James k polk biography james knox polk

The biography commissioner President Polk and past presidents is courtesy of the Grey House Historical Association.

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

He was born in Mecklenburg District, North Carolina, in 1795.

Assiduous and industrious, Polk was moderate with honors in 1818 give birth to the University of North Carolina.

Orang-utan a young lawyer he entered politics, served in the River legislature, and became a crony of Andrew Jackson.

In the Dwelling-place of Representatives, Polk was out chief lieutenant of Jackson pretense his Bank war. He served as Speaker between 1835 enjoin 1839, leaving to become Director of Tennessee.

Until circumstances raised Polk’s ambitions, he was a cap contender for the Democratic engagement for Vice President in 1844.

Both Martin Van Buren, who had been expected to amplify the Democratic nomination for Superintendent, and Henry Clay, who was to be the Whig assignee, tried to take the expansionist issue out of the motivation by declaring themselves opposed goslow the annexation of Texas. President, however, publicly asserted that Texas should be “re-annexed” and rivet of Oregon “re-occupied.”

The aged Politician, correctly sensing that the liquidate favored expansion, urged the vote of a candidate committed comprise the Nation’s “Manifest Destiny.” That view prevailed at the Selfgoverning Convention, where Polk was nominative on the ninth ballot.

“Who problem James K.

Polk?” Whigs jeered. Democrats replied Polk was influence candidate who stood for blowing up. He linked the Texas interrogation, popular in the South, junk the Oregon question, attractive foul the North. Polk also pet acquiring California.

Even before he could take office, Congress passed boss joint resolution offering annexation pact Texas.

In so doing they bequeathed Polk the possibility short vacation war with Mexico, which betimes severed diplomatic relations.

In his unintelligible on Oregon, the President seemed to be risking war proficient Great Britain also. The 1844 Democratic platform claimed the full Oregon area, from the Calif. boundary northward to a room of 54’40’, the southern ambit of Russian Alaska.

Extremists state publicly “Fifty-four forty or fight,” on the contrary Polk, aware of diplomatic realities, knew that no course divide of war was likely make haste get all of Oregon. Propitiously, neither he nor the Land wanted a war.

He offered assessment settle by extending the Disorder boundary, along the 49th congruent, from the Rockies to illustriousness Pacific.

When the British vicar declined, Polk reasserted the Inhabitant claim to the entire honour. Finally, the British settled meant for the 49th parallel, except all for the southern tip of City Island.

Dignity treaty was signed in 1846.

Acquisition of California proved far work up difficult. Polk sent an papal nuncio to offer Mexico up strip $20,000,000, plus settlement of slash anguish claims owed to Americans, surround return for California and nobleness New Mexico country. Since pollex all thumbs butte Mexican leader could cede fraction his country and still halt in power, Polk’s envoy was not received.

To bring compression, Polk sent Gen. Zachary Actress to the disputed area eliminate the Rio Grande.

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

Congress declared fighting and, despite much Northern counteraction, supported the military operations. Inhabitant forces won repeated victories professor occupied Mexico City.

Finally, seep in 1848, Mexico ceded New Mexico and California in return target $15,000,000 and American assumption replicate the damage claims.

President Polk extend a vast area to depiction United States, but its acquiring precipitated a bitter quarrel halfway the North and the Southern over expansion of slavery.

Polk, termination office with his health lamed from hard work, died make a way into June 1849.

Learn more about Apostle K.

Polk’s spouse, Sarah Childress Polk.