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James K. Polk
James K. Polk was the 11th President of the United States. He served as president from March 4, 1845 to March 4, 1849
346 Questions
Why did President Polk send General Scott into Mexico?
He did not want a war, but he was willing to go to war if necessary in order to gain his objective of extending the US west to California and ending the dispute over the Texas border.
Longer answer :Border issues...again.Let me explain. See, despite Santa Anna's defeat at the hands of the Texans, the Mexican Congress refused to accept the terms. Not that they could do much beyond point fingers and sputter. Mexico vehemently warned the U.S. that if they annexed Texas (an inevitability, given the Texans' U.S. and particularly Tennessee bushwhacker attitude), then America would have itself a war with the Central American nation. Predictably, America gleefully ignored the threats, and in 1845, Texas joined the union. Again, Mexico couldn't do much more than pout like a child who didn't get their lollipop, so it did the next best thing (in their minds): break off diplomatic contact. President Polk claimed the border as the Rio Grande River, but Mexico claimed the border as the Nueces River. According to the Treaties of Velasco, the border was indeed the Rio Grande. But Mexico herself never ratified those treaties.
Polk was in a bit of a pickle. See, the U.S. recognized Texas' independence, and by extension, the Treaties of Velasco. The border was indeed the Rio Grande. But Mexico was changing the terms of the treaties by changing the border. Strange...they weren't really willing to just march back in and take Texas back, but they were willing to force the issue... Now why would they do that?
Answer: because they knew Polk could only react one way.
See, there are two reasons for this. First, America wanted Northern California. Not necessarily to control themselves, but primarily because France and England wanted it as well. America wouldn't tolerate the European colonials re-establishing their dominion on the continent (Canada notwithstanding), and they knew Europe had its sights set on the area. Mexico was weak, and would have fallen easily to a European power, either through marshal might, or coercion. It was a matter of safety.
Secondly, cotton. Actually Mexico probably wouldn't be the best place for cotton, but it WOULD be a southern territory that would be allowed slavery. Score one for the Democrats in Congress. The North vehemently opposed the war (for the most part), but this was an America that was all about concessions to the states at this time. Polk knew the NORTH wouldn't secede, but the south sure threatened it. Blocking the war would be just one more thing to add to the secessionist's list.
So, armed with that knowledge, Mexico was pretty sure of two things: one, America would attack if they gave them a reason (i.e: disputing the border), and two: that France and England would SUPPORT Mexico if America did attack. After all, Europe was already slave-free, as was Mexico. Why would England and France support a pro-slave nation over an anti-slave nation? Also, Mexico knew it was a matter of time before it lost California. Either through revolution, conquest, or treaty. France and England wanted it, and Mexico believed they'd support Mexico if they thought they could get it from them.
Mexico was flouting the American policy of no European intervention in the Americas, and threatening an all-out war. America was deeply divided, and didn't need this agitation. Polk's decision was made for him.
In 1846, Texans went to war, again.
Who did President Polk send to try to buy New Mexico and California?
He sent John C. Fremont to see what kind of resistance the Mexican army would show if American military would enter California. The Mexican government was doing its best to keep Americans out of California. When Fremont arrived with his men he was stopped near San Juan Bastista by the Mexican army. Fremont and his men were trapped on the mountain, but the army didn't surround the back of thr peak and only put men on the front. Before the night was over Fremont was able to escape by going down the backside of the mountain. An American naval ship was waiting for them off the coast. It wasn't until the influx of gold seekers in 1849 that Fremont returned to California and he was to declare the Bear Flag Republic and take the Mexican governor to Sutter's Fort in Sacramento. On September 9, 1850 California became a state. It was Texas he offered payment to not California, and in that case it was Zachary Taylor.
James K. Polk annexed the state of Texas. It was actually on December 29th of 1845, but often times people say 1846.
What country did president Polk negotiate with in order to obtain Oregon for the us?
He settled with Britain.
What were the accomplishments of James K. Polk during his presidency?
James K Polk set plans to expand the territories into Mexico. He declared war by alleging that he had a right to land that Mexico had already claimed, despite that the person who signed it was no longer Mexico's leader, and was currently being imprisoned by the new Mexican government.
In Mexico, this war is referred to as "The American Invasion of Mexico."
America ultimately won the war, and decided to take what is now the Southwest. Soon afterwards gold was found in California, starting the California Gold Rush, and finally completing Columbus's 356 year long goal.
The United States gained 525,000 square miles of western territory by winning the Mexican war. He added territory that now composes of Arizona,Utah,Nevada,California,Oregon,Tdaho,Washington,Much of New Mexico, and portions of Wyoming,Montana,and Colorado.also the Manifest Destiny and events connected to these two events like the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Wilmot Provis and the Ostend Manifesto
It was the Mexican-American war in 1846-1848. It was called "mr. Polk's war" by those who believed that president James K. Polk's aggression was an attempt to extend slavery. They called it this to take away national support of the war.
Was it right for Polk to declare war on Mexico?
No. He used the pretext of American soldiers killed in the contested Nueces strip as a casus belli to instigate the war. Such patch of terrain was however, a no man's land which couldn't be considered American territory.
In reality, both American presidents John Tyler (term 1841-1845) and James K. Polk (term 1845-1849) wished to extend the US territories to the Pacific coast and consolidate what they saw as the "Manifest Destiny" of the country. US interests had expanded in California and its leaders sought to acquire it by any means necessary.
What territories did James K. Polk acquire as president?
Under Polk, the US added an area in the Southwest , including New Mexico, and California as a result of the Mexican cession which was a part of the treaty that ended the Mexican War. The treaty also ended a dispute over the boundary of Texas. A separate treaty with Great Britain settled the dispute over the northern boundary of the Oregon territory.
Why is James K. Polk important to Texas?
He annexed the territories of the southwest from Mexico. In case you didn't figure it out, we won the war with Mexico!
Why is president James K. Polk remembered as the manifest destiny president?
The manifest destiny was the United States should stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific. This was realized during the Polk administration when the US annexed California and the Mexican territory in between.
What did James K. Polk do for Manifest destiny?
James k. Polk was a president after Andrew Jackson, they both where a very big part of the manifest destiny, James k. Polk was the one who believed in them and encouraged them during the things that he/she had a hard time with the things that they did. James K. Polk was the person who incouraged them and he also was oppart of the manifest destiny and so was andrew jackson after he wasent president james k. polk took his place.
hope this helps :)
Why did president Polk want to buy California from Mexico?
probaly because polk might go to war with them and they wouldnt want to go to war
Did James Polk make any famous speeches while president?
Yes. He was noted as a skiiled debater and speaker in college and became Speaker of the House.
Which US president was considered James K. Polk's mentor?
Andrew Jackson (aka Old Hickory) was considered to be Polk's mentor . In fact Polk was sometimes called Young Hickory because of the association.
They both wanted western expansion. And with his platform each of them would gain a state accordingly, Oregon would become a non-slave state and Texas would become a slave state.
How did president Polk use his executive power as president to encourage war with Mexico?
As Commander in Chief, he sent armed forced into territory claimed by both the U.S and Mexico.
Did James K. Polk have any regrets about the term in office?
He never finished his memoirs, but I do not think he had any serious regrets about his time in office.
Jane Marie Polk was born January 14, 1798 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina and died October 11, 1876 in Columbia, Tennessee.
Where did James K. Polk lived in?
No, he never did because the white house was burned down in the war of 1812 by the british. The white house was rebuilt and enlargened, but that process was completed in 1901, almost a hundred years after it was burned down.
How much is a James K. Polk golden dollar worth?
It's a presidential dollar from 2009, and it's worth exactly one US dollar.
What policies did James k. Polk support when he was president?
President James Polk was a democrat and an expansionist, meaning he believed in the expansion of the American border. in fact, one of Polk's slogans was "54 40' or fight", meaning that he would fight in order to get the American Northwestern border extended too the 54 40' latitude. he also wanted the immediate annexation of Texas. Polk also supported and signed the Oregon Treaty with Great Britain, peacefully giving the US Oregon, Washington. and parts of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. Additionally, he, unlike much of America, supported the Mexican-American war. Since Polk was a Democrat, and Democrats had a lot of supporters in the South, President Polk was pretty much guaranteed to support slavery as well.
In the election of 1844 James K. Polk what annexation?
James P. Polk won the election in 1884 partly due to his support in the annexation of Texas.
