Zachary Taylor: The Man Who Might Have Prevented the Civil W…

He was a servant owner who opposed the growth of slavery; a president who did not like politicians and politics. That was Zachary Taylor–” Old Rough and Ready.” Joseph Fornieri, Professor of Political Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology, informs the story of this walking contradiction.

Script:

Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States, was so indifferent to politics that he never voted till his own election in 1848.

An occupation military guy, “Old Rough and Ready,” as he was passionately comprehended, was weathered, stocky, and bow-legged in appearance. He was obstinate, quickly insulted, and quick-tempered in character. These are not traits that usually make for a reliable politician. Nevertheless, he never wished to be a politician. Till he did.

The child of a Revolutionary War veteran, Zachary Taylor was born in Orange County, Virginia on November 24, 1784. Influenced by his daddy’s military exploits, Taylor signed up with the army in 1808. He invested the bulk of the next forty years securing the frontier against hostile Indians. Progressively rising from the rank of lieutenant to brigadier general, he combated in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War of 1832, and the Second Seminole War in 1837.

The Mexican-American War in 1846 was a turning point in Taylor’s life. In a matter of months, he went from a trustworthy nevertheless odd soldier to a nationwide hero.

Here’s how it occurred.

In January of 1846, President James Polk sent Taylor into the challenged border territory of Texas and Mexico. The concept was that the presence of American soldiers would push the Mexican government into accepting Polk’s offer to buy California. Mexico wasn’t interested.

Polk was stuck.

Things became unstuck when Mexican forces fired on Taylor’s males near the town of Palo Alto, removing 11. That’s all Polk required to ask Congress to state war, which it did on May 12.

At that minute, the war rested on Taylor’s shoulders. In spite of being greatly gone beyond, he won the battle of Palo Alto and went on to score impressive success at Monterrey and Buena Vista. Ulysses S. Grant, a current West Point graduate, who took part in the campaign said of Taylor: “No soldier could handle either threat or responsibility more calmly than he … He was known to every soldier in his army, and was appreciated by all.”

The Mexican War ended in February 1848 with the United States acquiring not only California however big swaths of land in the American Southwest. Within weeks of completion of the war, the Whig Party, which had done so well with war hero William Henry Harrison, saw Taylor as their ticket back to the White House.

Taylor was fascinated, nevertheless he didn’t see himself as a party guy. “I am a Whig, but not an ultra Whig,” he specified. “If elected I would not be the simple President of an event– I would aim to act independent of party …”.

That was excellent enough for the Whigs. In brief order, they chose Taylor to be their fundamental bearer. He went on to defeat Lewis Cass, a Democratic senator from Michigan, in the general election.

Being a war general was hard. Being President was harder.

For something, the Mexican-American War had really reignited the slavery argument. How would all this brand-new territory be integrated into the Union? What part would be servant; what part would be totally free?

The political balance stood precariously at 15 totally complimentary states and 15 servant states. Any additional states would tip the scales one method or the other. How would this be repaired?

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The kid of a Revolutionary War veteran, Zachary Taylor was born in Orange County, Virginia on November 24, 1784. Gradually increasing from the rank of lieutenant to brigadier general, he fought in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War of 1832, and the Second Seminole War in 1837.

In January of 1846, President James Polk sent Taylor into the disputed border area of Texas and Mexico. At that minute, the war rested on Taylor’s shoulders. Taylor was fascinated, but he didn’t see himself as an event guy.

The boy of a Revolutionary War veteran, Zachary Taylor was born in Orange County, Virginia on November 24, 1784. In January of 1846, President James Polk sent out Taylor into the challenged border territory of Texas and Mexico. At that minute, the war rested on Taylor’s shoulders. In January of 1846, President James Polk sent Taylor into the disputed border area of Texas and Mexico. At that minute, the war rested on Taylor’s shoulders.