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Table of Contents
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States (1849-1850). He was likened to George Washington and Andrew Jackson – both former American Presidents who were experienced soldiers. His nickname was “Old Rough and Ready”.
Early Life
- Zachary Taylor was born on November 24, 1784 in Orange County, Virginia. He was the son of Richard Taylor and Sarah Dabney Strother. Young Zachary, together with his family, migrated to the Kentucky frontier. Given the situation, he did not receive any formal education.
- On June 21, 1810, Zachary married Margaret Mackall Smith with whom he had six children.
- In 1808, he became the first lieutenant of the U.S Army and was promoted to captain two years later. Before his family settled in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, they moved from place to place as he joined the War of 1812 and the Second Seminole War in 1837.
- He was promoted to brigadier general after winning the Battle of Lake Okeechobee on December 25, 1837. Four years later, he became the commander of the Second Department of the Army’s Western Division
- In 1845, Taylor was coined as the “Indian Fighter” after battling against the Native American settlers in modern day Wisconsin, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.
- During President Polk’s term, Taylor was ordered to take over the disputed territory of Rio Grande. His troops were attacked by the Mexicans, which led Congress to wage a war against Mexico that lasted until 1848.
- General Zachary became the nation’s hero after winning the battles in Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterrey, and Buena Vista. His skills and military experience were compared to George Washington (1st president) and Andrew Jackson (7th president).
- His name marked American politics, thus making him the most favored presidential candidate for the 1848 election. He joined the Whig Party with Millard Fillmore as his vice president.
Zachary Taylor’s Presidency
- President Zachary Taylor took his oath as the 12th President of the United States on March 5, 1849 at the East Portico in the U.S Capitol. The issue of slavery in newly acquired territories became one of President Zachary’s primary concerns. The Congress was divided on whether the territories of California, New Mexico, and Utah would join the Union as a slave states or free states. The Northerners wanted to abolish slavery while the Southerners wished to maintain it.
- In order to avoid the separation of the north and south, he proposed that the territories of California and New Mexico apply for statehood. In that event, it would be the state legislature’s decision to either ban or allow slavery.
- Senators Henry Clay and Daniel Webster planned to create the Compromise of 1850, allowing the acceptance of California as a free state, while New Mexico and Utah would follow the concept of popular sovereignty. President Taylor did not like the compromise.
- On April 19, 1850, Taylor signed the ratification of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty. It was an agreement between the United States and Great Britain to build a canal in Nicaragua connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
- On July 4, 1850, he suffered severe stomach illness after attending various Independence day celebrations. It was diagnosed as cholera morbus.
President’s Death
- On July 9, 1850, after sixteen months in office, President Taylor died of illness and his funeral was attended by thousands of people. On the 13th of July, his body was interred at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington D.C before it was moved to his family’s place in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Theories about his death circulated, as some believed that Taylor was poisoned. In 1991, the cause of his death was cleared after his body was exhumed and analysed.
Zachary Taylor Worksheets
This bundle contains 11 ready-to-use Zachary Taylor Worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about Zachary Taylor who was the 12th President of the United States (1849-1850). He was likened to George Washington and Andrew Jackson – both former American Presidents who were experienced soldiers. His nickname was “Old Rough and Ready”.
Download includes the following worksheets:
- Zachary Taylor Facts
- The Old Rough and Ready
- North v. South
- Presidential Rivals
- Truth or Lie
- All About the Seminole War
- The Compromise of 1850
- Taylor Battles
- Soldiers then Presidents
- Photo Collage
- Picture Analysis
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Link will appear as Zachary Taylor Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 23, 2017
Use With Any Curriculum
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