President Polk: The Early Years

The Antebellum period included many presidents, some greater than the others. When presented the question of who was the best president, there are multiple factors that can be used to determine this. The support from represented citizens, how effective their policies were, and the influence they had on their country during their term. While evaluating the qualities and accomplishments of each president, there are many that simply do not meet the requirements in being the idealistic leader of the Antebellum period and there a selected few that deal great competition against one another. Although it is difficult to come to the conclusion of which president is the best, thorough research and analyzation of each candidate can prove that George

James Knox Polk, born in Pineville, North Carolina on November 2, 1795 and died June 15, 1849 in Nashville, Tennessee. He served as the 17th speaker of the house of representatives (1835 - 1839). He later served as the 11th president of the United States (1845 - 1849), for the Democratic party, and said to be the “dark horse” candidate, defeating Henry Clay. In his election he promised to only serve one term and to accomplish four main goals

James Knox Polk a democrat and USA’s eleventh president was one the most effective leaders we’ve had, even though he only served for 1 term. During presidency, he had done a lot for our country. Nobody had expected him to accomplish four major goals in our government.

be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States” Presidents James Polk and Abraham Lincoln both dealt with war and relied on their Commander-in-Chief role during their presidencies. While believing in different political, economical, and social practices, Polk and Lincoln both used their role as Commander-in-Chief assertively, creating clear goals as to what they wanted to accomplish and how they were going to succeed.

He was the 11th president of the United States and was known as “young hickory”, and the first “dark horse”. James Knox Polk accomplished many things in his life. He served in the House of Representative, became governor of Tennessee, and became president of the United States. His achievements impacted the U.S and made it what it is today. For example he annexed Texas, lowered tariffs, established an independent Federal Treasury, went to war with Mexico, and added three states to the union. If James Polk did not become president, then there is a possibility that California, New Mexico and Oregon would not be a part of the United States.

During the 1844 presidential election Whig party signs boldly asked the question “Who is James K. Polk?” (Miller 2015) in reference to the supposed unknown status of the democratic candidate. The same question if often still asked today as he is an often overlooked president. While not as popular as Washington, Lincoln, or either of the Roosevelt’s, President James K. Polk nonetheless deserves a place among those considered the most successful presidents of the United States. By the end of his term the United States had grown by more than a million square miles, tariffs had been lowered, the country had come successfully through a war, and a new federal depository system had been established (Pletcher 2015). Due to all of these aspects of

During the years surrounding James K. Polk's presidency, the United States of America grew economically, socially, and most noticeably geographically. In this time period, the western boundaries of the Untied States would be expanded all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Many Americans in the 19th century believed that the acquisition of this territory to the west was their right and embraced the concept of "Manifest Destiny". This concept was the belief that America should stretch from sea to shining sea and it was all but inevitable. Under the cover of "Manifest Destiny", President Polk imposed his views of an aggressive imperialistic nation. Imperialism is the practice of extending the power and

James K. Polk was the eleventh President, from 1845 to 1849. James K. Polk had said in his inaugural address on March 4, 1845, “ The world has nothing to fear from military ambition in our government. “ He basically is saying that we as citizens and people in the world should not have any fear in military ambition from our government. Polk’s presidency reflected this statement by achieving his four main goals he set out to achieve during his presidency. The four main goals were to cut tariffs, reestablishing an independent U.S Treasury, securing the Oregon Territory, gaining the territories of California and New Mexico from Mexico. In ways that didn’t reflect the statement was that he caused war with Mexico for three years.

In addition, he was president of the United States for an unprecedented four terms in office. He took the nation through the Great Depression and World War II, which is an impressive feat.

War and saved the Union and efforts to abolish slavery. He is the only one during his time to be a

James K. Polk was born on November 2, 1795 in North Carolina, but quickly moved to Tennessee soon after. This is where Polk entered the world of politics by being elected into the Tennessee House of Representatives as a democrat, in 1823. Polk also became Governor of Tennessee in 1839, but that only lasted for one term, even though he ran for reelection in both 1841 and 1843. Suddenly, in 1844 Polk became the “compromise candidate” (History.com Staff) for the Democratic Party during the 1845 election. This was due to Polk seeming to appear at the top of the nominee list out if nowhere and since he was not well known in the states to begin with, he became known as “The Dark Horse Candidate” (History.com Staff)1. During the election Polk ended

He ensured the construction of the Panama Canal, won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War, reached a Gentleman’s Agreement on immigration with Japan, and conserved thousands of acres for national parks in the West. He used his leverage with the people and likeability to affect congress, and used his charm and geniality to influence foreign powers. He set the stage for the presidents who came after him in using the power of persuasion in the modern presidency. (Hargrove 98)

He was the youngest candidate to become president. He was the leader of the progressive movement. He was our twenty sixth president, he served from 09/14/1901 to 03/4/1909. He was a writer of thirty five books. He was New York 's thirty third governor. He was a naturalist. He was a war hero in the Spanish-American War. He was a member of rough riders. He trust busted forty corporations. He made pure food and drug act, and meat inspection act. He got the government to set a side forty two million acres for wildlife reverses, and national parks. He toke over the Panama Canal project after the french gave up on the Panama Canal project, and finish the Panama Canal project. He face is on Mt. Rushmore. He was a historian and an explorer. This amazing man was the great Theodore Roosevelt, which in fact was my favorite president by far.

The election of 1844 pitted James Polk, a Democrat expansionist, against Whig leader Henry Clay. One of Polk’s slogan was called, 54°40 or Flight, which supported pushing foreign troops past that latitude and out of the Oregon Territory. Fundamentally, that was jointly administered by the United States and British in Canada. Polk’s supporters also wanted the immediate annexation of Texas as well as expansion into the Mexican-claimed territories of New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Clay, too, favored expansion, but at a slower rate. He also hoped to avoid war by negotiating with Mexico and Britain for the land America wanted. The election was close, but in the end Polk won. In the last days of his administration, President Tyler proposed the annexation of Texas, arguing that Polk’s victory amounted to a mandate for annexation. The annexation vote was passed, the United States annexed Texas, and Mexico broke off diplomatic relations. Under these circumstances, war with Mexico seemed likely.

Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States of America, and the first President to have an assassination attempt plotted against him, is viewed as one of the most controversial figures in American History. Scenarios that prove of Jackson being a controversial figure during his presidency, include the Nullification Crisis, Bank War, and the Trail of Tears. These three scenarios dictate whether the content of Andrew Jackson’s character and whether he had a successful presidency or not.