Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass was a Democratic politician, the military governor of the Michigan Territory, secretary of war, senator for Michigan, and secretary of state.
Contents
History
Cass served in the army during the War of 1812. He fought in Canada and the Ohio territory.
Policies
In 1813 he was appointed governor of the Michigan territory. He negotiated land cessions with many nations: Patowatomi, Odawa, Ojibwe, Wyandot, Mingo, Lenape, and Shawnee. He negotiated the Treaty of Fort Meigs and the first Treaty of Chicago.
Jackson appointed him as secretary of war. He directed and implemented the federal government's removal policy.
Legacy
He later served as ambassador to France.
In 1844, he unsuccessfully pursued the Democratic nomination for president. He and van Buren competed on the subject of slavery. Polk capitalized on the division to secure the nomination instead.
In 1848, he was successful in gaining the nomination. Van Buren split and established the Free Soil Party, spoiling the Democratic vote.