President James K Polk 1845 -1849 Background Family

President James K. Polk (1845 -1849)

Background/Family Slide • James K. Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1795. • Polk was the first born of 10 on a family farm. His fathers name was Samuel Polk and his mother Jane Polk. • James K. Polk was born into an Irish-American family. • Polk was very intelligent, he graduated with honor credits from the University of North Carolina.

Background/Family Slide Cont. • Polk was also known because at a young age, he was a lawyer that entered politics and served as the Tennessee legislature. • Polk served as a democrat in the Speaker of the House and Governor Tennessee before his presidency, Polk is our 11 th president of the United States. • Polk was also close friends with Andrew Jackson, who supported him with political issues.

Polk’s Rises in Politics • • Polk was a devoted Democrat. Although Polk successfully became a lawyer, he resigned being a clerk and became the Tennessee State Legislature, from here his political power came. After his reign as a state legislature, Polk ran for the United States House of Representatives and Tennessee’s 6 th Congressional District. Polk was also known from his speech on March 13, 1826, in Washington about the Electoral College during the Presidential Election, he proposed the president’s victory should be won over by Popular Votes and not the Electoral College.

Polk’s Rises in Politics Cont. • • Polk was also became the Speaker of the House where he worked with Andrew Jackson and Van Buren, there, he faced 2 major issues touching upon slavery and economy, that brought the Panic of 1837. Not only did Polk run at the Speaker of the House, he also ran as Tennessee’s Governor. During his reign, Polk ran 3 major programs regulating state banks, implementing state internal improvements, and improving education, which did not get approval by the legislature.

Polk’s Rises in Politics Cont. • Later, Polk ran for president in the 1844 Presidential Election against Henry Clay a runner from the Whig Party. • Although Polk’s campaign seem to lose from his hometown and Tennessee, he still won the presidency from the major state of New York. • Another key component of his victory of the presidential election was his support of the immigrant voters, who were against the Whig party. • Polk is the only Speaker of the House of Representatives to be elected President of the United States.

A Religious Follower • James K. Polk was a Presbyterian because his wife was a devout Presbyterian and a week before he died he had converted and was baptized as a Methodist.

Economics • Polk opposed the idea of The Second Bank of the U. S. • Also preferred gold and silver currency rather than paper money. • He was interested in agricultural interests than industrial interests.

Key Domestic Policy Issues • Polk developed a positive fourpoint program that he successfully achieved in less than four years. • Lowered Tariff- Polk’s secretary of the Treasury, Robert J. Walker devised a tariff-for-revenue bill which lowered the average rates of the Tariff of 1842 from 32% to 25%. • Restoration of the Independent Treasury- The Whigs previously dropped it in 1841. Though the Pro-bank Whigs in Congress argued in opposition, victory was rewarded for Polk’s efforts in 1846.

Key Domestic Policy Issues Cont. • Acquisition of California/ Settlement of Oregon Dispute- The US purchased 525, 000 square miles of territory in the Southwest and California after the Mexican-American War ended in 1848 as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago.

Key Foreign Policy Issues • Polk threatened war with Britain but then backed away and spilt the Northwest territory with them. • Polk also lead the Mexican-American war in which Mexico and the U. S. fought over the annexation of Texas, in which the U. S. was victorious.

One Quote Says it All It becomes us in humility to make our devout acknowledgments to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for the inestimable civil and religious blessings with which we are favored. - James K. Polk 1 st Annual Message to Congress; December 2, 1845

When there’s Success… • One success was lowered tariffs, his secretary of the Treasury, Robert J. Walker, devised a tariff-revenue bill that reduced the average rates of the Tariff of 1842 from 32% to 25%. • One other success was the difficulty of buying Texas, Oregon, and California from Spain, through months of war and trouble, Polk was set out to get a treaty, by this the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848. This was the confirmation of Texas property to branch westward towards Oregon and California. • Polk was one of the presidents who succeeded what he promised, he promised lowered tariffs and the expansion of America. By doing this, he left America a new life and new beginnings for his people.

…There’s Failure • Although Polk was ultimately achieved what he wanted and gave success to America, he failed small things. • One thing he failed was keeping America away from war, this happened during the fight for California from the Mexicans, Polk couldn’t result with anything else but war. • One other failure Polk encountered was not getting the 49 degree line from Britain because his war with the Mexicans.

One Word Means A Lot • CHANGE. Change is the word that comes to mind to all 3 of us about this president. Change is what President Polk was all about, he changed America in so many different ways and he went through with them. He kept his promises to America to make his country CHANGE. Polk did more successes than his failures, and with all of the successes he did, he made the US change. For example, the lowered tariffs, this benefited America because this gave more money to his people.

Worthy to Run for President Today • Polk couldn’t successfully run for president today. Although his motives of helping other nations who are under another nation’s power, his beliefs would not be accepted by the general population. • His agricultural interests and dislikeof paper money wouldn’t be taken positively by voters. Most Americans are for industrialization and modernization rather than agricultural ways. They also wouldn’t be accustomed to gold and silver currency.

• • • Polk was only seeking to be nominated vice-president at the Democratic Convention for the Election of 1844. Martin Van Buren was supposed to be the Democrat nominee. When Van Buren opposed the annexation of Texas, he lost a lot of Democratic votes. Van Buren ended up not winning the majority, so Polk was picked to be a candidate. Polk's Whig opponent was Henry Clay of Kentucky. Most of the campaign issues involved the annexation of Texas, westward expansion, etc. Polk's victory was the support of new immigrant voters, who were angered at the Whigs' policies. Polk and his running mate, George M. Dallas, won in the South and West, whereas Clay had the Northeast’s support. Polk won the popular vote by a margin of about 39, 000 out of 2. 6 million, and took the Electoral College with 170 votes to Clay's 105. Polk won 15 states, while Clay won 11. Election

Polk’s Cabinet Members • • State- James Buchanan Treasury- Robert J. Walker War- William Learned Marcy Navy- George Bancroft - John Young Mason (from September 9, 1846) • Attorney General- John Young Mason - Nathan Clifford • (from October 17, 1846) - Isaac Toucey • (from June 29, 1848)

Polk’s Cabinet Members Cont. • • In selecting his cabinet, the new president was singularly fortunate. It comprised several of the most distinguished members of the Democratic party, and all sections of the Union were represented. James Buchanan, fresh from his long experience in the senate, was named secretary of state. Robert J. Walker, also an ex-senator and one of the best authorities on the national finances, was secretary of the treasury. William L. Marcy, ex-governor of New York, was confided the war portfolio Literature was honored in the appointment of George Bancroft as secretary of the navy. Cave Johnson, an honored son of Tennessee, was made postmastergeneral. John Y. Mason, who had been a member of President Tyler's cabinet, was first attorney-general and afterward secretary of the navy.

Post-Presidency • Polk left the white house on March 4, 1849 • Polk contracted cholera in New Orleans, on a goodwill tour of the South. • Polk died at his new home, Polk Place, in Nashville June 15, 1849 three months after leaving the white house. • President and Mrs. Polk are buried in a tomb on the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol Building.

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