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James Knox Polk (/ p oʊ k /; [1] November 2, 1795 – June 15, 1849) was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849.A protégé of Andrew Jackson and a member of the Democratic Party, he was an advocate of Jacksonian democracy and extending the territory of the United States.
In his first annual address, Polk emphasized the country’s prosperity and shared his vision for America's expansion, particularly regarding the annexation of Texas, Manifest Destiny, and the settlement of the Oregon Territory. In attendance were House Speaker John W. Davis and Vice President George M. Dallas.
This is an accepted version of this page This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 9 January 2025. Cultural belief of 19th-century American expansionists For other uses, see Manifest Destiny (disambiguation). American Progress (1872) by John Gast is an allegorical representation of the modernization of the new west. Columbia, a personification of the United States, is shown leading ...
The convention instead chose James K. Polk, former Governor of Tennessee and Speaker. He was the first successful dark horse for the presidency. Polk ran on a platform embracing popular commitment to expansion, often referred to as Manifest Destiny. Tyler dropped out of the race and endorsed Polk.
The Democratic candidate, James K. Polk, invoked the popular theme of manifest destiny and appealed to voters' expansionist sentiments in pressing for annexation, and defeated the Whig candidate, Henry Clay. Polk then sent the British government an offer to agree on a partition along the 49th parallel (which had been previously offered).
A close ally of Andrew Jackson, Polk's presidency reflected his adherence to the ideals of Jacksonian democracy and manifest destiny. Polk was the last strong pre- Civil War president, having met during his four years in office every major domestic and foreign policy goal set during his campaign and the transition to his administration.
It was also used to threaten war with Britain, but President Polk negotiated a compromise that divided the Oregon Country half and half. Merk concludes: From the outset Manifest Destiny—vast in program, in its sense of continentalism—was slight in support. It lacked national, sectional, or party following commensurate with its bigness.
Before US President James K. Polk took office in 1845, the US Congress approved the annexation of Texas.After the annexation, Polk wished to affirm control of the region of Texas between the Nueces River, where Mexico claimed Texas's southern border to be, and the Rio Grande, where Texas declared the border to be when they declared independence from Mexico in 1836.