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The U.S. Government for Kids and Teens: James Buchanan

Resources for learning about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the three branches of government, national symbols, and more!

Quick Facts

portrait of james buchanan

Born: April 23, 1791, Cove Gap, Pennsylvania

Presidential Term: 1857-1861

Three Interesting Facts (Britannica):

He was the only president to be a lifelong bachelor. 

His niece served as First Lady while he was in office.

He was such an unpopular president that his portrait had to be removed from the Capitol so no one would ruin it.

Died: June 1, 1868, Wheatland, Pennsylvania

Image from National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute

World Book

Read or listen to reference entries about James Buchanan, plus see the correlated Missouri Learning Standards for each article. Also, browse art featuring the president. Select articles from World Book Kids for students in grades K-5, World Book Student for students in grades 6-12, and Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos for students in grades K-5.

U.S. History in Context

World Book Timelines

Explore James Buchanan's timeline from his birth through his death in World Book Timelines.

timeline of james buchanan

60-Second Presidents: James Buchanan from PBS

Hoopla

Explora - Elementary

Explore a large assortment of resources designed for K-5 students to help them learn about James Buchanan. Explora - Elementary contains relevant articles from children's magazine and reference materials about the president. 

Note: Articles can be translated into over 130 language for ESL students. When accessing articles, select Online Full Text versions rather than PDF versions when available to utilize the translation feature. Open the Online Full Text version of the article, and then click the globe icon in the top right corner to access the translation feature.

Explora - Secondary Schools

Discover a large collection of articles and reference materials all about James Buchanan, perfect for middle and high school students. 

Note: Articles can be translated into over 130 language for ESL students. When accessing articles, select Online Full Text versions rather than PDF versions when available to utilize the translation feature. Open the Online Full Text version of the article, and then click the globe icon in the top right corner to access the translation feature.

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