Franklin Pierce and Cuba
Who was Franklin Pierce?
Franklin Pierce proclaimed an America with peace and longevity. He made gestures towards expansion, and fully supported Manifest Destiny. He brought on the wrath of many Northerners, since expansion would lead to a spread in the slave industry.
When tension between the North and South seemed to be at a climax, Pierce proposed spreading Manifest Destiny offshore and claim land such as Cuba. The southerners were completely supportive of this idea, and many Americans began acknowledging this idea.
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce is the 14th President of America. He is a Democratic, and saw the abolitionist movement as a threat to the Union
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Cuba before American Purchase
Cuba was a massive slave trade and labor hot spot. Because of Cuba's rich soil, surrounding ocean, and great weather, the sugar industry in Cuba boomed.
Cuba was, however, controlled by Spain near the early and middle 1800's. Near the early 1820's, Spain abolished slavery in Cuba, leading to a massive uproar because of how much slave labor Cuba utilizes. Cuba tried multiple times to to become an independent state, however, found it very difficult to do so.
Cuba and America were also highly affiliated with each other. The US had millions of dollars invested in Cuban business, and many American residents stayed in Cuba. America also traded for a large amount of Cuba's sugar and slaves.
All of these reasons led to Pierce believing that Cuba was a great place to expand to and a great way to ease tension between the North and South.
Slaves working at Cuba's sugar fields
