Buchanan was nominated by the Democratic Party at its 1856 convention , where he defeated both the incumbent President Franklin Pierce and Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas . Despite his long experience in government , Buchanan was unable to calm the growing sectional crisis that would divide the nation at the close of his term . Prior to taking office , Buchanan lobbied the Supreme Court to issue a broad ruling in '' Dred Scott v. Sandford '' . Though Buchanan hoped that the Court 's ruling would end the dispute over slavery in the territories , Buchanan 's support of the ruling deeply alienated many Northerners . Buchanan also joined with Southern leaders in attempting to gain the admission of Kansas to the Union as a slave state under the Lecompton Constitution . In the midst of the growing chasm between slave states and free states , the Panic of 1857 struck the nation , causing widespread business failures and high unemployment
1856 convention
1856 Democratic National Convention
Presidency of James Buchanan