Can someone tell me something good James Buchanan did during his presedency?

Question

i am doing a debate and i need some pros about him.

Answer 1

Just know that you have a tough job ahead of you! The Miller Center link I included has an "impact and legacy" page, and there's some other links on that same page that might help. If you can win this debate, you can do anything!!
I'll be rooting for you!
Gina

Answer 2

Are you absolutely restricted to his Presidency? Or are you allowed to mention other successes (e.g., as Secretary of State under Polk, when he successfully avoided war with Britain and settled the Oregon Dispute)?

Well, to start with the trivial -- with his niece (Harriet Lane) serving brilliantly as first lady, his administration is considered one of the biggest SOCIAL successes!

Here is perhaps the strongest defense I've ever found :
http://www.famousamericans.net/andrewjohnson/JamesBuchanan.org/I

It emphasizes:
1) foreign policy successes, esp. resolving tensions with Britain (including keeping them out of Central America and from action off the Oregon coast) -- goes into some detail on this
(cf. http://www.millercenter.virginia.edu/Ampres/essays/buchanan/biography/5 )

2) stance amidst the secession crisis (announced Dec 1860), maintaining that though he had no Constitutional power to oppose the South's actions (for which he has been MUCH criticized -for his IN-action) there was NO right of secession, and the South was still obligated to obey U.S. laws... followed by refusing in any way to acknowledge their legitimacy (refusing to accept South Carolina representatives). This could be seen as assuring that war, if it DID come, would be as a "defensive" response of the North (which is what actually happened)

Along the some lines, Buchanan's inaction did provide a CHANCE for compromise (which was attempted --the Crittenden Compromise, etc.-- even though it finally failed), and could be seen as allowing Lincoln to chart his OWN course (B being in the awkward position of lame duck).
(Argued here - http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761560262_4/James_Buchanan.html )

In fact, there were a number of steps Buchanan announced to try to meet the crisis, to keep other slaves states in the Union and avoid war -- including requesting that Congress call a Constitutional Convention and provide men and money to hold federal property and enforce the laws. Congress turned him down.
http://www.gallatindesign.com/websites/presidents/biographies/15_buchanan_bio.html

Thus, the 'famousamericans' article listed above argues that it was CONGRESS that failed to take legislative action that would empower the President (whether Buchanan or Lincoln) to act more firmly.


Another foreign policy plus: advocated purchase of Alaska of Russia -- Congressional opposition delayed this till Andrew Johnson was in office, but his intent can be seen as forward-thinking
http://amh.freehosting.net/buch.html

A partly defensive point -- Buchanan has been accused of meddling in the Supreme Court's "Dred Scott Decision", and being disingenuous in his inaugural address when he claimed he would follow it, whatever it was, and urged others to do the same. But there is NO evidence he meddled to affect the OUTCOME. Rather, when he heard the direction the Court was about to decide (which he probably actively sought to discover) only THEN did he try to take steps to gain support for it as a 'final settlement' of the question. That is, his goal in this matter was NOT securing stronger 'rights' for slave owners, but peacefully resolving the hot dispute between the sections.

(Now if you can just avoid KANSAS, you may be able to do something ! It can also depend on how the question is framed for the OTHER side --or what YOU can do to frame it. You can "win" the debate by making a reasonable argument that they are overreaching. . . Good luck!)

Answer 3

He crushed the Mormon rebellion.

um...

He crushed the Mormon rebellion.

Yeah, that's about it.