Tyrant or Great Leader - James K. Polk
In his fourth annual message to Congress in December of 1848, James K. Polk said, "No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure." (Polk) This statement was the summary of the his whole presidency term. Polk was a President, that not only cared for the reputation of the prestigious United States of America, but he also stressed for the well being and benefit of the American people as a whole. In going to war with Mexico, for the territories of California and New Mexico, President Polk was merely looking out for the fast growing population and trying to expand the United States so they could have more ports and markets to supply the ever-growing population. Along with this expansion it would give the American people a sense of security and mobility. Though actions during his presidency were questionable and even made him seem like a tyrant, his measures were merely for the American people, not for his own profit.
President Polk was the 11th president of the United States and was Speaker of the House and Governor of Tennessee prior to presidency. President Polk was also referred to as the last strong president until the Civil War. Polk signed the Walker Tariff that brought nearly free trade to the country until 1861. Scholars have even gone as far as to have ranked him as the 8th greatest president as far as setting goals and achieving them all. (Whitehouse.gov) Through all of Polk's attempts at creating a better America, it exemplifies he was only had the United States best interest in mind.
In 1846, before going to war with Mexico, Polk sent diplomat, John Slidell, to go bargain with Mexico for the territories of California and New Mexico. This offering caused conflict in Mexico because they believed he was coming back for additional land and not the return of Texas. (Lincoln) Polk sent troops into the area between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande to pressure Mexico into negotiation. In May of 1846, Slidell returned to Washington, but in bitter conditions by the Mexican government. Enraged by this act of disrespect, Polk was insulted and viewed it as an "ample of war." (Quaife) Days before submitting the Declaration of War, Mexican troops slaughtered 11 American troops and the declaration was approved.
Rodolfo Acuña and Norman A. Graebner take opposing standpoints on this topic. Acuña takes the standpoint that the Americans took advantage of the Mexican government, which was young and unstable at the time. He argued that the United States waged an unjust war solely for the acquisition of new lands. His excerpt from Occupied America: A History of Chicanos, 3rd Edition provided the basis for his argument. On the other hand, Graebner took the standpoint that President James Polk pushed a policy, enforced by a stronger nation, to force Mexico to sell New Mexico and California and recognize the annexation of Texas to the United States without starting a war. His argument was taken from his article “The Mexican War: A Study in Causation”. Both sides of the American Imperialism argument contain their own strengths. However, after the examination of the articles, Graebner proposes a more convincing
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
James K. Polk was the most successful president in American history. Polk fulfilled all his campaign promises. During his administration Polk acquired California from Mexico, settled the Oregon dispute, lowered tariffs, established a sub-treasury, and retired from office after one term.
Just before Polk's presidency Texas had freed itself from Mexican rule and desired American annexation. This desire came from thousands of former American citizens that settled in Texas in the 1820s. This was due to the Mexican government supplying huge land grants to entice new settlers to Texas and secure its northern border from America. The Mexican government failed to realize the true impact that their persuasion of Americans for settlement would cause. In 1830, Mexico finally put a freeze on all American immigration due to the large number of American settlers and their certain revolution. In 1836, The Republic of Texas was est...
...negotiate. In 1846 alone, the position new hands four times, the war office six times and the finance office sixteen times. But, Mexican public opinion and all political groups agreed that selling the territories to the United States would ruin the national honor. Mexicans who similar direct conflict with the United States, including President José Joaquín de Herrera, were viewed as traitors. Military opponents of de Herrera supported by populist newspapers, considered Slidell's presence in Mexico City an insult. When de Herrera considered receiving Slidell to settle the problem of Texas annexation peacefully, he was accused of treason and removed. After a more nationalistic government under General Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga came to power, it publicly reaffirmed Mexico's claim to Texas; Slidell, convinced that Mexico should be "chastised", returned to the U.S.
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of The United States Of America. He was a writer, a naturalist and a soldier. He stretched the forces of the administration and of the national government in backing of the general population enthusiasm toward clashes between huge business and work and guided the country to a dynamic part in world governmental issues. Theodore Roosevelt certainly helped the country in the right direction. He paved the way for reform, especially trust regulation. His nickname as the trustbuster was truly earned as he made many constant efforts in those areas, as well as others. His Square Deal plan targeted trust regulation, labor relations, and public health and conservation, the three
Teddy acted by using both sides to come together; they reached a settlement that helped laborers, more than managers. He ended the coal strike in the United States, and made the first major steps to reforming workers conditions; he called his reforms the square deal. Teddy was the driving force behind the Spanish American War. He wanted America to civilize the rest of the world. He solidified America’s place as a world leader.
President Franklin Roosevelt was one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States. He created economic stability when the United States was suffering through the Great Depression. In his first three months of office, known as the Hundred Days, Roosevelt took immediate action to help the struggling nation.1 "In a period of massive unemployment, a collapsed stock market, thousands of banks closing for lack of liquidity, and agricultural prices fallen below the cost of production," Roosevelt passed a series of relief measures.2 These relief measures, known as the New Deal, provided help for individuals and businesses to prevent bankruptcy. Also, the New Deal is responsible for social security, welfare, and national parks. A further reason why Roosevelt is considered a great president is because he was a good role model for being determined in his...
The years 1840 to 1890 were a period of great growth for the United States. It was during this time period that the United states came to the conclusion that it had a manifest destiny, that is, it was commanded by god to someday occupy the entire North American continent. One of the most ardent followers of this belief was President James K. Polk. He felt that the United States had the right to whatever amount of territory it chose to, and in doing this the United States was actually doing a favor for the land it seized, by introducing it to the highly advanced culture and way of life of Americans. Shortly after his election he annexed Texas. This added a great amount of land to the United States, but more was to follow. The Oregon Territory became a part of the United States is 1846, followed by the Mexican Cession in 1848 and the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. At this point the United States had accomplished its manifest destiny, it reached from east to west, from sea to shining sea. Now that the lands it so desired were finally there, the United States faced a new problem- how to get its people to settle these lands so they would actually be worth having. Realistically, it is great to have a lot of land, but if the land is unpopulated and undeveloped, it really isn't worth much. And the government of the United States knew this. One of the reasons that many did not choose to settle there immediately was that the lands were quite simply in the middle of nowhere. They were surrounded by mountains, inhabited by hostile Indians, and poor for farming. Because of these geographical conditions, the government was forced to intervene to coax its citizens into settling the new lands. Basically the lands were not settled because they were available, they were settled because of various schemes the government concocted to make them seem desirable.
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.
On May 31, 1846, President James K. Polk declared war. A small California Republic, The Bear Flag Revolt, seized Sonoma for naval forces to occupy in hopes of winning the war. The Mexican War didn’t bring about much fighting, just a hot potato game of territory conquering, but in January of 1847 Andres Pico, a Mexican official, surrendered to U.S. lieutenant John Fremont (Uschan 10). Formally in May of 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was reviewed by both temperamental parties and after approval from the United States of America and Mexico it was signed.... ...
“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
After the United States annexed Texas, both countries continued to argue the ending border of Texas. The Mexico claimed the Nueces River as its northeastern border, meanwhile the American claimed it ended at Rio Grande River. President Polk thought that military force would be needed to fulfill the United States’ manifest destiny, he commanded General Zachary Taylor to advance his four thousand-men army toward the banks of the Rio Grande. Taking the American advance as aggression, on April 25, 1846, a party of Mexican cavalry attacked a small group of American soldiers in a disputed territory, which killed or wounded sixteen members and captured the rest of them. This act of Mexico accidentally triggered the detonator of the war. When the news of the slaughter came to president Polk, he approached the Congress and claimed, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded the American territory, and shed American blood upon American soil. Therefore, on May 13, 1846, the war is officially
Abraham Lincoln is regarded by many Americans as the greatest president to ever hold office in the history of the United States, and his reputation is definitely well deserved. Lincoln wasn't scared to stand up and fight for what he knew was right. He was convinced that within the branches of government, the presidency alone was empowered not only to uphold the Constitution, but also to protect, and defend it. Lincoln was able to lead our country and preserve the Union, keeping the United States from splintering during the devastating times of the Civil War. As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization, and he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that changed the war into a battle for freedom and declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy. That November, Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address, which stated how a country must be dedicated to human freedom in order to survive. He dedicated the battlefield to the soldiers who had perished, and called on the living to finish the task the dead soldiers had begun. (Donald, 1995) Lincoln believed that democracy could be a lasting form of government. He showed a nobility of character that had worldwide appeal, and he was a man of great integrity. However, Lincoln was not only the 16th president of the United States, he was an American hero. Lincoln was a well-rounded individual and he had numerous outstanding qualities. However, it is important to remember that Lincoln also led a private life, complete with close friends and family.