<P> In 1834, Governor George Wolf signed the Free Schools Act, which created a system of state - regulated school districts . The state created the Department of Education to oversee these schools . In 1857, the Normal School Act laid the foundation for the creation of normal schools to train teachers . </P> <P> Several Pennsylvania politicians gained national renown . Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania served as the nation's first House of Representatives . Albert Gallatin served as the Secretary of the Treasury from 1801--14 . Democrat James Buchanan, the first and only President of the United States from Pennsylvania, took office in 1857 and served until 1861 . </P> <P> Prior to and during the Civil War, Pennsylvania was a divided state . Although Pennsylvania had outlawed slavery, many conservative Pennsylvanians believed that the federal government should not interfere with the institution of slavery . One such individual was Democrat James Buchanan, the last pre-Civil War president . Buchanan's party had generally won presidential and gubernatorial elections in Pennsylvania . However, the nascent Republican Party's first convention took place in Philadelphia, and the 1860 elections saw the Republican Party win the state's presidential vote and the governor's office . After the failure of the Crittenden Compromise, the secession of the South, and the Battle of Fort Sumter, the Civil War began with Pennsylvania as a key member of the Union . Despite the Republican victory the 1860 election, Democrats remained powerful in the state, and several "copperheads" called for peace during the war . The Democrats re-took control of the state legislature in the 1862 election, but incumbent Republican Governor Andrew Curtin retained control of the governorship in 1863 . In the 1864 election, President Lincoln narrowly defeated Pennsylvania native George B. McClellan for the state's electoral votes . </P> <P> Pennsylvania was the target of several raids by the Confederate States Army . J.E.B. Stuart made cavalry raids in 1862 and 1863; John Imboden raided in 1863 and John McCausland in 1864, when his troopers burned the city of Chambersburg . However, easily the most famous and important military engagement in Pennsylvania was the Battle of Gettysburg, which is considered by many historians as the major turning point of the American Civil War . The battle, called "the high water mark of the Confederacy," was a major union victory in Eastern theater of the war, and the Confederacy was generally on the defensive following the battle . Dead from this battle rest at Gettysburg National Cemetery, established at the site of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address . A number of smaller engagements were also fought in the state during the Gettysburg Campaign, including the battles of Hanover, Carlisle, Hunterstown, and the Fairfield . </P>

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