1855 State of the Union Address

Speech by US President Franklin Pierce February 2026 November 2024 February 2025 1855 State of the Union Address Free State Poster from Kansas Territory.jpg In the period known as Bleeding Kansas, 1854–1860, there were numerous conflicts about whether slavery would be legal in the future new state of Kansas. This poster calls voters to a series of "free state" meetings. 1855 12 31 House Chamber, United States Capitol Washington, D.C. 38 53 23 N 77 00 32 W region:US-DC_type inline,title State of the Union Address Franklin PierceJesse D. BrightLinn Boyd Format Written Previous 1854 State of the Union Address Next 1856 State of the Union Address The 1855 State of the Union Address was delivered by the 14th president of the United States, Franklin Pierce, to the 34th United States Congress on December 31, 1855. Themes Pierce began by noting the stability and peace enjoyed by the United States compared to the conflicts troubling Europe. He expressed relief that the nation had remained free from external wars and internal strife, though he cautioned about unresolved disputes with Great Britain over Central American interests, particularly the Bay Islands and British influence over the Mosquito Coast. Pierce highlighted the conflict with Great Britain on the interpretation of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, asserting that Britain’s continued territorial claims in Central America contradicted the treaty’s terms.Franklin Pierce - State of the Union Address -- 1855 https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/third-annual-message-8 The American Presidency Project 7 November 2024 He stated, "It is impossible, in my judgment, for the United States to acquiesce in such a construction of the respective relations of the two Governments to Central America," affirming his administration’s commitment to challenging British encroachments in the region. Domestically, Pierce addressed sectional tensions surrounding slavery, emphasizing the principle of states' rights and defending recent policies, such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act, that allowed new territories to determine their own institutions. He warned against Northern interference in the South’s domestic institutions, calling it "offensive and hopeless" and insisting that the Constitution did not permit one state to dictate the policies of another. Pierce’s address also covered other issues such as ongoing tensions with Spain over incidents involving U.S. vessels and the need for naval and postal improvements. He concluded with a call for national unity and fidelity to the Constitution, urging Americans to reject sectionalism and preserve the Union. References 1854 State of the Union Address 1856 State of the Union Address State of the Union addresses 1 1855 Category:Speeches by Franklin Pierce Category:34th United States Congress Category:1855 in American politics Category:1855 in Washington, D.C. Category:1850s State of the Union addresses Category:December 1855