Transcript Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor
12th President
Whig
1849-1850
The Stats
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Zachary Taylor, our 12th President
Belonged to the Whig party (created during Andrew Jackson’s
presidency, whose policies they were vehemently opposed to; they
supported the preeminence of Congress over the president,
economic protectionism, like Henry Clay’s American System, and
modernization/industrialization.
Served 2 years as President (premature death)
Vice President: Millard Fillmore, served 4 years (2 as VP + 2 as
Prez)
Secretary of State: John M. Clayton, served 2 years
Occupational History/Background
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Born on a farm in Virginia on November 24th, 1784. His
father owned 10,000 acres in Louisville, as well as 26 slaves
by 1800.
Was a poor student, and education was sporadic (only from
the occasional tutors his father assigned to him). Joined the
military in 1808.
In the Mexican-American War (1845), he became “Old Rough
and Ready” and “The Hero of Buena Vista”, racking up
impressive victories at the Battle of Palo Alto, the Battle of
Monterrey, and the Battle of Buena Vista directly against
Santa Anna, inflicting 1,800 casualties. His opponent left the
field of battle.
The Election of 1848
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Zachary Taylor: Whig—163 (electoral)--1,360,967
(popular)
Lewis Cass: Democratic--127--1,222,342
Martin Van Buren: Free Soil Party--0--291,263
Won the election primarily because of his military
prowess during the Mexican-American War. Election
was primarily character-based, not issue-based, and
because of this Taylor won out over Cass. Popularity
contest: the issues of secession and slavery were
shoved under the rug so to speak.
Yellow States voted
(electorally) for Zachary
Taylor; Blue States voted
(electorally) for Lewis Cass
An election poster for the
Taylor/Fillmore election ticket
1849: Harriet Tubman Escapes
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Description: utilizing the Underground Railroad (a network which aided slaves,
operated primarily by the Religious Society of Friends , or Quakers, in escaping)
Tubman escapes to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a free state. She would go on aiding
other slaves in escaping as well, starting with returning to Maryland and keeping her
family from being broken up. Became a conductor on the U.R, rescuing some 70
slaves in 13 expeditions.
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Impact: Inspired generations of African Americans to fight for equality and civil
rights. An American icon second only to Betsy Ross and Paul Revere (pre-Civil War
patriots). During the Civil War she joined a group of abolitionists going to South
Carolina, and met up with General David Hunter (fellow abolitionist). Cared for
soldiers at Port Royal, headed several military operations, and acted as a spy for the
Union. Worked in later years to promote women’s suffrage with females like Susan
B. Anthony. A key icon in the promotions of slave freedom, suffrage, and rights.
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Source:
http://www.nyhistory.com/harriettubman/life.htm
Fall of 1849 to Winter of 1850-Nashville Convention of 1850
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Description: Called by the state of Mississippi to the other slave states (met in
Nashville) primarily to discuss the South’s options in relation to the President’s
decision to admit California as a free state, as well as the Compromise of 1850
(which would allow the legislatures in new Western states like Texas to locally
determine whether or not they were slave states). A mixture of radicals (“fire-eaters”
who pushed secession) and moderates met, but the latter overruled the former, and
once the Compromise was passed the issues dissolved---for a time. Only two states
(Georgia and South Carolina) voted for disunion.
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Impact: After the Compromise, a second, more extreme Convention met and
denounced the Compromise and affirmed the right of individual states to secede
from the Union. Though it didn’t have any specific national impact, disunity continued
to be sown, and this was certainly a contributing factor leading to the American Civil
War.
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Source:
http://blueandgraytrail.com/event/Nashville_Convention_of_1850
Death
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On July 4, 1850, after watching a groundbreaking
ceremony for the Washington Monument during
the Independence Day celebration, he tried to
cool himself off by eating a bowl of cherries and
drinking milk. He died the next day at ten in the
morning of gastroenteritis
His last words were: "I have always done my duty,
I am ready to die. My only regret is for the friends
I leave behind me."
Quotes
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For: “With his military dexterity and skill…Zachary Taylor will
surely lead our country admirably.”~(Me)
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Against: “A Whig is properly what is called a Trimmer - that
is, a coward to both sides of the question, who dare not be a
knave nor an honest man, but is a sort of whiffing, shuffling,
cunning, silly, contemptible, unmeaning negation of the
two.”~William Hazlitt
Positive & Negative Contributions
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Positive Contribution: Had a moderate stance on
slavery, unlike many Southerners of his time: was
able to balance the wants of the radicals and the
abolitionists during his presidential term.
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Negative Contribution: Bad foreign policy during
his two years: attempted (and failed) to stop a
filibustering expedition in Cuba, argued with
France and Portugal over reparation issues, and
was in contention with England over the building
of the Nicaragua Canal.
Credits
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Made by Kelsi Swenson, for the benefit of
my fellow students in eliminating the
horrors of Presidential Terms (hopefully).
Pictures are all from Wikipedia
And…yeah. Have fun :D