James+K.+Polk

= James K. Polk (1795-1849) =

By: Torie Moniz (:





 * James K. Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, 1795. He lived in North Carolina until the age of ten. He then moved to Tennesse with his family. (Where his father prospered, owning thousands of acres of land. James was the eldest of ten children. His mother, Jane Knox Polk, raised her children according to the strict Presbyterian "Gospel of Duty". he sufferred from many illnesses during his childhood, mainly gallstones. James went to the Presbyterian school outside of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and was very advanced in many subjects such as arithmetic and reading. He entered the University of North Carolina in 1816, and graduated with honors in 1818. He studied law under Felix Grundy, (A prominent lawyer in Nashville.) In 1820, While he was working on his legal studies, he secured a job as clerk to the state senate. He was responsible for directing the flow of legislative paperwork. In 1823, his work on behalf of the Jeffersonian-Republicans paid off and he became a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. He served for two years. In 1825, he won a seat in the U.S House of Representatives from Tennessee’s sixth district. In 1835, he was elected speaker of the house and held this position until 1839. He Left the house for Tennessee governorship, where he had attempted to introduce bank reforms. He was the leading contender for democratic nomination for presidency in 1844. Polk sensed that people favored expansion. This view had prevailed at the democratic convention, and he was nominated on the ninth ballot. Polk received 50% of the popular vote and won 170 out of 275 electoral votes. The 1844 democratic platform had claimed the entire Oregon area, and Russian Alaska. But Polk knew that no course short of war was likely to get all of Oregon. Neither Polk or the British wanted a war. He then offered to extend the Canadian Boundary, but the British minister declined. Polk reasserted the American claim to the entire area. Finally the British settled for the 49th parallel and the treaty was signed in 1846. Most of his time in office was taken up by the Mexican war which had lasted from 1846-1848. The U.S felt that the border should be set at the Rio Grande River. Mexico would not agree and Polk prepared for war. He ordered general Zachary Taylor to the area. In 1846 mexican troops fired on U.S troops. Polk established a declaration of War against mexico. Taylor defeated the Mexican army (led by santa anna) in 1848. The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, ending the war. The border was fixed at the Rio grande. Polks' last action as president was to sign the bill that created the department of the interior, which was the first new cabinet postion created since the early days of the republic. Polk died of cholera in 1849. **
 * Fun Facts: While Polk was President, gold was discovered in California. **
 * He was the first President to voluntarily retire after one term. **
 * Dancing and music were not allowed at White House parties during his administration. **

=Works Cited: =

"American President: James Knox Polk: Life Before the Presidency." Miller Center of Public Affairs. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. . "James K. Polk." The White House. Web. 10 Mar. 2011.  Kelly, Martin. "James K Polk Biography - Eleventh President of the United States." American History From About. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. 