Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. He was a Democrat and a lawyer by profession. During his presidency, he signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed new states to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery, leading to a violent conflict in Kansas known as "Bleeding Kansas." He also signed the Gadsden Purchase, acquiring land from Mexico for the United States. Despite his accomplishments, Pierce's presidency was marred by his support for the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution in Kansas, which alienated many in the anti-slavery movement. Overall, Franklin Pierce's presidency was marked by controversy and division, and his legacy is mixed.