James K. Polk

Definition

James K. Polk was the 11th President of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. He is known for his expansionist policies, which led to the annexation of Texas and the acquisition of the Oregon Territory and California during his presidency.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Polk was a strong proponent of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent.
2. During his presidency, Polk oversaw the annexation of Texas, which had been a source of tension between the United States and Mexico.
3. Polk's pursuit of the Oregon Territory led to a dispute with Britain, which was resolved through the Oregon Treaty of 1846.
4. The Mexican-American War, which occurred during Polk's presidency, resulted in the cession of the American Southwest to the United States.
5. Polk's expansionist policies were driven in part by the desire to acquire new slave-holding territories, which contributed to the growing tensions between the North and South.

Review Questions

• Describe Polk's role in the annexation of Texas and the subsequent Mexican-American War.
  • Polk was a strong supporter of the annexation of Texas, which had been a source of tension between the United States and Mexico. The annexation of Texas led to the Mexican-American War, which Polk instigated in order to acquire additional territory in the American Southwest. The war resulted in the cession of a large portion of the Southwest to the United States, including California and the present-day states of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.
• Explain how Polk's pursuit of the Oregon Territory contributed to tensions with Britain and the eventual resolution of the dispute.
  • Polk was determined to secure the Oregon Territory for the United States, which led to a dispute with Britain over the ownership of the region. Polk initially demanded the entire Oregon Territory, from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, but eventually agreed to a compromise that divided the territory along the 49th parallel. The resolution of the Oregon dispute through the Oregon Treaty of 1846 was a significant diplomatic achievement for Polk, as it allowed the United States to expand its territory without escalating tensions with Britain.
• Analyze how Polk's expansionist policies and the acquisition of new territories contributed to the growing tensions between the North and South leading up to the Civil War.
  • Polk's expansionist policies, which led to the acquisition of new territories in the American Southwest, were driven in part by the desire to acquire new slave-holding territories. This contributed to the growing tensions between the North and South, as the balance of power in Congress was threatened by the potential for new slave states to be admitted to the Union. The acquisition of these territories also reignited the debate over the expansion of slavery, which was a major factor in the outbreak of the Civil War. Polk's actions, while expanding the territorial reach of the United States, ultimately exacerbated the sectional tensions that would lead to the bloodiest conflict in American history.

Related terms

Manifest Destiny:

The belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Mexican-American War:

A conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, which resulted in the cession of a large portion of the American Southwest to the United States.

Filibuster:

An unauthorized military expedition into a foreign country to overthrow the government, often with the goal of acquiring new territory for the United States.