What president said fifty-four forty or fight?

Answer 1

The slogan "Fifty-four forty or fight" originated during a dispute between the United States and Great Britain over the Oregon country. Under the terms of a treaty signed in 1818, both nations were permitted to occupy the territory. The territory began at 42° north latitude, the southern boundary of present-day Oregon; it extended north to 54° 40' (54.66°) north latitude, in present-day British Columbia. At the time this was the recognized southern boundary of Russian America (later purchased by the US in 1867 as Alaska).

In 1844 James K. Polk (1795-1849) used "Fifty-four forty or fight" to rally supporters in his successful presidential campaign. Two years after Polk took office as president he settled the dispute with Great Britain; the boundary was then set at 49 degrees north, the northern boundary of present-day Washington state and the border between the United States and Canada.

*As this issue was settled, the US began its war with Mexico, further extending the concept of Manifest Destiny regarding US territorial claims in North America.

Answer 2

The phrase "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!" was a slogan popular in 1846, among Democrats, who asserted US ownership of the entire Oregon country, including the area between 49° N latitude and 54°40' N latitude (the recognized southern boundary of Russian America, later Alaska). It was used as a campaign slogan in the presidential election of 1844 by Democrat James K. Polk, who was elected and eventually agreed to set the border with Canada at the 49th parallel.

The Oregon Territory was jointly occupied by the British and Americans, and 54° 40' was the latitude line that was the northern extent of the US claim. American expansionists wanted the US to control all of the land in the Oregon Territory to that latitude line. In 1846, the US signed a treaty that set the boundary between the US and Canada at the 49th parallel. The slogan was used by expansionists in the 1840s regarding the issue of the Oregon border. Fifty-Four Forty refers to the latitude line which was the northern extent of US claims in Oregon. At the Convention of 1818, the United States and Great Britain had agreed to jointly occupy Oregon. During the 1840s, there was pressure from expansionists for the US to acquire all of Oregon to 54°40'. In the Oregon Treaty of 1846, the two countries ended the joint occupation and agreed to divide Oregon, with the 49th parallel as the boundary between the US and Canada.

Answer 3

It referred to the establishment of a border between the Oregon Territory and British Canada (Rupert's Land, British Columbia). The Democrats insisted on the latitude of 54º 40' N (54 degrees, 40 minutes), which would have bordered Russian America (Alaska) and given Canada little or no Pacific coast. President Polk offered the dividing line along the 49th parallel, while expansionists pushed for the higher boundary. In 1846, rather than face a war with Britain as well as with Mexico, Polk returned to the lower boundary, which exists today.

Answer 4

Polk called for expansion that included Texas, California, and the entire Oregon territory. The northern boundary of Oregon was the latitude line of 54 degrees, 40 minutes. "Fifty-four forty or fight!" was the popular slogan that led Polk to victory against all odds.

Answer 5

The slogan was actually "fifty four forty or fight". It referred to the boundary line between the US and Canada in the Pacific Northwest; "fifty four forty" means 54 degrees 40 minutes North latitude. It should be noted that this line is well north of the eventually agreed-upon border of (for the most part) 49 degrees North latitude, and indeed is approximately latitude of the southernmost tip of Alaska, meaning Canada would have effectively not had a West Coast on the Pacific Ocean at all.

Answer 6

The slogan "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight" refers to the boundary line that divided Oregon between the United States and Britain.

Answer 7

James K. Polk

Answer 8

James Polk

Answer 9

batman