Ever since Henry Clay nominated James K. Polk as a strong protagonist of the appropriation of Texas, large things were expected from this House of Representative. James K. Polk was born on November 2, 1795 to a wealthy and influential household in Mecklenburg, Colorado. He was an extraordinary person who was the last of the Jacksonians to sit in the White House as the 11th president of the United States.
He was a representative of Tennessee for 14 old ages every bit good as talker of house taking his service as governor of Tennessee. In the same twelvemonth he was engaged to Sarah Childress, who he shortly married. Polk served in the Tennessee House from 1823 until 1825 during the clip he supported Andrew Jackson for the United States senate place. He continued to back up Jackson while functioning in the U.S. House of Representative from 1825 until 1839 when he retired from Congress to go governor of Tennessee. Although James Polk has lost a figure of gubernatorial elections he still kept his best pes frontward finally doing him win the Democratic vice-president nomination as Martin Van Buren ‘s running mate. After fours old ages he surprises everyone by being the party ‘s pick for the presidential term. He supported the appropriation of Texas every bit good as acquisition of California and Oregon. He besides became a great protagonist of “ manifest fate, ” intending the United States western enlargement into such countries as Texas, Oregon and California, which spurred a political argument because the district was portion of a disputed boundary between the U.S. and Mexico in 1844. Later that twelvemonth, he settled a pact with Great Britain ensuing to the acquisition of the Oregon Territory.
“ I prefer to oversee the whole operations of authorities myself instead than intrust the populace concern to subsidiaries and this makes my responsibilities really great, ” says Polk coming into office with a program and a clear set of ends. John Tyler was the person who helped Polk reach those ends. One of them was eventually achieved on February 1845 when Texas won congressional blessing to go a province. The other was achieved when the British curate in Washington rejected a via media, which Polk offered that would set up the United States Canadian boundary line at the 49th analogue. The Oregon district was claimed by both Great Britain and the United States, making loose talk of war on both sides of the Atlantic. Polk ‘s run motto of “ 54 40 or battle ” refers to the latitude co-ordinates of the district both states were contending for. However neither state truly wanted war, so the Britain authorities eventually accepted Polk ‘s original proposal and the Senate approved a pact that fixed the boundary at the 49th analogue. The ground the Senate and President Polk agreed to the British offer to settle the Oregon inquiry was because new tensenesss were originating taking to war with Mexico. Soon the Mexican authorities broke diplomatic dealingss with Washington every bit shortly as the United States admitted Texas to statehood in 1845. The struggle grew even worse when a difference developed over the boundary between Texas and Mexico. Texans claimed the Rio Grande as their western and southern boundary line and Polk accepted this claim.
In 1845 Polk sent a little ground forces under General Zackary Taylor to protect Texas from a possible Mexican invasion. In the interim Americans were besides increasing their involvement in California, which belonged to Mexico, but Polk still intended to do war on Mexico to get that land. In the interim Congress recognizes the war bing between Mexico and the U.S. and raising the resources, money and supplies necessary for the war. Although the ballot in favour of war was greater, the world was that Congress had their uncertainties, since most Northerners believed that the Mexican War was a southern secret plan to spread out bondage into new districts from Mexico. Slavery became an issue for the immature president, going unpopular to those who supported it. Abolitionists badly criticized him as a tool for the “ Slave Power. ” Polk really believed that he believed bondage could non be in the districts won from Mexico, although he refused to O.K. the Wilmot Proviso that would prohibit it at that place. As a consequence Polk argued to widen the Missouri Compromise line alternatively to the Pacific Ocean, forbiding the enlargement of bondage, every bit good as below the line. President Polk shortly became ill-defined about his precedences and continued to promote those who demanded that the U.S. take over much of Mexico.
Then on February 2, 1848, Nicholas Trist a particular presidential representative for Polk, had eventually reached understanding with the new Mexican authorities with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, by which Mexico agreed to yield California and New Mexico to the United States and admit the Rio Grande as the boundary of Texas. This makes significantly more land mass and district for the state.
In decision, Polk was one of youngest yet difficult working president yet, mentioning to some as the “ dark Equus caballus ” campaigner or “ Young Hickory ” because he would pass much clip with Andrew Jackson whose moniker was “ Old Hickory. ” Polk reminded the state that he would allow no intercession in the western hemisphere by non-American powers. He demanded that Great Britain cede all of the disputed Oregon Territory up to the 54-40 line during his election run. After presuming office, he settled for a via media that gave the United States land up the 49th analogue. Sadly with every great hero born, finally comes an terminal. Fighting with his wellness, Polk left the white house in 1849. In less than one twelvemonth after he resigned as President Polk died of Cholera in the province that he governed, Tennessee. Although it ‘s been five old ages since his decease, we will ne’er bury such an honest adult male as him and these inspiring words, “ Well may the boldest fright and the wisest tremble when incurring duties on which may depend our state ‘s peace and prosperity, and in some degree the hopes and felicity of the whole human household. ”
Web Cited
- Pletcher, David M. “ James K. Polk. ” Profiles of U.S. Presidents. 2010. Advameg, Inc. , Web. 13 Jan 2010. & A ; lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.presidentprofiles.com/Washington-Johnson/Polk-James-K.html & A ; gt ; .
- Cromex Technologies, . “ James K. Polk. ” The World Almanac. 2010. Infobase Publishing, Web. 13 Jan 2010. & A ; lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.worldalmanacforkids.com/WAKI-ViewArticle.aspx? pin=wwwwak-326 & A ; article_id=715 & A ; chapter_id=15 & A ; chapter_title=United_States & A ; article_title=Polk, _James_Knox & A ; gt ; .
- The State Library of North Carolina, . “ James K. Polk. ” Encyclopedia. 06/01/2009. Branch of the State Library of North Carolina, Web. 13 Jan 2010. & A ; lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/nc/bio/public/POLK.HTM & A ; gt ; .
