James+K.+Polk

=James K. Polk=

toc James K. Polk, also known as the Dark Horse, was the 11th President. He was 49 when he became President and at the time he was the youngest President. James K. Polk was a very strong supporter of Andrew Jackson. He was the first president to not run for a second term. He was the last strong President before the Civil War.

Early Life
James K. Polk was born on November 2,1795 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina. He was a honors student and when he graduated from The University of North Carolina in 1818. James K. Polk then went on to serve in the Tennessee legislature for four years. During his time in the Tennessee legislature he became a good friend of Andrew Jackson. He was the Speaker and he then left to then become Governor of Tennessee. For a while he was the leading Democratic Vice President nominee in 1844, he did not when the nomination though.

Nomination
in 1844 James K. Polk was nominated for president on the ninth ballot. One of the bigger reasons he was nominated was that the supported the manifest destiny. this is the idea that eventually the entire content will be America. He also was felt very strongly about annexing Texas and he felt strongly about some how acquiring California. Even before Mr. Polk could take office Congress passed a joint resolution that approved the annexation of Texas.

Oregon
When James K. Polk reached the Presidency he was very interested in getting all of Oregon. This would have been impossible without war, which James K. Polk did not want. He offered the 54 degree latitude down. He ended up settling for the 49 degree latitude except for the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The agreement treaty was signed in 1846.

New Mexico and Texas
James K. Polk also wanted to obtain New Mexico and California from Mexico. He sent a representative to the Mexican government to tell them America would offer 20 million dollars for both states but, the representative was never even aloud to talk with them.To persuade them to talk with them, General Zachary Taylor was sent with troops. The Mexicans took this as a sign of aggression. They attacked Taylor's army. Congress declared war. America won many times and finally captured Mexico City. In 1848 Mexico finally gave up New Mexico and California for 15 million dollars.

Life After Presidency
James K. Polk added a great amount of land to the U.S., but the land he started an argument over the expansion of slavery. When president Polk left office he was in bad health from all the work and stress he had endured in office. James K. Polk died in June of 1849.

Refrences
Garraty A,. John.The Story of America.Austin,New York,Orlando,Chicago,Atlanta,San Fransisco,Boston,Dallas,Toronto,London: Holt,Rinehart,and Winston,1994.

James K. Polk. March 28, 2009

Baliles L, Gerald. James Knox Polk. Miller Center of Public Affairs University of Virginia. April 4, 2009.