\ President James Polk, for keeping his word throughout his presidency, through the expansion “manifest destiny”, President Polk receives the presidential rating of four. The president does an outstanding job of his conquest for “manifest destiny”, and leading our country from coast to coast. James Polk was a very fierce leader, he was willing to go and fight any war in order for us to own land from coast to coast. Throughout James Polk’s presidency he had four goals the first one I have already stated, James Polk was going to acquire the land from coast to coast. Another goal that he had was to lower the tariff rate. His third goal was to create an independent treasury from the state banks. Last president Polk only wanted to run for …show more content…
This is the one goal that through his election process, campaigned to the people of America, that he wanted to expand the United States from coast to coast. In this goal James Polk did succeed throughout his entire presidential carrier. Though only three states were admitted Texas, Iowa, and Wisconsin president Polk gained almost all of the Central and West coast that we know today. James Polk gained most of the land because of two events that went on in his presidential career. The first event started on April, 26 1846, but didn’t end until February 2, 1848, this is the Mexican War. At the end of the War Mexico had to ceced 55% of its land, and therefore the United States gained 520,000 square miles. The second event where Polk gained a good amount of land was the Oregon Treaty. This was a deal between the United States and Britain, where the United States wanted to have all the land in the Oregon region, instead of splitting it with Britain. James Polk was even willing to go to war with Great Britain again, in order to gain this land. After the treaty was signed the United States gained all the land in the Oregon Territory with the exception of Vancouver …show more content…
After James Polk's inauguration, he commissioned a study of tariff levels to his secretary of treasury Robert Walker. After this survey Robert Walker suggested a large reduction in tariff rates. Soon after this a bill was created, even though there was opposition to the bill inside James Polk cabinet. After a large debate, there was support from the southerners and westerners, and only a few northerners against it. Vice president George Dallas had the tie breaking vote in the senate, and after Polk soon signed a bill that is now known as the Walker Tariff of
Instead of you getting taxed for the quantity of the item, Polk decided to change it to being taxed for the quality instead. Polk set forth a plan to lower the tariff and establish the Independent Treasury. With the assistance of his Secretary of the Treasury, Robert J. Walker. The president and other congressional leaders established a new tariff bill in 1846, known as the Walker Tariff of 1846. When things got rough, Polk intervened directly and pressured members of Congress.
He was a highly devoted man who entered the presidency with an unambiguous plan, setting out five main goals which he successfully executed in only one term in office (Bockert par. 13). Although the incessant pressure of American westward expansion had temporarily accumulated itself behind the Great Plains, it was now about to erupt with a deluge unlike any previous occurrence (Woodworth 59; "Expansion to the Mississippi"). A new start beyond the Western horizon would prove to be crucial to Americans so Polk became determined to use the concept of Manifest Destiny. This concept proved to prompt the American westward movement and lead to a flow of immigrants, and as portrayed in the figure above, to have a massive effect on the population of
a. The War with Mexico i. Polk wants control over ALL of Mexico, between Texas and Pacific Ocean- willing to go to war ii. Texas Republic accepted statehood in 1845=1845 Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the US iii. Polk intimated Mexican Gov- Zachary Taylor occupy all the lands in the Nucese River and Rio Grande iv. Sent John Slidell to Mexico city- to secure Mexican acceptance of the Rio Grande boundary and to buy Mexico and CA- officials did not see him v. Alternate plan was to start a CA revolution (like Texas) to get independence and join the US vi. Polk ordered naval commanders to seize CA 's coastal towns (in case of war) and sent John C Fremont 's troops into Mexico vii.
Jackson, infuriated with South Carolina for threatening to break the union, compromised by making the tariff lower. Jackson marked a turning point in American political life because he prevented a break in the union and set an example for Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln used Jackson’s techniques in dealing with secession himself. As Jackson based his attack on democratic grounds, Lincoln based his attack on Democratic grounds as
Polk ability to negotiate with other countries like england and new mexico and get Oregon and California this demonstrates why he is viewed as a successful president. But to gain Texas the United States had to fight mexico in a 2 year war from 1846-48 which the united states did end up winning but despite winning Texas this would prove to be a problem with the north and south fighting over the southern land. Polk made an Oregon treaty which made Polk able to gain land that he did not even have to go to war for and diplomatically settled a border dispute gaining land which is now known as today Washington Idaho Montana and Wyoming. “Foreign powers do not seem to appreciate the true character of our government” - James Polk this speaks out about the character of the U.S government and how they are driven to gain more land as a country .Situations like these are one of the many reasons James Polk is viewed as the most successful presidents of all
However, because he was so stubborn, he was willing to go to war to obtain it, thinking that the Mexicans would not put up much of a fight. Polk had, at first, hoped he could gain California from Mexico the same way he had gotten Oregon from Great Britain--with what is called “eyeball diplomacy,” staring at the opponent and expecting he would blink first. This tactic obviously did not work, which angered him. Economically, the United States was not fit for a war, especially a war in a foreign country. Though the Americans did win the war, their relationship with the Mexicans became poor.
James K. Polk had accomplished his work in making our country a stronger nation by expanding it. James K. Polk made one of the most important moves in history which had lead us to becoming the Country we are
James Polk was elected in 1845 and had an expansionist viewpoint. He accomplished all of his presidential campaign goals which included gaining Texas, California, Nevada, Utah, most of New Mexico, and Arizona including a few more territories on the southern border, therefore, expanding America's territories. In addition, Polk began a period of Manifest Destiny. This was a phrase used to describe America’s goal to grow from “sea to shining sea”. Also, the Mexican-American War in 1846 acquired new lands for America in the southwest from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Polk and corresponding political course of his administration. But the author does not assert that it was solely Polk’s desires. Rather Polk is portrayed as an initiative follower of Thomas Jefferson’s and Andrew Jackson’s ideas about American expansion. The belief in potency of a new undeveloped land became the characteristic of that time. “By 1840s, territorial expansion was viewed by many to be a measure of that [America’s] greatness”.
With the economy struggling so mightily during the great depression, congress passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930. This Tariff disallowed foreign imports, and showed that the government wanted the economy to get better by buying producing and consuming its’ own goods. During the great depression the destruction of farming and agriculture was one of the main factors to start the whole storm. This Tariff was designed to protect the value of domestic farming versus foreign agricultural imports. He protected the interests of the American economy by shutting out the others, and therefore had to sacrifice some of his good foreign policy
Throughout the 19th century, the United States’ population significantly increased. Mexico looked towards the United State’s booming population and offered Stephen Austin the prospect of colonizing the “old three-hundred” American families in present-day Texas in order to populate the otherwise desolate region. Mexican officials, however, weren’t aware of the implications such colonization would have on the union’s longevity. In spite of Mexican provisions requiring colonists to become “Mexicanized” and be non-slave owning catholics, many Texans did not follow such terms facilitating the development of an independent Texan-American identity ultimately culminating in the Texan Revolution. After the Texan Revolution, Texas applied for statehood in the United States raising questions as to how such expansionism might upset the balance of free to slave states.
One of Alexander Hamilton’s accomplishments that shaped how America operates today is a result of him being the first Secretary of Treasury of the United States. While in this federal position he helped create what is commonly known as the First Bank of the United States(History.com Staff). The First Bank of America lead to the centralizing of the banking system in this country(Alexander Hamilton). Prior to this national bank each state had their own currency system which created
The annexation of new land contributed to the United States' westward movement and was crucial to the
The many battles of the Mexican American war led to what is now the U.S. borders The Mexican American war led to social inequality over Mexican immigrants, a debate on slavery in the new U.S. territory, and a treaty which ended the war. On May 13, 1846 the U.S. declares war with Mexico President James K. Polk requested a war because he wanted more territory Polk wanted to get the U.S. borders changed Polk not only wanted what is now Texas but other U.S. states The U.S. advanced into Mexico on the Rio Grande river. Due to the small population just north of the Rio Grande, the U.S. was able to capture this land very easily The first battle of the war was the battle of Palo Alto.
History students and fanatics alike might know James K. Polk by his famously quoted goals during his one term presidency. These four goals, first mentioned by historian George Bancroft, have been thought of as James K Polk’s legacy and rewritten by many other historians. The mystery of the origin of this myth has been debunked, but the great measures remain the popular story of Polk’s presidency. Although thought of as a given fact, Tom Chaffin pulls into question the legitimacy of the anecdote in his book Met His Every Goal?: James K. Polk and The Legends of Manifest Destiny, by discrediting the source of the message.