The 11th President of The United State, James K. Polk, President of The United States

James K. Polk: Often referred to as the President of the "dark horse" James K. Polk was the last of Jacksonian to sit in the White House, and the last strong president until the Civil War. He was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1795. Studious and good for the industry, Polk graduated with honors in 1818 from the University of North Carolina. As a young lawyer, he entered politics, serving in the Tennessee legislature, and friend of Andrew Jackson became. In the House of Representatives, Polk was the chief lieutenant of Jackson in the War of Banking. He served as spokesman between 1835 and 1839, retiring to become governor of Tennessee. Until circumstances raised Polk's ambitions, he was a leading contender for the Democratic nomination for Vice President in 1844. Both Martin Van Buren, who was expected to win the Democratic nomination for president, and Henry Clay, who should be the candidate Whig, tried to take the expansionist campaign theme declaring themselves opposed to the annexation of Texas. Polk, however, publicly hit Texas should be re-attached and all recovered Oregon.

An aged Jackson, sensing correctly that people favored expansion, urged the election of a candidate committed to "Manifest Destiny" of the nation. "" This view prevailed at the Democratic convention, where Polk was nominated in the ninth ballot.

"Who is James K. Polk?" The Whigs sneered. Democrats replied Polk was the candidate who was proposed for expansion. He connected the theme of Texas, popular in the south to the Oregon question, attractive in the north. Polk also favorecó acquire California. Even before he could take office, Congress passed a joint resolution offering annexation to Texas. As they did him relegated to Polk the possibility of war with Mexico, who soon broke diplomatic relations. In their position on Oregon, the President seemed to risk a war with Britain as well. The Democratic platform of 1844, claiming the entire area of Oregon, California boundary north to latitude 54'40 ', to the southern boundary of Russian Alaska. Extremists proclaimed "Fifty-four Forty or Fight" which means 54-40 or fight, but Polk, the atnto of diplomatic realities, knew that in no short of war was likely to get around Oregon. Fortunately, neither he nor the British wanted a war.

He offered a deal, extending the Canadian boundary along the 49th parallel, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific. When the British minister declined, Polk reasserted the American claim to the entire area. Finally, the British fixed the 49th parallel, except for the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The treaty was signed in 1846. The acquisition of California still difficult. Polk sent a message to offer Mexico up to $ 20,000,000, plus settlement of damage claims due to Americans in exchange for California and New Mexico. Since Mexican leader could cede half his country and still remain in power, Polk message was not received. To bring pressure, Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to the disputed area in the Rio Grande. Troops to Mexico, this was aggression, and attacked Taylor's forces. Congress declared war and, despite much Northern opposition, supported the military operations. American forces won repeated victories and occupied Mexico City. Finally, in 1848, Mexico ceded New Mexico and California in return for $ 15,000,000 and American assumption of the damage claims. President Polk added a vast area to the United States, but its acquisition precipitated a bitter fight between the north and south on the extension of slavery. Polk, leaving office with his health undermined the hard work, died in June 1849.