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Fun facts about us presidents11/2/2023 With the Oregon Treaty of 1846, Polk managed another significant land acquisition–this time without going to war–when his administration diplomatically settled a border dispute with the British and gained full control of the present-day states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, as well as parts of Montana and Wyoming. victory, the war proved controversial and reignited the slavery extension debate that would ultimately result in the American Civil War in the 1860s.) It also recognized the Rio Grande as America’s southern border and, in exchange for $15 million, ceded the land that makes up all or parts of present-day California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The United States won the two-year battle, and as a result, Mexico relinquished its claims to Texas. After the United States sent troops to a disputed border region around the Rio Grande River, the Mexican-American War (1846-48) broke out. This move led to a breakdown in diplomatic relations with Mexico (from which Texas had revolted in 1836). In 1845, the United States completed its annexation of Texas, which became the 28th state on December 29. He was a champion of manifest destiny-the belief that the United States was fated to expand across the North American continent-and by the end of his four years in office, the nation extended, for the first time, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Treasury, secure the Oregon Territory and acquire the territories of California and New Mexico from Mexico. A workaholic, America’s new chief executive set an ambitious agenda with four major goals: cut tariffs, reestablish an independent U.S. James Polk as PresidentĪt age 49, James Polk was younger than any previous president when he entered the White House. He narrowly won the presidency with 49.5 percent of the popular vote and an electoral margin of 170-105. However, Polk’s expansionist platform favoring the annexation of Texas appealed to voters. Polk?”-an allusion to the fact that Polk was not well known outside the world of politics. The Whigs used the campaign slogan “Who is James K. Senator Henry Clay (1777-1852), a Kentuckian and a founder of the Whig Party. In the general election, Polk ran against U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, was chosen as Polk’s running mate. Polk thus became America’s first dark horse presidential candidate. He emerged as a compromise candidate after the more likely choice, former president Martin Van Buren (1782-1862), who had lost his reelection bid in 1840, failed to secure the party’s nomination. In 1844, James Polk unexpectedly became the Democrats’ nominee for president. He ran for reelection in 1841 and lost another run for the governorship in 1843 also ended in defeat. Polk left Congress in 1839 to become governor of Tennessee. Polk later earned the nickname “Young Hickory,” a reference to his mentor Jackson, who was dubbed “Old Hickory” for his toughness. Polk favored states’ rights and supported Jackson’s plan to dismantle the Bank of the United States and replace it with a decentralized government banking system. In Congress, Polk was a protégé of America’s seventh president, Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), a fellow Democrat and Tennessean who was in the White House from 1829 to 1837. House of Representatives, where he would serve seven terms and act as speaker of the House from 1835 to 1839. In 1825, Tennessee voters elected James Polk to the U.S. As first lady, she was a charming and popular hostess, although she banned hard liquor from the White House and eschewed dancing, the theater and horse races. The couple never had children, and Sarah Polk became her husband’s close advisor throughout his political career. In 1824, Polk married Sarah Childress (1803-91), a well-educated Tennessean and devout Presbyterian from a wealthy family. He entered politics in 1823 when he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives.ĭid you know? In addition to being nicknamed "Young Hickory," Polk, an eloquent orator who was small in stature, was dubbed "Napoleon of the Stump." He was admitted to the bar in 1820 and opened a law practice in Columbia. A top student, Polk graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1818 and studied law under a leading Nashville attorney.
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