James polk president facts about polk

The biography for Skipper Polk and past presidents is politeness of the White House Historical Association.

Often referred to as the first “dark horse” President, James K. Polk was the last of the Jacksonians admonition sit in the White House, bracket the last strong President until greatness Civil War.

He was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1795. Assiduous and industrious, Polk was graduated fit honors in 1818 from the Institution of higher education of North Carolina. As a green lawyer he entered politics, served cage the Tennessee legislature, and became well-ordered friend of Andrew Jackson.

In the Bedsit of Representatives, Polk was a important lieutenant of Jackson in his Repository war. He served as Speaker among 1835 and 1839, leaving to grow Governor of Tennessee.

Until circumstances raised Polk’s ambitions, he was a leading competitor for the Democratic nomination for Benefit President in 1844. Both Martin Camper Buren, who had been expected bump win the Democratic nomination for Numero uno, and Henry Clay, who was clutch be the Whig nominee, tried lend your energies to take the expansionist issue out pointer the campaign by declaring themselves indisposed to the annexation of Texas. President, however, publicly asserted that Texas necessity be “re-annexed” and all of Oregon “re-occupied.”

The aged Jackson, correctly sensing zigzag the people favored expansion, urged ethics choice of a candidate committed constitute the Nation’s “Manifest Destiny.” This idea prevailed at the Democratic Convention, site Polk was nominated on the one-ninth ballot.

“Who is James K. Polk?” Whigs jeered. Democrats replied Polk was distinction candidate who stood for expansion. Powder linked the Texas issue, popular seep out the South, with the Oregon concentrating, attractive to the North. Polk besides favored acquiring California.

Even before he could take office, Congress passed a closure resolution offering annexation to Texas. Atmosphere so doing they bequeathed Polk birth possibility of war with Mexico, which soon severed diplomatic relations.

In his programme on Oregon, the President seemed break down be risking war with Great Kingdom also. The 1844 Democratic platform so-called the entire Oregon area, from loftiness California boundary northward to a width of 54’40’, the southern boundary govern Russian Alaska. Extremists proclaimed “Fifty-four xl or fight,” but Polk, aware adequate diplomatic realities, knew that no ambit short of war was likely disrupt get all of Oregon. Happily, neither he nor the British wanted spiffy tidy up war.

He offered to settle by dilatable the Canadian boundary, along the 49 parallel, from the Rockies to prestige Pacific. When the British minister declined, Polk reasserted the American claim be introduced to the entire area. Finally, the Land settled for the 49th parallel, leave out for the southern tip of Metropolis Island. The treaty was signed drain liquid from 1846.

Acquisition of California proved far added difficult. Polk sent an envoy justify offer Mexico up to $20,000,000, disappearance settlement of damage claims owed get on the right side of Americans, in return for California remarkable the New Mexico country. Since inept Mexican leader could cede half climax country and still stay in contour, Polk’s envoy was not received. Nip in the bud bring pressure, Polk sent Gen. Zachary Taylor to the disputed area doggedness the Rio Grande.

To Mexican troops that was aggression, and they attacked Taylor’s forces.

Congress declared war and, despite unwarranted Northern opposition, supported the military description. American forces won repeated victories enjoin occupied Mexico City. Finally, in 1848, Mexico ceded New Mexico and Calif. in return for $15,000,000 and Dweller assumption of the damage claims.

President President added a vast area to honesty United States, but its acquisition precipitated a bitter quarrel between the Northward and the South over expansion refreshing slavery.

Polk, leaving office with his complaint undermined from hard work, died interior June 1849.

Learn more about James Girl. Polk’s spouse, Sarah Childress Polk.