James+K.+Polk

=﻿ John Willcox-= =James K. Polk - 1845-1849 - Democrat =

Life Before Election:
 * James K. Polk was born on November 2, 1975 in NC
 * He moved to Tennessee at age 10
 * He had spent most of his life focused upon politics.
 * From 1823-1825 he was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
 * From 1825-1839 he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives
 * From 1839-1841 he became the Governor of Tennessee

Presidency


 * James K. Polk had a very busy 4 years in office
 * 1846 - He decided to fix the boundary issue between the U.S. and Great Britain within the Oregon Territory
 * Signed what is known as the Oregon Treaty seeding Washington and Oregon to U.S. and Vancouver to Great Britain
 * Most of his time was consumed by the Mexican War. (1846-1848)
 * He tried to come to an agreement with Mexico that the Border should be set at Rio Grande River.
 * After they disagreed, he sent troops down there to basically force a border conflict and then Declarated War against Mexico.
 * America quickly destroyed the Mexican Army and then Signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (ending the war)
 * Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo- Border issue disputed at Rio Grande, Texas was annexated, U.S. gained a lot of territory in the west, Mexico cut in half geographically, America would give $15 Million for the western Territories

Legacy


 * After Thomas Jefferson, James K Polk is known for Gaining more land for America than any other President (big contributor to Manifest Destiny)
 * Also he was a very effiecent and affective leader of the Army during the Mexican American War

James K. Polk's presidency could be called the most important presidency of U.S. history for a couple different reasons. He was very effiecent and set goals he could achieve. During the Mexican- American he was able to make quick work of the weak Mexican Army without any big Problems and gain Texas and territories western towards modern day California. Overall he is scene by many as the best one term president of all time and the last solid president before the civil war fiasco.