Lessons on American Presidents.com
  Handout + MP3 + 8 Online Quizzes on James Buchanan

James Buchanan, Jr. was born the second of 11 children in 1791 into a well-to-do Pennsylvania family. He was gifted as a debater and graduated in law with honors in 1809. He was admitted to the bar in 1812. He was the 15th President of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. He is the only president never to have married and the last to be born in the 18th century.

He was elected five times to the House of Representatives; then, after an interlude as Minister to Russia, served for a decade in the Senate. He became President Polk's Secretary of State and President Pierce's Minister to Great Britain. Service abroad helped to bring him the Democratic nomination in 1856 because it had left him out of involvement in bitter domestic controversies.

When Buchanan became President, the country was rapidly becoming divided. He failed to realize how serious the North-South divisions were over the slavery question. He never understood that the North would not accept laws that favored the South. When the Dred Scott decision arrived, stating Congress had no constitutional power to deprive persons of their property rights in slaves, the North was furious.

In 1860 his Democratic Party split into northern and southern wings. There was a power struggle in the party and several Cabinet members resigned. He appointed northerners and this lost him almost all the support he had in the south. In 1861 he sent a war ship to reinforce Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The state fired at it and it returned to New York, making Buchanan look weak. He died in 1868, aged 77.

Article adapted from www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamesbuchanan

James Buchanan, Jr. was born the second of 11 children in 1791 into a well-to-do Pennsylvania family. He was ______________________ and graduated in law with honors in 1809. He was ______________________ 1812. He was the 15th President of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. He is the only president ______________________ and the last to be born in the 18th century.

He was elected five times to the House of Representatives; then, after an interlude as Minister to Russia, ______________________ in the Senate. He became President Polk's Secretary of State and President Pierce's Minister to Great Britain. Service ______________________ him the Democratic nomination in 1856 because it had left him out of involvement ______________________ controversies.

When Buchanan became President, the country was rapidly becoming divided. He ______________________ how serious the North-South divisions were over the slavery question. He never understood that the North would not accept ______________________ the South. When the Dred Scott decision arrived, stating Congress had no constitutional power to deprive persons of their ______________________, the North was furious.

In 1860 his Democratic Party split into northern and southern wings. There was a power ______________________ and several Cabinet members resigned. He appointed northerners and this lost him almost all the support he had in the south. In 1861 ______________________ to reinforce Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The ______________________ returned to New York, making Buchanan look weak. He died in 1868, aged 77.

  CORRECT THE SPELLING

James Buchanan, Jr. was born the second of 11 children in 1791 into a well-to-do Pennsylvania family. He was diftge as a debater and graduated in law with orsohn in 1809. He was admitted to the bar in 1812. He was the 15th President of the United States, gnevsir from 1857 to 1861. He is the only president never to have married and the last to be born in the 18th century.

He was lceeedt five times to the House of Representatives; then, after an interlude as Minister to Russia, served for a decade in the Senate. He became President Polk's Secretary of State and President Pierce's Minister to Great Britain. Service adbaro helped to bring him the Democratic nomination in 1856 because it had left him out of involvement in bitter cmisdoet controversies.

When Buchanan became President, the country was rapidly becoming ivedddi. He failed to realize how serious the North-South divisions were over the lsvreay question. He never understood that the North would not accept laws that favored the South. When the Dred Scott decision arrived, stating Congress had no constitutional power to deprive persons of their pertypor rights in slaves, the North was furious.

In 1860 his Democratic Party split into northern and southern wings. There was a power esgltgru in the party and several Cabinet members resigned. He appointed northerners and this lost him almost all the rsopptu he had in the south. In 1861 he sent a war ship to reinforce Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The state fired at it and it udrtenre to New York, making Buchanan look weak. He died in 1868, aged 77.

  UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

James Buchanan, Jr. was born the second of 11 children in 1791 into - a do well Pennsylvania - family to. He was gifted as a debater in with in graduated law honors and 1809. He was admitted to the bar in 1812. He was the 15th President of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. He is the only president never to the and married have born be to last in the 18th century.

He was elected five times to the House of Representatives; then, Minister Russia an as to after interlude, served for a decade in the Senate. He became President Polk's Secretary of State and President Pierce's Minister to Great Britain. Service abroad helped to the nomination 1856 him Democratic in bring because it had left in domestic out involvement bitter him of controversies.

When Buchanan became President, the country was rapidly becoming divided. He North the serious how realize to failed-South divisions were over the slavery question. He never accept the laws North that would understood not that favored the South. When the Dred Scott decision arrived, stating Congress had no to persons their power deprive of constitutional property rights in slaves, the North was furious.

In 1860 his Democratic Party split into northern and southern wings. the in struggle power a was There party and several Cabinet members resigned. He appointed northerners and this lost almost support in him the had south all he the. In 1861 he sent a war ship to reinforce Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The state returned at to it New and York it fired, making Buchanan look weak. He died in 1868, aged 77.

  DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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  STUDENT JAMES BUCHANAN SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about James Buchanan in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

  WRITING

Write about James Buchanan for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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  HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about James Buchanan. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about James Buchanan. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. JAMES BUCHANAN POSTER Make a poster about James Buchanan. Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

5. MY JAMES BUCHANAN LESSON: Make your own English lesson on James Buchanan. Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Teach the class / another group when you have finished.

6. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, MySpace page, Twitter stream, Del-icio-us / StumbleUpon account, or any other social media tool to get opinions on James Buchanan. Share your findings with the class.