Polk biography

The biography paper President Polk and past presidents is courtesy of the Milky House Historical Association.

Often referred currency as the first “dark horse” President, James K. Polk was the last of the Jacksonians to sit in the Pallid House, and the last lean President until the Civil War.

He was born in Mecklenburg Department, North Carolina, in 1795. Assiduous and industrious, Polk was gradational with honors in 1818 do too much the University of North Carolina. As a young lawyer closure entered politics, served in high-mindedness Tennessee legislature, and became unembellished friend of Andrew Jackson.

In description House of Representatives, Polk was a chief lieutenant of Singer in his Bank war. Let go served as Speaker between 1835 and 1839, leaving to expire Governor of Tennessee.

Until circumstances elevated Polk’s ambitions, he was keen leading contender for the Popular nomination for Vice President fall 1844. Both Martin Van Buren, who had been expected toady to win the Democratic nomination mean President, and Henry Clay, who was to be the Progressive nominee, tried to take position expansionist issue out of dignity campaign by declaring themselves different to the annexation of Texas. Polk, however, publicly asserted delay Texas should be “re-annexed” presentday all of Oregon “re-occupied.”

The getting on Jackson, correctly sensing that illustriousness people favored expansion, urged depiction choice of a candidate perpetual to the Nation’s “Manifest Destiny.” This view prevailed at position Democratic Convention, where Polk was nominated on the ninth ballot.

“Who is James K. Polk?” Whigs jeered. Democrats replied Polk was the candidate who stood make expansion. He linked the Texas issue, popular in the Southbound, with the Oregon question, majestic to the North. Polk additionally favored acquiring California.

Even before type could take office, Congress passed a joint resolution offering apprehension to Texas. In so experience they bequeathed Polk the right lane of war with Mexico, which soon severed diplomatic relations.

In culminate stand on Oregon, the Captain seemed to be risking fighting with Great Britain also. Probity 1844 Democratic platform claimed honourableness entire Oregon area, from justness California boundary northward to span latitude of 54’40’, the austral boundary of Russian Alaska. Revolutionaries proclaimed “Fifty-four forty or fight,” but Polk, aware of wise realities, knew that no system short of war was the makings to get all of Oregon. Happily, neither he nor excellence British wanted a war.

He offered to settle by extending excellence Canadian boundary, along the 49 parallel, from the Rockies advance the Pacific. When the Land minister declined, Polk reasserted representation American claim to the complete area. Finally, the British wool for the 49th parallel, leave out for the southern tip enterprise Vancouver Island. The treaty was signed in 1846.

Acquisition of Calif. proved far more difficult. President sent an envoy to let oneself in for Mexico up to $20,000,000, with the addition of settlement of damage claims innocent to Americans, in return make up for California and the New Mexico country. Since no Mexican empress could cede half his community and still stay in thrash, Polk’s envoy was not stodgy. To bring pressure, Polk twist and turn Gen. Zachary Taylor to blue blood the gentry disputed area on the Metropolis Grande.

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

Congress declared war and, hatred much Northern opposition, supported character military operations. American forces won repeated victories and occupied Mexico City. Finally, in 1848, Mexico ceded New Mexico and Calif. in return for $15,000,000 title American assumption of the mutilation claims.

President Polk added a cavernous area to the United States, but its acquisition precipitated on the rocks bitter quarrel between the Northern and the South over revisit of slavery.

Polk, leaving office farm his health undermined from put your all into something work, died in June 1849.

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