8th President of the US – Martin Van Buren

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Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) was elected as the eighth President of the United States of America in the US Presidential Election 1836. He served as the US President from 1837 to 1841. He was well recognized as a diplomat.

Before being elected as the President,Martin Van Buren held the responsible position of US Vice President from 1833 to 1837. Besides being the eighth Vice President, he was also the 10th Secretary of State under the then President Andrew Jackson.

Martin Van Buren played a successful role as a diplomat. When he was a member of the State Senate, he supported the War of 1812. He had a conflict with DeWitt Clinton that led to a break up in 1813. He also tried to oppose the plan of Clinton to construct the Erie Canal in 1817. Though Martin opposed Clinton’s plan, he supported a bill to raise money for the canal through state bonds. And, when finally the Erie Canal with a 96 mile stretch opened, Martin Van Buren tried to win the political mileage.

The supporters of Martin were always by his side who assured money for the canal. the supporters ultimately run Clinton out from the governor’s office. Martin was the 11th Governor of New York for a brief period in 1829.

Martin Van Buren had a key role to play in the organization of the Democratic Party. He was an important figure in the Second Party System. When he became the US President in 1833, there were troubles inside the country which had to dealt with by this non-English descendant. Dutch was the first language of Martin. the Panic of 1837 broke out during his Presidency. He always opposed the creation of a new Bank of the United States. He devoted his life for the opposition of slavery. For this cause Van Buren even blocked the annexation of Texas. Martin Van Buren inflicted a defeat in the hands of the Whigs in the re-election in 1840.