James K. Polk
James K. Polk was the 11th President of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. Known for his role in the expansion of U.S. territory, Polk was a key figure in the era of Manifest Destiny. Here are some key points about his life and presidency:
- Birth and Early Life: Born on November 2, 1795, in Pineville, North Carolina, Polk was the eldest of ten children. His father, Samuel Polk, was a prosperous farmer and surveyor, while his mother, Jane Knox Polk, was a descendant of John Knox, the Scottish reformer.
- Education: Polk graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1818, where he excelled academically.
- Political Career:
- Presidency:
- Polk was a dark horse candidate for the presidency in 1844. He was nominated by the Democratic Party after several ballots and went on to defeat Henry Clay of the Whig Party.
- His presidency was marked by significant territorial expansion:
- Texas Annexation: Polk facilitated the annexation of Texas into the Union, which was one of his major campaign promises.
- Mexican-American War: This conflict, fought from 1846 to 1848, resulted in the U.S. gaining vast territories in the Southwest, including California, New Mexico, and parts of Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, and Colorado.
- Oregon Territory: Through negotiations with Great Britain, Polk secured the Oregon Treaty of 1846, setting the boundary between British and U.S. territory at the 49th parallel.
- Polk promised not to run for a second term and adhered to this promise, retiring after his term ended.
- Post-Presidency and Death: After leaving office, Polk returned to Nashville, Tennessee. His health rapidly declined, and he died on June 15, 1849, likely from cholera, just months after leaving the presidency.
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