Millard Fillmore (1800-1874) was the 13th President of the United States, whose time in office in the decade before the Civil War was highly consequential in the grand scheme of American history. Millard Fillmore became the president in 1850 after his predecessor Zachary Taylor died in office and his administration inherited a deeply divided nation. Fillmore successfully advocated for the Compromise of 1850, which involved the fight over slavery. Fillmore pressured Congress to pass this legislation which saw the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act. This law stipulated that escaped slaves that stood up to their masters and claimed their freedom were required to be returned to their owners if captured.
This policy is instrumental when approaching the question of Fillmore's legacy and he has criticized for bolstering the institution of slavery. When the Whig Party fell apart and factions formed their own political groups, some former Whigs created the Know Nothing party, which Fillmore later joined. The Know Nothing movement is known for its extremist anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic and conspiratorial beliefs. The Know Nothings wanted political life to remain in the hands of native white Protestants. These xenophobic beliefs have lead many to the conclusion that how Fillmore acted as president directly encouraged many of the nation's most daunting crises.
No comments:
Post a Comment