James Buchanan wraps up his term as president and reflects upon his handling of the secession crisis.

Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
James Buchanan wraps up his term as president and reflects upon his handling of the secession crisis.
The United States of America had been in existence for less than a century when it was nearly shattered by the most terrible conflict in its history. Why did it happen?
December 30, 1861 – The leading banks of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia suspended specie payments (i.e., exchanging paper money for gold or silver) due
December 2, 1861 – The second session of the first Republican-dominated Congress opened amid growing discontent with the way the Lincoln administration was prosecuting the