James Knox Polk, a candidate of the Democratic Party in 1844, became the US president between 1845 and1849; however, he remains largely forgotten today, in the popular US imagination, because memories concerning his presidency had been overcome by memories of the most famous presidents like Abraham Lincoln. Remembrance of Polk as the 11th U.S president can be more despised than loved by many, because, as a leader, he resorted to expand the US territory by all means. His presidency deserves scrutiny, since he oversaw an era of intense internal agreement in the nation that led to the outbreak of the Civil War in the 19th century. He served a one-term presidency, and his predecessor was John Tyler.…
James K. Polk was involved in politics for much of his life, but he probably wouldn't have predicted that he would become the 11th president of the United States. Polk was the leading contender of the Democratic nomination for vice president when he was nominated to run for president. Much of his popularity can be attributed to his desire to expand the territory controlled by the U.S.. Polk was not well known at the time, and when he became the president he was referred to as the first "dark horse" president. President James K. Polk was in office from 1845-1849 and he was the last strong president in office prior to the Civil War ("James K. Polk"). Polk's strong cabinet, along with help from a Democratic…
- Polk describes his perspective on the war with Mexico he explains that he originally tried to negotiate peacefully with Mexico by sending in various people to negotiate with the Mexican government and governor such as Mr. Slidell. But the Mexican government never negotiated with the USA delegates send to the Mexico.…
James Knox Polk was born in Pineville and graduated with honors in 1818 from the University of North Carolina. Leaving his law practice behind, he served in the Tennessee legislature, where he became friends with Andrew Jackson. Polk moved from the Tennessee legislature to the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1825 to 1839 and speaker of the house. He left the house of representatives to become governor of Tennessee.…
Polk wanted California for America before anyone else could get it and many didn't want war, but war was the only answer to Polk…
Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th president from 1877- 1881. The Compromise of 1877, which was a compromise for the removal of northern troops from the south, also to help the south become industrialized, and to begin another construction of a new transcontinental railroad. It also awarded him to become the president. (Millercenter.org) Also, “His appointments did not favor party loyalty as much as competence, and he made an executive order that government employees could not be solicited for party campaign funds.” (pbs.org) Because he fought in the civil war, and he was from Ohio, he believed that everyone was born equal and that he wanted everyone to get along. Instead of asking for federal aid to build the new railroad, he asked for federal aid for education. He “believed that education was the key to a more unified country.” and that “universal suffrage should rest upon univewrsal education.” (Millercenter.org) From this, he fought for the 15th amendment to become in effect, it would guarantee freed men the right to vote.…
James Knox Polk was born near the Little Sugar Creek in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in 1795. His childhood was tumultuous and unconventional, and several events and themes in his childhood undoubtedly helped shape the powerful personality of the future president. One thing is certain, however- his early life was highly influential in his political beliefs; they initially mirrored that of his family, but then matured into their final form- Jacksonian Democracy. (Seigenthaler 11)…
“President Polk as a Southern Sectionalist” in A Companion to the Antebellum Presidents, 1837-1861. Edited by Joel Silbey (Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, Forthcoming 2012)…
Born on November 2, 1795, in Mecklenburg, North Carolina (A+E), James K. Polk moved to Columbia, Tennessee, at age 11 (Britannica). He graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina in 1818 (White House). He passed the bar exam in 1920 and opened a law practice in Columbia. Polk entered politics in 1823, when he served in the Tennessee State Legislature. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1825 (A+E). He was part of the House of Representatives for 14 years and was speaker for 4 of those years. James K. Polk was America's best president. He became president in 1844 and accomplished all of his major goals during his one term in office, such as expanding U.S. territory, establishing an independent Treasury, and reducing the tariffs.…
The presidency of James Knox Polk was a memorable one. He was known as America’s first dark horse candidate, and later he was called the only strong commander in chief between Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln (Greenstein 14). Yet, many historians still write him off but he was by no means insignificant. Now, he may have not been as charismatic as Roosevelt or Reagan but charisma does not mean greatness. Polk was without questions one of the most ambitious and successful presidents in history. In four short years, his one term as president (1845-1849), the things that Polk accomplished was nonetheless astonishing. Polk bears the responsibility for reshaping the boundaries of the United States continentally through negotiation, war and policy…
Sarah, his wife, lived as a widow on their Hermitage plantation in Nashville TN for 42 more years. As a ardent “manifest destiny” proponent, President Polk, who occupied the White House for only one term from 1845-1849, added Texas to the Union, diplomatically outfoxed the British and Russians out of the Oregon territory, and gained California as well as most of the Southwest during the Mexican War. These annexations of the West awakened the travel urge for thousands of settlers to relocate by way of the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails, extending from Independence, Missouri to the Columbia River in Oregon, and south toward New Mexico. To this day, it remains an historic enigma that President Polk is considered one of the most underrated Presidents in American…
Santa Anna might be looked at like an evil menace in Texas, but in Mexico Santa Anna is looked at like a hero. Santa Anna was also the head of the government on 11 different occasions. He also had the nickname “Napoleon of the West”.The choices made by Sam Houston, Santa Anna, David Crockett, James Bowie, and William B. Travis, determined who would win this war.…
President Hayes was a reformer who began the achievements that led to service reform and tried to bring together the divisions that led to the previous American Civil War. When he was president, he managed to end the Reconstruction. Hayes practiced law in Fremont, Ohio and then when the Civil War began he ended his political career and joined the Union Army. After the war, he then served in the United States Congress as a Republican. Rutherford B. Hayes left Congress to run for Governor of Ohio and served three terms as a governor. Hayes was elected President in 1876 in one of the most belligerent elections in American history. He won the election by electoral votes with the Compromise of 1877. This compromised consisted of Hayes promising the Democrats to end military occupation of the South. President Rutherford B. Hayes had many strong view points and he pushed his views throughout his administration.…
Webster argued that the war with Mexico and the admission of new states would be horrible. This was his own opinion, but many individuals during this time period felt the way that he did. Webster talks of what the president has his mind set on and how that mindset cannot be changed. This is viewed as a problem that Webster can not get over, he feels that the president should listen to the people and not be caught up in his own mindset. The mindset of the president was one that was given to him by many of the people of the United States, but was it the majority of the people? Webster never discusses this with his readers. This may be for certain reasons; maybe the majority did feel the need for expansion. Webster would have hurt his own argument for him to put that in this article.…
James K. Polk was born on a family farm in North Carolina on November 2nd 1795. When he was ten he and his family traveled by wagon to the western area of Tennessee to create a plantation, where they did very well. They were stable financially and had thousands of acres and over fifty slaves. James Polk was homeschooled and when he finished, he turned to his family farm for work. At age twenty Polk decided to continue his education at the University of North Carolina. He graduated in 1818. In 1825 Polk won election to the United States House of Representatives where he served seven terms. He became speaker of the house in 1835. Polk held this position for four years. In 1839 Polk was elected the governor of Tennessee. He then tried to run again in 1841 and 1843 but lost both times. After his years of running as a governor, Polk decided to run for president. He won in 1844. During the election Polk was all for the annexation of Texas, but his opponent Henry Clay opposed it. This made the votes tight and James K. Polk won by one of the thinnest margins in history. Polk’s presidency was very productive and played a large part in the growth of the United States. He retired after a single term although he could have easily won reelection. Just a few months after the end of his presidency Polk died of cholera, an intestinal disease that was very fatal. It was June 15th, 1849 and he was at the age of fifty-three.…