Zachary Taylor
by Cassie Holloway
General biography
Career before the Presidency
Military was a huge aspect in Taylor's life. He first begun in U.S. Army in year 1808, receiving a commission as a first lieutenant of the Seventh Infantry Regiment,. Spent his first year in the dilapidated camps of New Orleans. He was later promoted as 1810. He defended the Fort Harrison in War of 1812. After being in numerous battles including Tippecanoe, Battle of Wild Cat Creek, Fort Johnson, and Saint Louis, he resigned from the army in 1814. Then re-entered it in a year later after gaining a commission. Then he commanded Fort Howard, 7th Infantry, Fort Jesup, Fort Robinson, Fort Snelling, Fort Crawford, then he was promoted to 1st Infantry Regiment, Black Hawk War, Second Seminole War, Battle of Lake Okeechobee (one of the largest U.S.-Indian battles of the 19th century), then the Mexican American War:
The annexation of the Republic of Texas sent Taylor in 1844 to guard against any attempts by Mexico to reclaim the territory. He served there for one year. James K. Polk directed him to deploy him into disputed territory in Texas "on or near the Rio Grande". Taylor chose Corpus Christi. He commanded at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, Battle of Monterrey, and Battle of Buena Vista.
in late November 1847, Taylor set sail for home. His military Career was over. His popular legacy set the stage for the 1848 presidential election.
Career as President
3 major achievements
- Zachary fought to defend the Indiana territory with only 50 men against 400 men and Taylor won a great victory.
- Taylor and his army were at war with Paloalto and won victory.
- Taylor also tried to prevent the spread of slavery to new states.
3 Failures
- Taylor died in office after only serving slightly over a year there.
- Taylor has absolutely no government experience.
- Taylor was a hypocrite with the slavery concept, being against slavery when he had slavery himself.
Popularity
Campaign Slogan
Members of taylor's cabinet
My opinion on Zachary Taylor as President
Would he be suitable for being today's president?
fun facts!
- Taylor was a descendant of Elder William Brewster, the Pilgrim colonist leader of the Plymouth Colony, a Mayflower immigrant, and one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact.
- Second cousin of James Madison.
- Zachary didn’t vote until he was 62 years old.
- Zachary had a horse named Whitney.
- He chewed tobacco.
- Zachary was named after his grandfather.
- Zachary spent July 4 eating cherries and drinking milk at a ceremony at the Washington Monument.
- Zachary was the second president to die while in office.
- Zachary didn’t vote in his own election because he was a soldier.
- Abraham Lincoln gave a speech at Zachary’s funeral.
- Zachary rode his horse sidesaddle when he was in a battle.
Bibliography
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/presidents/taylor.htm
http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/biographies/zachary_taylor.html
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0760597.html
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/people/taylor-zachary.html
http://millercenter.org/president/taylor
http://www.usnews.com/news/history/articles/2007/02/16/worst-presidents-zachary-taylor
http://thepresidentsatbigmo.blogspot.com/2007/06/number-12-zachary-taylor.html
http://www.presidentsusa.net/campaignslogans.html
http://shogan123.wordpress.com/fun-facts/
http://library.thinkquest.org/08aug/01450/zacharytaylor.html
http://www.conservapedia.com/Zachary_Taylor
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/History/presidents/Presidents_12_Taylor.htm