James K. Polk once said, “No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure.” According to the article titled, “James K. Polk,” Polk was born in North Carolina, and graduated from the University of North Carolina in which he studied to become a successful attorney. Polk had a successful political career in which he held high ranks of authority in the Tennessee and federal government. He was also known as “Young Hickory” referencing his mentor and friend Andrew Jackson. He came into office at the age of 49 in 1845 in which his accomplishments would help make up the big picture known as America. James K. Polk was the determined and strong, eleventh president of the United States, who carried out all of his goals he set forth during his presidency, which included the expansion of the United States to the west, the settlement of the Oregon boundary, and the restore the Independent Treasury. In addition, during Polk’s term he expanded the United States’ border to the west coast. His desire to enlarge the country stemmed from his belief in “manifest destiny” which was the idea that the United States was destined to stretch to the Pacific Ocean. His presidency; his decisions for the country were influenced by manifest destiny. In the article titled “Mexican-American War,” James K. Polk wanted to acquire California and the southwestern land of the United States. Polk’s movement of troops into the conflicted zone between the Rio Grande and Nueces River initiated a conflict with Mexico. The conflict developed into a war, with hefty Mexican losses, but finally ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with the U.S. as the victor. In the treaty, Mexico decided to sell all the land north of the Rio G... ... middle of paper ... ...en he added the most land to the nation, about doubling the country since he came into office. James K. Polk’s presidency was a success because in a single term he achieved his main goals on his agenda. James K. Polk was a truly hard-working man, and an active president who engaged change within the United States. Compared to the growth and the countless years since the country’s independence from Britain, Polk must have struggled in keeping the young, inexperienced United States on its feet. Works Cited "54° 40' or Fight." 54° 40' or Fight [ushistory.org]. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. "American President: James Knox Polk: Domestic Affairs." Millercenter.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. O'Brien, Steven G. "James K. Polk." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 27 Nov. 2013. "Mexican-American War." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.
In President James Polk’s War Message to Congress, he states that the Congress of Texas had declared the Rio Grande to be the official boundary between Mexico and Texas. James Polk said, “Sixty-three men and officers, were. dispatched from the American camp up the Rio del Norte, on its [North] bank, to ascertain whether the Mexican troops had crossed, or were preparing to cross, the river. [They] became engaged with a large body of these [Mexican] troops, and, after a short affair, in which some sixteen [Americans] were killed and wounded, appear to have been surrounded and compelled to surrender.” The invasion was almost like a ticket to declare war against Mexico for James Polk.
John Sullivan founded the manifest destiny movement (Doc A). This idea of God leading the U.S. westward into new territory spread, reaching the president, James K. Polk. He liked this idea, for he wanted to gain more land, especially from Mexico. James Polk was greedy for more territory, as he was a Democrat, who supported annexing Texas and Oregon. Using manifest destiny to obtain this land for the U.S. meant more Americans would support the westward expansion. Therefore, Polk was able to send Americans, particularly farmers, westward, which would soon cause great conflict with Mexico, leading to war. Polk sent multiple representatives to Mexico, wanting to make deals for land in Mexico’s possession (Doc E). One specific person Polk sent was WIlliam Emory. He went to offer a friendship with Mexico and to state reasoning for the U.S. invading Mexican territory. James Polk knew the Mexican Republic was angry at America for invading Texas. So, logically, he sent one of many “ambassadors” to create a peace treaty, and offer a friendship supplying benefits, such as protection for Mexico. Although, Mexico declared the U.S. as “invaders” and rejected the proposed treaties. Though it may seem former president James Polk was pro-manifest destiny, and genuinely wanted a national agreement of peace with Mexico, he was really eyeing their land, where he could obtain the territory, and
Polk was one of the most important people in U.S. history . He was one of the people who started the Mexican American war. He also was the 11Th president of the U.S.A . He help american territory grow ⅓ in size. The united naval service was established during his term. Polk is my favorite president to learn
history. He became President of the United States at the crucial crossroads of the nineteenth and
Poor working conditions in mines in The Gilded Age was as normal to the people then as a 40 hour workweek is to us now. Looking back at all of the horrific and terrible accidents and such that happened then seems unimaginable to us, but to them, it was just another day at work. Children worked in the mines to support their families, often in company towns where inhaling soot all day and contracting black lung was really your only option for a job.
James K. Polk was an accomplished, hardworking president. Although Polk lacked charm and was known for his boring disposition, few could match his record of acquired land for the U.S. Polk is most well known for the fact that he is the only President to have sketched out a set of goals in his first terms and leave office having accomplished them.
Poor Work Conditions in the 1850's Work is a very important part of everyone's life. Work leads to wages, which then leads to the lifestyle you may live. Between 1750 and 1850, work transformed greatly in Europe. It changed all types of aspects of work including where you work, what you do, and how much you may get paid for it.
Depending on whom one reads, Polk comes across as either a nearly great President or as a man who missed great opportunities. Clearly, his impact was significant. Polk accomplished nearly everything that he said he wanted to accomplish as President and everything he had promised in his party's platform: acquisition of the Oregon Territory, California, and the Territory of New Mexico; the positive settlement of the Texas border dispute; lower tariff rates; the establishment of a new federal depository system; and the strengthening of the executive office. He masterfully kept open lines of communication with Congress, established the Department of the Interior, built up an administrative press, and conducted himself as a representative of the
He was the 11th president of the United States and was known as “young hickory”, and the first “dark horse”. James Knox Polk accomplished many things in his life. He served in the House of Representative, became governor of Tennessee, and became president of the United States. His achievements impacted the U.S and made it what it is today. For example he annexed Texas, lowered tariffs, established an independent Federal Treasury, went to war with Mexico, and added three states to the union. If James Polk did not become president, then there is a possibility that California, New Mexico and Oregon would not be a part of the United States.
The Mexican government was also encouraging border raids and warning that any attempt at annexation would lead to war.Nonetheless, annexation procedures were quickly initiated after the 1844 election of Polk, who campaigned that Texas should be “re-annexed” and that the Oregon Territory should be “re-occupied.” Polk also had his eyes on California, New Mexico and the rest of what is today the U.S. Southwest.
James Monroe, the fifth president of the U.S., ran this country smoothly with a level head. He was a slow thinker, who looked at all the possibilities before making a decision. He was a genuine person, who seemed more normal than any who came before him. Although normal, he truly had a heart for his country that only a few could mimic (American Revolution). Overall James Monroe accomplished many things before his presidency, then went on to help maintain and produce growth like the country has never seen.
Before the Gold rush, the United States was at war with Mexico over territory. If it had not been for the Treaty of Guadalupe in 1848 the United States might have turned out differently than it currently is today. The Treaty of Guadalupe was signed on February 2, 1848 and ended the Mexican-American war. Mexico transferred nearly half of their land to the U.S. (Rohrbough 12). Some Americans felt it was part of Manifest Destiny, especially by believer President James Polk (Smith, Orsi, and Rawls 26). The Treaty of Guadalupe guaranteed that any Mexican citizen in California who did not want to continue their allegiance to Mexico would within a year be granted the automatic “title and rights of citizens...
“Perhaps no other president during the first half of the 1800’s exerted as much of an impact on U.S domestic affairs regarding land acquisition as the eleventh chief executive, James K Polk. As president he finalized the annexation of Texas, and created a war with Mexico that transferred over 1.2 million acres of land to the U.S., now five states of the American Southwest. He also brokered a deal with Great Britain to purchase the state of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Polk is thus credited with expanding the domestic terrain of the United States, but at the expense of Native Americans who lost their land, and African Americans who were taken as slaves to these new states and territories.” I rate president Polk as a high president. He did the necessary to expand Southwestward. With political forcefulness, President Polk pursued his ambitious goals. Texas joined the country as the 28th state during his first year in office. Tense negotiations with Great Britain concluded with American annexation of the Oregon Territory. Following a controversial two year war, Mexico ceded New Mexico and California to the United States. The Polk administration also achieved its major economic objectives by lowering tariffs and establishing an independent Federal Treasury. “He felt that government plans to fund internal improvements was
...ting to learn about, but no a great president. Cleveland faced a lot challenges in his last term, one in particular was the Panic of 1893 one that he had no success. Despite his poor decisions making he still tried to remain an honest man, and his whole ambition was to fight a corrupt government.
In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s big business began to boom. For the first time companies were developing large factories to manufacture their goods. Due to the new mechanics and cheap labor, factory owners could now produce their goods at a cheaper rate. As big businesses brought wealth and capitalism, it also widened the gap between the wealthy elite and the poor. One class in particular was horribly affected by the growth of big factories. This class was the poor working class. According to the article “Child Labor in the United States” written by Robert Whaples, a big proportion of the labour work force was made up of children: “In 1820 children aged 15 and under made up 23 percent of the manufacturing labor force of the industrializing