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| 1852 |
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| The Democratic Party, committed to the Compromise of 1850 as a solution of the problem of slavery in the territories, fielded Franklin Pierce as presidential candidate. | 1 |
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| 1853, March 4–1857, March 4 |
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| FRANKLIN PIERCE (1804–69), 14th president. | 2 |
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| 1853 |
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| Rail connection established between New York City and Chicago. By 1860 the region north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi had been firmly attached commercially to the North Atlantic seaboard. The movement of internal trade, originally north and south along the Mississippi, now became predominantly a west-east movement, the shift proving of great economic and political significance. | 3 |
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| Dec. 30 |
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| The Gadsden purchase rounded out U.S. possessions in the Far West. | 4 |
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