{"product_id":"the-presidency-of-franklin-pierce-american-presidency-series","title":"The Presidency of Franklin Pierce (American Presidency Series)","description":"\u003cp\u003eFranklin Pierce was one of the least known  least liked  and least successful presidents in American history. In this new study of his administration  historian Larry Gara makes no attempt to revive Pierces reputation. Instead he provides a clear analysis of Pierces shortcomings as well as his few successes. Franklin Pierces administration (1853-1857) spanned a turbulent period in the life of the nation: North-South polarization reached new extremes due  in part  to Pierces failure to understand the depth of Free Soil sentiment in the North; the Kansas-Nebraska Act and its aftermath made civil war likely  if not inevitable; and Pierces apology for southern actions served only to widen the rift. The term Bleeding Kansas came to symbolize the failures of Pierces administration. Pierces few achievements were in the realm of foreign policy. In fact  Gara points out  the Pierce years were an important chapter in the history of American imperialisma time when Japan was opened to the West  U.S. trade in Central America and Asia was expanded  and additional land was acquired from Mexico. Pierce also initiated discussions on acquiring Alaska  the Hawaiian Islands  Nicaragua  Formosa  the Dominican Republic  the guano islands of the Pacific  and Cuba. In this twenty-fourth volume of the American Presidency Series  Gara provides a clear  tough-minded analysis of the Pierce administration and a fair  though generally negative  assessment the man and the president.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44964873699381,"sku":"ByrdShop_0700604944","price":45.08,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780700604944.jpg?v=1770483166","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-presidency-of-franklin-pierce-american-presidency-series","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}