jan 1, 1858 - Buchanan's Presidency

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Democratic candidate James Buchanan won the presidency. Under his leadership, the government began to abuse their power by promoting slavery. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney denied any form of citizenship to African Americans, free or slave, and claimed that Congress could not allow territories to prohibit slavery. Buchanan also fueled the fire by strongly urging Congress to make Kansas a slave state. This threw abolitionists into a rage. Finally, Buchanan continued his proslavery mission by pursuing Cuba, thus widening the gap in his party and in the nation.

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