Millard Fillmore was the 13th president of the Union. Fillmore was from the western part of New York State. He served from 1850 to 1853. He was also a Whig.

Fillmore put the hard packed punch of the presidency behind slavery. He saw compromise as the only solution or way around a war. The compromise of 1850 was achieved, which said California would be admitted as a free state, the territories received from Mexico could decide for themselves whether they would be slave or free, no more slaves could be traded in Washington D.C., and the Fugitive Slave Law was passed. This law said that all United States citizens must assist the local, state, and federal governments in capturing fugitive or runaway slaves and returning them to their slaveholders.

Entertainment of the time featured white actors with painted black faces, which reinforced negative stereotypes of black people. This was unfair in many ways, but mostly because it insulted blacks and made them seem as if they were circus freaks. This also painted an inaccurate image of black people in general in the minds of people whom never seen or talked to blacks.

Fillmore spoke against Abraham Lincoln’s policies and beliefs in 1854, including beliefs in slavery. Lincoln was very strongly against slavery. In contrast, Fillmore was not strongly against it. I think Millard Fillmore should have worked harder against slavery because I think it is not only morally wrong but it can and did destroy the families of blacks in America. Slavery was a terrible thing. One of the best ways to decide if you are for or against slavery is to put yourself in the slaves’ shoes. (If they had any) Anyone who is for slavery should be willing to be a slave himself or herself.

Fillmore died on March 8th, 1874.

I think Fillmore might not have been the best president we have ever had, but he gave it a pretty good try. He had a lot to deal with and there was immense pressure from all parts of the Union. I also do not know very much about him, so I cannot make a very accurate generalization.