1853
Franklin Pierce was sitting in his train car, he had told his son, Benny, to sit elsewhere, he had a bad feeling about his son sitting there...so he told his wife and son to sit in the back. This simple action changed American history… Pierce would have heard a noise as the train derailed, he would be crush under the wreckage, his own wife and son seeing his mangled body
Many Americans viewed after the Mexican-American War that their nation was destined for greatness, they had gone from sea to shining sea. But all that changed when President-Elect Franklin Pierce had died in a train crash on the way to his inauguration. His Vice President, William R. King, Would have to rally the American people for a president they did not vote for. He emerged from the Capitol that day, the tragic news had reached the original 13 states at this point. They eagerly awaited his address.
“My Fellow Citizens of the United States of America, President-Elect Pierce was killed in a train crash a few weeks ago now… Leaving me with the office of President, I am far from ready to accept this… Grandiose position, but I shall do my best to keep this union together. God Bless these United States of America!”
Within a few days of the Inauguration, President King would be found bedridden in the White House, ill with tuberculosis. He would pass away on April 18th, 1853. Leaving the American People speechless.
Franklin Pierce was sitting in his train car, he had told his son, Benny, to sit elsewhere, he had a bad feeling about his son sitting there...so he told his wife and son to sit in the back. This simple action changed American history… Pierce would have heard a noise as the train derailed, he would be crush under the wreckage, his own wife and son seeing his mangled body
Many Americans viewed after the Mexican-American War that their nation was destined for greatness, they had gone from sea to shining sea. But all that changed when President-Elect Franklin Pierce had died in a train crash on the way to his inauguration. His Vice President, William R. King, Would have to rally the American people for a president they did not vote for. He emerged from the Capitol that day, the tragic news had reached the original 13 states at this point. They eagerly awaited his address.
“My Fellow Citizens of the United States of America, President-Elect Pierce was killed in a train crash a few weeks ago now… Leaving me with the office of President, I am far from ready to accept this… Grandiose position, but I shall do my best to keep this union together. God Bless these United States of America!”
Within a few days of the Inauguration, President King would be found bedridden in the White House, ill with tuberculosis. He would pass away on April 18th, 1853. Leaving the American People speechless.
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