanan Did not Strengthen Southern FortificationsBuchanan was warned by General Winfield Scott to strengthen troopsin southern fortifications but he did not listen. This made things far more difficult for Lincoln when he became president. Buchanan could of silently fortified federal positions without as much as resistance as Lincoln did when he attempted to aid Fort Sumter. [6]http://www.presidentprofiles.com...I cut my arguments down to size so hopefully this works.