justinpotts.com – Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, presided over a nation in the midst of both domestic turmoil and significant international developments. Elected to the presidency in 1852, Pierce took office at a time when the U.S. was looking to expand its territory and solidify its position on the world stage. His foreign policy, while often overshadowed by the domestic strife surrounding the issue of slavery and the sectional crisis, played a crucial role in shaping the United States’ diplomatic and territorial landscape in the mid-19th century.
Pierce’s administration (1853–1857) was marked by a desire for territorial expansion, a commitment to strengthening American influence in the Western Hemisphere, and an effort to maintain peace with foreign powers. His foreign policy initiatives, particularly his focus on the acquisition of new territories and his dealings with European powers, reflected the nation’s growing sense of manifest destiny. However, his policies were also deeply intertwined with the tensions and divisions that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
This article delves into the key aspects of Franklin Pierce’s foreign policy, examining his approach to expansion, diplomacy, and international relations, and assessing how his actions and decisions fit within the broader context of 19th-century American foreign policy.
The Context of Franklin Pierce’s Foreign Policy
A Nation at the Crossroads
Franklin Pierce assumed the presidency in 1853 at a time when the United States was experiencing rapid territorial growth and internal divisions. The nation had recently acquired vast territories through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo after the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), including present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, and other southwestern lands. The question of whether to allow slavery in these newly acquired territories was already fueling tensions between the North and South, but this issue was only one aspect of the broader territorial expansion debates that defined the era.
Internationally, the United States was becoming more assertive in its foreign policy. The concept of “manifest destiny” had driven American expansion across the continent, and now the country sought to solidify its position in the Pacific and the Caribbean, areas viewed as crucial for economic and strategic purposes. President Pierce was deeply invested in the notion of American exceptionalism and the idea that the United States should expand its territory to fulfill its destiny as a dominant power in the Western Hemisphere.
While Pierce’s foreign policy focused heavily on territorial expansion, his diplomatic endeavors also aimed to maintain peace and ensure that the United States would not become embroiled in conflicts with European powers. However, his foreign policy actions were not without controversy, as they often reflected a pro-Southern stance and contributed to the increasing sectional divide that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
Key Aspects of Franklin Pierce’s Foreign Policy
1. The Gadsden Purchase: Securing the Southern Border
One of the most significant and enduring aspects of Pierce’s foreign policy was the Gadsden Purchase, which took place in 1854. This agreement with Mexico resulted in the United States purchasing a strip of land in what is now southern Arizona and New Mexico for $10 million. The acquisition was aimed at facilitating the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad, which was believed to be essential for promoting trade and westward expansion.
At the time, the United States had already acquired vast territories in the West, but the question of how to effectively connect the eastern and western parts of the country remained unresolved. The Gadsden Purchase addressed this issue by securing a route for a southern railroad that would connect the U.S. to the Pacific Ocean. This would not only provide economic benefits but also solidify American control over the southwestern borderlands.
The Gadsden Purchase was politically significant for several reasons. First, it reinforced the idea that the United States was committed to territorial expansion and the idea of manifest destiny. It also served to strengthen the U.S.-Mexico relationship, which had been somewhat fraught following the Mexican-American War. Although the purchase was a relatively small transaction in terms of land area, it had a lasting impact on the geopolitical landscape of North America.
However, the Gadsden Purchase also contributed to the growing tensions over slavery. The acquisition of new land prompted questions about whether slavery would be allowed to expand into these territories, a question that would become central to the national debate and the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
2. The Ostend Manifesto: Tensions Over Cuba
Another notable event during Pierce’s presidency was the Ostend Manifesto of 1854. The Ostend Manifesto was a secret document drafted by U.S. diplomats in Europe—namely, James Buchanan, John Y. Mason, and Pierre Soulé—that called for the annexation of Cuba, which was then a Spanish colony. The manifesto argued that the United States should acquire Cuba either through negotiation or, if necessary, through force, as Cuba was seen as a strategic asset in the Caribbean and crucial to American economic and military interests.
Pierce’s administration was sympathetic to the idea of acquiring Cuba, and he endorsed the Ostend Manifesto, which was presented as a way to strengthen U.S. influence in the Caribbean and to protect American interests. The manifesto argued that Cuba was vital to U.S. national security and that its acquisition would be a natural extension of the country’s territorial expansion. Additionally, some Southern politicians saw Cuba as a potential territory where slavery could be expanded, thus bolstering the Southern slave economy.
However, the Ostend Manifesto was met with intense opposition, particularly in the North. Many Northern politicians and abolitionists viewed the manifesto as an attempt to expand slavery into new territories, further entrenching the institution of slavery. Public outcry was so strong that Pierce eventually distanced himself from the document, and the idea of acquiring Cuba was abandoned.
Despite this, the Ostend Manifesto illustrates Pierce’s broader foreign policy outlook, which was characterized by an aggressive pursuit of territorial expansion and a willingness to engage in controversial diplomacy, even if it fueled sectional tensions and domestic unrest.
3. Foreign Relations with Europe: Maintaining Peace and Neutrality
While Pierce’s foreign policy focused heavily on territorial expansion, he also sought to maintain peaceful relations with European powers. The mid-19th century was a period of intense competition and imperialism, as European nations vied for influence and control over global territories. At the same time, the United States was attempting to assert itself as a rising power on the world stage.
One of the most significant challenges facing the U.S. during Pierce’s presidency was the question of European intervention in the Western Hemisphere. Pierce’s administration strongly supported the Monroe Doctrine, which had been established in 1823 as a statement of U.S. foreign policy that warned European powers against interfering in the Americas. Pierce was determined to ensure that European nations would not challenge American interests in the Western Hemisphere, and he worked to prevent European powers from expanding their influence in the Americas.
Pierce’s approach to Europe was largely characterized by diplomacy and negotiation, rather than military confrontation. Under his leadership, the United States was able to maintain peaceful relations with Britain, France, and Spain, which was a notable achievement in an era of intense global rivalry. Pierce worked to resolve lingering disputes with Britain, particularly over the boundary between the U.S. and Canada, and sought to secure American interests in the Caribbean and Latin America without resorting to armed conflict.
However, while Pierce’s diplomacy was largely successful in avoiding direct confrontations with European powers, his administration was also marked by a number of controversial issues. For example, the British and American governments both had competing interests in the Caribbean, and tensions occasionally flared over issues such as the British annexation of various Caribbean islands. Additionally, the question of the U.S. relationship with Spain and its colonies, particularly Cuba, remained a point of contention.
4. The Expansion of U.S. Influence in the Pacific
During Pierce’s presidency, the United States also sought to expand its influence in the Pacific Ocean. One of the most notable diplomatic achievements of Pierce’s administration in this regard was the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa with Japan in 1854. This treaty opened Japanese ports to American trade, marking the beginning of formal diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The Treaty of Kanagawa was significant for several reasons. It demonstrated the growing influence of the United States in the Pacific region and marked a shift toward a more active role in Asian affairs. For Japan, the treaty represented a major turning point, as it ended Japan’s centuries-long policy of isolation and opened the door to international trade and interaction.
Pierce’s decision to pursue diplomacy with Japan reflected his broader vision of expanding American influence in the Pacific and strengthening trade ties with Asia. The treaty also set the stage for future American involvement in the region, which would become a key aspect of U.S. foreign policy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Legacy of Franklin Pierce’s Foreign Policy
Franklin Pierce’s foreign policy legacy is a complex and often controversial one. On one hand, he successfully pursued territorial expansion, helped establish the United States as a rising power in the Western Hemisphere, and maintained peaceful relations with European powers. On the other hand, his policies—particularly his support for the Gadsden Purchase, the Ostend Manifesto, and the expansion of slavery—reflected a deeply sectional and pro-Southern outlook that alienated many in the North and contributed to the growing divide that would lead to the Civil War.
Pierce’s foreign policy was shaped by the belief in manifest destiny, but his willingness to engage in aggressive diplomacy—whether with Mexico, Cuba, or Japan—often led to tensions and controversy. While he was able to achieve some diplomatic successes, his foreign policy decisions also highlighted the deep divisions within the nation over the issue of slavery and territorial expansion.
In the end, Franklin Pierce’s foreign policy was a reflection of the broader challenges facing the United States during his presidency—challenges that were both external, in terms of territorial expansion and international relations, and internal, related to the growing sectional conflict that would ultimately result in the Civil War. His foreign policy may not have been the most defining feature of his presidency, but it played a key role in shaping the trajectory of the United States as a continental power.