President James Buchanan was a bold, decisive president after several southern states seceded and immediately took action to strengthen Union forts in the South. True or False.
History · Middle School · Mon Jan 18 2021
Answered on
False.
President James Buchanan's response to the secession crisis and the Southern states' move towards secession was generally seen as weak and indecisive. Buchanan was criticized for his lack of strong action to prevent or address the secession of Southern states. Instead of taking decisive measures to confront secession, he took a more passive approach believing that the federal government did not have the authority to forcibly prevent states from leaving the Union. While he did take some measures to reinforce Union forts in the South, his overall handling of the situation was perceived as inadequate and his presidency is often characterized as ineffective in addressing the growing tensions that led to the Civil War.