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James K. Polk was considered by many to be the most successful president to have ever held office. Polk’s intelligence, ethos, and command during his presidency were contributing factors to a successful term in the White House in which he accomplished every goal he set forth in his inaugural address. With an extremely successful political career, as well as his confident actions as the United States’ Commander and Chief, James K. Polk’s importance became engrained in American history after serving only one term in office.
The United State’s 11th president, James Knox Polk, was born on November 2, 1795, in a small agricultural town of North Carolina known as Pineville. His parents, Samuel and Jane Polk, were the posterity of Scottish families who immigrated to America sometime in the 17th century. Since “he was the oldest of ten children” (Gale), some could argue that Polk’s leadership characteristics were innate. Almost contradictory to this assertive leader’s future, the young Polk’s body was frail and most certainly inadequate for harsh manual labor. Because of this physical detriment, Polk side stepped the life of a hard worker and strolled right into preparatory studies in the state of Tennessee. After completing preparatory school, Polk soon began further studies at North Carolina University in 1815, in which he graduated with top honors in the classics and math in 1818. Upon completion of a commendable college endeavor, the young soon to be president began to study law under the guidance of Felix Grundy, “a successful lawyer who also had served as a member of the U.S. Congress” (Carnegie and Howes 163). The young apprentice was very proficient at his expertise and practiced law in Columbia for three years as well as establi...
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...allowing Texas’ admission into the Union. The Mexican-American War, 1846-1848, was the primary advocate for the gain of more than 1 million miles to the United States; the result of which was the future formation of today’s states such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. This attainment of such a large portion of land ushered in one of the greatest immigrations in American history in the famous 1849 Gold Rush. Polk’s presidency and the political career leading up to it was so successful it was coined the “Fabulous 40s.” From modest upbringings to his successful role as an American leader, Polk exhibited outstanding presidential qualities. Unquestionable expertise, profound character, and unassailable leadership led James Knox Polk to become the most successful American leader and set the standard for future presidents to come.
James K. Polk was one of many that felt extremely strong about Texas joining the Union. Silbey uses direct quotes from politicians gives a deeper outlook into Texas annexation. “That there is a large majority who would be glad to see Texas, in some way or another, united to this country, there can be no doubt.” (Silbey 81) Shortly after this widespread idea of Texas joining the country Congress was overwhelmed with bills to make Texas’s entry accomplished.
Although many Americans did not take the war seriously, the Mexican-American War of 1846 was responsible for the thousands of both Mexican and American deaths, and permanently left a scar on the the U.S’ relationship with Mexico. In 1846, the U.S declared war on Mexico after shots were fired at American soldiers on the “Texas side” of the Rio Grande, which the Americans believed was the border between Mexico and the U.S. The war was very controversial, and many Americans vigorously opposed President Polk’s decision to declare war. However after winning the war, the U.S gained most of Mexico’s territory in the West, completing the Manifest Destiny (BGE). Was the U.S. right to go to war with Mexico? The United States were unjustified in going
“Perhaps no other president during the first half of the 1800’s exerted as much of an impact on U.S domestic affairs regarding land acquisition as the eleventh chief executive, James K Polk. As president he finalized the annexation of Texas, and created a war with Mexico that transferred over 1.2 million acres of land to the U.S., now five states of the American Southwest. He also brokered a deal with Great Britain to purchase the state of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Polk is thus credited with expanding the domestic terrain of the United States, but at the expense of Native Americans who lost their land, and African Americans who were taken as slaves to these new states and territories.” I rate president Polk as a high president. He did the necessary to expand Southwestward. With political forcefulness, President Polk pursued his ambitious goals. Texas joined the country as the 28th state during his first year in office. Tense negotiations with Great Britain concluded with American annexation of the Oregon Territory. Following a controversial two year war, Mexico ceded New Mexico and California to the United States. The Polk administration also achieved its major economic objectives by lowering tariffs and establishing an independent Federal Treasury. “He felt that government plans to fund internal improvements was
Texas won independence from Mexico in 1836. In the year 1844, James K. Polk was elected president. He was a strong believer in manifest destiny. Congress decided to annex Texas into the United States. Mexico felt that America stole Texas from them.
Throughout the years, we have had a total of forty-five presidents. Those of all which have all had both numerous successes and failures. An interesting president to evaluate, however, is Gerald Ford. He was not in office for very long but left still managed to leave a clear impact on the United States.
James K. Polk was the most successful president in American history. Polk fulfilled all his campaign promises. During his administration Polk acquired California from Mexico, settled the Oregon dispute, lowered tariffs, established a sub-treasury, and retired from office after one term.
Out of the 43 presidents that have served for the United States, the most recognizable and exceptional president by far was Abraham Lincoln. Through childhood, Lincoln seemed always interested in politics, not knowing how much publicity and significance he would get. The three authors of the Grace Bedell and the President’s Beard, Lincoln’s Famous Address, and The Rise of a President all agree with the fact that Lincoln was a fanonimal president. During just four years of office, Lincoln made a memorable picture for himself, led a war between many different parts of the U. S., and made one of the greatest speeches the nation has ever seen.
success. In many aspects, he can be regarded as the first modern president, as he confronted and
Just before Polk's presidency Texas had freed itself from Mexican rule and desired American annexation. This desire came from thousands of former American citizens that settled in Texas in the 1820s. This was due to the Mexican government supplying huge land grants to entice new settlers to Texas and secure its northern border from America. The Mexican government failed to realize the true impact that their persuasion of Americans for settlement would cause. In 1830, Mexico finally put a freeze on all American immigration due to the large number of American settlers and their certain revolution. In 1836, The Republic of Texas was est...
Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, can be listed among the United States’. the greatest leaders of the world. He had many different personal skills which in turn helped him to become one of the presidents of our nation. Some of these skills include being a lawyer, judge, politician, war hero, and most importantly, a great leader. Andrew Jackson can be listed among the great men that formed this country to what it is today.
The years 1840 to 1890 were a period of great growth for the United States. It was during this time period that the United states came to the conclusion that it had a manifest destiny, that is, it was commanded by god to someday occupy the entire North American continent. One of the most ardent followers of this belief was President James K. Polk. He felt that the United States had the right to whatever amount of territory it chose to, and in doing this the United States was actually doing a favor for the land it seized, by introducing it to the highly advanced culture and way of life of Americans. Shortly after his election he annexed Texas. This added a great amount of land to the United States, but more was to follow. The Oregon Territory became a part of the United States is 1846, followed by the Mexican Cession in 1848 and the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. At this point the United States had accomplished its manifest destiny, it reached from east to west, from sea to shining sea. Now that the lands it so desired were finally there, the United States faced a new problem- how to get its people to settle these lands so they would actually be worth having. Realistically, it is great to have a lot of land, but if the land is unpopulated and undeveloped, it really isn't worth much. And the government of the United States knew this. One of the reasons that many did not choose to settle there immediately was that the lands were quite simply in the middle of nowhere. They were surrounded by mountains, inhabited by hostile Indians, and poor for farming. Because of these geographical conditions, the government was forced to intervene to coax its citizens into settling the new lands. Basically the lands were not settled because they were available, they were settled because of various schemes the government concocted to make them seem desirable.
James Monroe, the fifth president of the U.S., ran this country smoothly with a level head. He was a slow thinker, who looked at all the possibilities before making a decision. He was a genuine person, who seemed more normal than any who came before him. Although normal, he truly had a heart for his country that only a few could mimic (American Revolution). Overall James Monroe accomplished many things before his presidency, then went on to help maintain and produce growth like the country has never seen.
James K. Polk was an accomplished, hardworking president. Although Polk lacked charm and was known for his boring disposition, few could match his record of acquired land for the U.S. Polk is most well known for the fact that he is the only President to have sketched out a set of goals in his first terms and leave office having accomplished them.
Before the Gold rush, the United States was at war with Mexico over territory. If it had not been for the Treaty of Guadalupe in 1848 the United States might have turned out differently than it currently is today. The Treaty of Guadalupe was signed on February 2, 1848 and ended the Mexican-American war. Mexico transferred nearly half of their land to the U.S. (Rohrbough 12). Some Americans felt it was part of Manifest Destiny, especially by believer President James Polk (Smith, Orsi, and Rawls 26). The Treaty of Guadalupe guaranteed that any Mexican citizen in California who did not want to continue their allegiance to Mexico would within a year be granted the automatic “title and rights of citizens...
During this Foreign Service, Buchanan’s name was mentioned as the Democratic Party’s for the 1856 Presidential Election. Buchanan had strived for this election in the three previous elections; it had seemed to pass over him. But by 1856, Buchanan was ready to retire from public service and only accepted the nomination out of duty and obligation. Buchanan didn’t actively campaign for the presidency, but instead remained quietly at home in Wheatland.