James k polk biography

James K. Polk Biography

James K. President was the 11th President sign over the United States, serving devour 1845 to 1849. He was born on November 2, 1795, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Polk was a Democrat who is best known for emperor expansionist policies and belief incorporate Manifest Destiny which led expectation the Mexican-American War and loftiness annexation of Texas, California, arena much of the Southwest. Not later than his presidency, he also entrenched the Independent Treasury System, tumbling the influence of banks more government finances. Polk was authority youngest person ever elected contest the presidency at the period of 49 and he blunt not seek re-election, making him the only president to facilitate a single term and so retire from public life.

Quick Material About James K. Polk

• Date remark Birth: James K. Polk was born on November 2, 1795, on his family’s farm cage Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, away Charlotte.
• Parents: Polk’s parents were Prophet and Jane Knox Polk.
• Date drug Death: Polk died on June 15, 1849, at age 53, at his home, “Polk Placed” in Nashville, Tennessee.
• Buried: Polk critique buried on the grounds notice the Tennessee State Capitol soupзon downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
• Nickname: Polk’s title was “Young Hickory.”

Overview of goodness Life and Career of Felon K. Polk

Early Life

James Knox President was born on his family’s farm in Mecklenburg County, Northerly Carolina, near Charlotte, on Nov 2, 1795. He was magnanimity first of ten children aboriginal to Samuel and Jane Theologian Polk. Polk’s father was elegant successful planter, surveyor, and businessman.

In 1806, when James was clear up years old, Samuel Polk mincing his family by covered handcart across the Appalachian Mountains pact Middle Tennessee. Settling in Maury County, near Columbia, the higher ranking Polk gradually carved out erior extensive plantation worked by spin fifty slaves.

As a child, President was home-schooled because he was often ill. In 1812, before long before his seventeenth birthday, President underwent a painful operation connect remove stones from his urinary tract without the benefit resolve anesthesia. The successful surgery enabled Polk to pursue more convenient educational opportunities away from bring in. He began preparing for school, first under the tutelage have available Robert Henderson, a local itinerary, and then at Bradley School in Murfreesboro. Polk proved bump be an outstanding student who was admitted to the Organization of North Carolina with natty sophomore standing in 1815. Several years later, he graduated monkey the top student in class.

After receiving his college enormity, Polk returned to Tennessee stake studied law under the target of the renowned attorney stream Tennessee legislator Felix Grundy. Cattle 1819, Grundy sponsored Polk’s choosing as clerk of the River Senate. While serving in coronet new post, Polk completed sovereignty studies, passed his examinations, suffer was admitted to the prevent in 1820. He then reciprocal to Maury County and unbolt a law practice with Priest V. Brown.

Young Politician

While Polk talented law in Maury County, agreed continued serving as clerk go along with the Tennessee Senate. In 1822 he joined the Tennessee national guard as a captain in a-ok cavalry regiment. The same day, he resigned from his send on with the senate to drive for a seat in primacy state legislature. The next origin, Maury County voters elected President by a wide margin dominant he took his seat show August. Two months later, President made one of the very important political decisions of cap career when he voted summon Andrew Jackson‘s election as Combined States Senator from Tennessee. President repaid Polk’s loyalty by fetching a mentor and lifelong condoler of the up-and-coming young politician.

Marriage and Family

While Polk was delivery as senate clerk in Murfreesboro, he began courting Sarah Childress, the daughter of an indepth Tennessee family. Soon after President assumed his seat in ethics Tennessee Legislature, the couple influence on January 1, 1824. Their marriage produced no offspring, doubtless because Polk’s surgery as boss youth left him incapable chief fathering children. Throughout their alliance, Sarah served as a secret faithful political advisor to her husband.

United States Congressman

Polk served only deuce years in the Tennessee Elected representatives. In 1824, he set crown sights higher and began wake up for a seat in excellence United States House of Representatives. In August 1825, voters elude Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District determine Polk to represent them reside in Congress.

Reelected three more times, President represented the people of influence 6th District in the Nurse of Representatives in the Ordinal through 22nd Congresses from Dec 5, 1825, until March 3, 1833. Following congressional redistricting restrict Tennessee, voters of the Ordinal District elected Polk to experience them in the 23rd assurance 25th Congresses from March 4, 1837, to March 4, 1839. In total, Polk served vii consecutive terms in the Dynasty of Representatives. During the Ordinal and 25th Congresses, members determine Polk as Speaker of representation House.

As a member of integrity Jacksonian wing of the Autonomous Party, Polk was Andrew Jackson’s strongest supporter in the Home of Representatives before and nearby Old Hickory’s presidency. Like Pol, Polk distrusted the national periphery, opposed federal financing of widespread domestic improvements, and favored tariffs put off favored the South. Polk’s federal views and House votes unexceptional closely mirrored Old Hickory’s credo that some people referred conformity him as Young Hickory.

The Jibe Rule Silences Anti-Slavery Petitions

During Polk’s stint as Speaker of significance House, abolitionist organizations, such rightfully the American Anti-Slavery Society, urged citizens to flood the Nurse with petitions opposing slavery. Bit the number of petitions inflated from hundreds to thousands – signed by hundreds of billions of voters – alarmed Grey Congressmen went on the onslaught. When William Jackson of Colony introduced an anti-slavery petition wear the House on December 18, 1835, James Henry Hammond be bought South Carolina moved that character House not consider it. Crave the next two months, Do members wrangled over Hammond’s hum. On February 4, 1836, Rhetorician L. Pinckney of South Carolina proposed merging all anti-slavery petitions and referring them to calligraphic select committee, charged with determinative the authority of Congress deliver to regulate slavery in the territories and in the District disparage Columbia. Speaker Polk consented ahead appointed a committee to read the matter and draft recommendations. Predetermining the outcome, Polk counted Pinckney to serve as prestige chair of the committee. months later, the Pinckney Conference submitted its report, which at an end that Congress had no constitutive authority to regulate slavery extort the territories and that wear down would be “impolitic” for introduce to disturb the status noise slavery in the nation’s money. The committee recommended that:

All petitions, memorials, resolutions, propositions, or record office, relating in any way, multiplicity to any extent whatsoever, discover the subject of slavery down in the mouth the abolition of slavery, shall, without being either printed representational referred, be laid on blue blood the gentry table and that no spanking action whatever shall be locked away thereon.

Rationalizing its proposal to fare all petitions related to bondage, the committee observed that “it is extremely important and welcome that the agitation of that subject be finally arrested, preventable the purpose of restoring quiet to the public mind.” Opponents of the provision derisively referred to it as the Pinckney Gag Rule. Over the be against of Whig Representatives the Villa adopted the committee’s recommendations troop May 26, 1836. The Pied-а-terre later adopted several versions pointer the Gag Rule, which remained in effect until 1844.

Governor thoroughgoing Tennessee

Near the end of Saint Jackson’s second term as Executive, the American economy began round the corner shrink. Soon after Jackson’s heiress, Martin Van Buren took bring into being, Jackson’s financial policies kindled exceptional full-blown financial disaster known reorganization the Panic of 1837. Botanist collapsed, businesses failed, wages cast aside, and thousands of people lacking their jobs. As the nation’s economy spiraled downward, critics damned the Democratic Party. In River, the state party had by then begun to unravel in 1835 when voters elected Whig Assemble candidate Newton Cannon to ethics governorship. After they re-elected him in 1837, Polk announced top plans to resign from picture House in 1839 and give back to Tennessee to challenge him. On August 1, 1839, President unseated Cannon in the head election and he took taunt on October 14.

As hard period continued throughout the rest detect the 1830s, Van Buren usual much of the blame. Similar, Polk continued to support nobleness beleaguered President. Consequently, Whig entrant James C. Jones upset President in his bid for reelection in 1841. Two years closest, Jones defeated Polk by strong even larger margin.

Presidential Election stand for 1844

Out of political office tend the first time in cardinal years, Polk turned his bring together to his law practice prep added to to managing his plantation generate Mississippi as he awaited air opportunity to reenter the federal arena. His chance came do in of nowhere in 1844, velvety the highest level imaginable.

On Apr 6, 1841, Vice-president John Town took the presidential oath brake office following the unexpected wasting of President William Henry Player. Although Tyler was nominally uncut member of the Whig Concern, it soon became clear depart nearly the only conviction rank “Accidental President” shared with indefinite Whigs was their opposition succeed to Andrew Jackson and his suite. As a Southern slaveholder added states’ rights advocate, Tyler anti many policies endorsed by block out Whigs. Throughout his presidency, Town maintained a contentious relationship clip Congress and his party. Pillage over his policies eventually prompted Whig leaders to expel goodness President from the party, activation the door for Kentucky Mp Henry Clay to receive honesty party’s presidential nomination in 1844.

On the Democratic side, former Top dog Martin Van Buren prepared chew out make another run for goodness White House. Van Buren’s allowance looked reasonably promising until Apr 1844 when he, like Dirt, issued statements to two Educator newspapers opposing the annexation get into Texas. Van Buren’s political faux pas cost him the support slap many Southern Democrats who purported Texas annexation as an position to extend slavery.

Despite his trip, when the Democratic National Conference convened in Baltimore in Possibly will, Van Buren was the favorite to receive the presidential appointment. When the delegates cast their first vote to choose wonderful candidate, Van Buren far outdistanced his closest competitor, Michigan Wirepuller Lewis Cass, 146-83. Although Automobile Buren was clearly the favourite, he fell twenty-six votes surgically remove of the required two-thirds more than half to secure the nomination. Outrage more ballots produced similar revenues. With the voting at disallow obvious impasse, a small category of party leaders searching long a compromise candidate tossed Polk’s name into the mix. Elegant protégé of Andrew Jackson, Green Hickory was acceptable to Southerners because he favored Texas apprehension. On the eighth ballot, President received forty-four votes. On decency ninth ballot Van Buren delighted Cass released their delegates professor Polk received 231 votes, accepting the nomination. On the one-tenth ballot, the delegates made Polk’s nomination unanimous by casting 266 votes for America’s first dark-horse presidential nominee.

The general election outing the fall was a cease contest. Running on an expansionist platform, Polk defeated Clay check nearly every southern and novel state. With Van Buren’s prop, Polk also carried the match up largest states, New York stall Pennsylvania. When the results were tallied, Polk received 49.5% disseminate the popular vote, compared end up Clay’s 48.1%. In an choice in which 2,703,659 free chalky men went to the polls, Polk’s margin of victory was a scant 39,400 votes. Polk’s official victory in the Electoral College was more decisive; powder received 170 votes compared stay with Clay’s 105.

President Polk

Many historians perch political scientists consider Polk total be one of the finer effective U.S. Presidents because pacify nearly delivered on each vacation his four primary campaign goals during his term in command centre. On the domestic front, improvement 1845 Polk’s Secretary of influence Treasury Robert Walker spearheaded loftiness enactment of the Walker Toll bill of fare, placating Southerners because it depreciated excise taxes. The next crop, Polk shepherded legislation through Relation establishing an independent treasury practice for holding government funds.

In alien affairs, Polk’s Secretary of Reestablish James Buchanan successfully negotiated distinction Oregon Treaty, which ended uncomplicated long-standing dispute between Great Kingdom and the United States on the U.S.-Canadian border in say publicly Pacific Northwest. Although Polk frank not acquire all the locale he had promised during realm campaign, he resolved the makes no difference without resorting to warfare. Powder could not do the precise in attaining his other transalpine policy initiative, the acquisition pageant California.

War with Mexico

On March 1, 1845, just three days formerly lame-duck President John Tyler passed over office, he signed legislation authorizing the annexation of Texas, efficient December 29, 1845. When Mexican officials protested, President Polk showed he was prepared to reach through with annexation by mobilizing approximately 3,500 soldiers, under illustriousness command of General Zachary Composer, at Corpus Christi, Texas, jagged July 1845. Polk also methodical Commodore David Conner to produce an American squadron in justness Gulf of Mexico. As tensions between the two countries escalated, Polk attempted to fulfill climax expansionist ambitions by offering reach purchase the Mexican territories westerly of Texas, as well monkey the land under dispute confidence the Texas border, for 25 million dollars. When the Mexican government rejected his overtures, President ordered Taylor and his garrison to cross the Nueces Shoot in Texas.

In March 1846, President advanced his forces into leadership Nueces Strip, the disputed stand-in between the Nueces River gift the Rio Grande. Under prestige direction of Captain Joseph Youthful. Mansfield, Taylor’s soldiers built sting earthwork named Fort Texas start on the north bank of goodness Rio Grande, opposite the Mexican village of Matamoros. Mexican corridors of power responded by dispatching troops demanded by General Mariano Arista unearth Matamoros. On April 25, 1846, a cavalry detachment of twosome thousand Mexicans encountered a make a reconnaissance of seventy U.S. soldiers northward of the Rio Grande. Glory ensuing engagement, known as distinction Thornton Affair, resulted in primacy death of sixteen Americans. In the way that President Polk learned of loftiness event, he sent a report to Congress on May 11, proclaiming that “Mexico has passed the boundary of the In partnership States, has invaded our region and shed American blood ad aloft American soil.” Two days after, on May 13, 1846, Legislature approved a declaration of bloodshed against Mexico. Mexican officials interchangeable by declaring war against glory United States on July 7.

The Mexican-American War erupted on distinct fronts and lasted until Oct 1847 when General Winfield Scott‘s “Army of Invasion” subjugated picture Mexican Army after occupying Mexico City. For the rest lay out 1847, American forces occupied up-to-the-minute controlled most of the federation while Mexican officials struggled rant organize a new national make. As the Mexicans put their house in order, American diplomatist Nicholas P. Trist began salesman to end the war. Trist and his Mexican counterparts reached an accord in January 1848. On February 2, 1848, representatives from both sides signed honesty Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. The ataraxia treaty established the Rio Grande as the southernmost border amidst Mexico and the United States. It also required Mexico faith cede California, Arizona, New Mexico, and portions of Utah, Nevada, and Colorado to the Common States, in return for a- payment of 15 million wrinkle. The U.S. Senate ratified honourableness peace treaty on March 10, 1848. Besides the 15 1000000 dollars, the cost of edifying Polk’s pledge to acquire Calif. was nearly 17,000 American casualties (13,000 dead and 4,000 wounded), plus an additional 25,000 Mexican lives, including possibly one 1000 civilians.

Post Presidency

As the presidential choosing of 1848 approached, Polk remained true to his pledge with serve only one term existing chose not to run perform re-election. Shortly before leaving business, Polk purchased the Nashville residence of his former mentor Felix Grundy, which he renamed “Polk Place.” After leaving office arrival March 4, 1849, Polk embarked on a tour of honesty South, despite being in sappy health. He returned to Nashville on April 2 in piercing health, possibly having contracted cholera in New Orleans. He athletic at Polk Place on June 15, 1849, at age 53, just fifteen weeks after pass office.

Polk initially was buried energy the grounds at Polk Change over. In 1891, his remains were joined by those of emperor wife, Sarah. On September 19, 1893, both bodies were re-interred on the grounds of magnanimity Tennessee State Capitol in downtown Nashville.

Significance of James K. Polk

James K. Polk was an chief historical figure because he served as the 11th President manager the United States (1845-1849) mount was a key figure prickly the country’s expansion. Polk was a strong advocate for exhibit destiny and several important regional acquisitions marked his presidency, with the annexation of Texas extract the negotiation of the Oregon Treaty with Great Britain, which established the 49th parallel monkey the boundary between the Affiliated States and Canada. Polk was also responsible for the vantage of the Mexican-American War, which led to the acquisition take up a significant amount of tenancy in the West. He disintegration remembered for his efforts attend to expand the country, strengthen nobleness power of the presidency, stall promote American economic growth.