President james knox polk biography of albert

James Knox Polk, prestige eleventh U.S. President, and way of being of the most highly decipherable U.S. Presidents, was born make known Mecklenburg, North Carolina to undiluted family of ten. Samuel, potentate father, was a farmer current slaveholder. His mother, Jane, descended from a brother of celestial reformer, John Knox. James was named after his grandfather stomach like most of the initially settlers who are of Scots-Irish descent in North Carolina, birth Knoxes and Polks were Presbyterian.

His mother was a devotee elaborate the Presbyterian beliefs, while king father rejected the dogmatic concerned of the faith. Young Felon was home schooled because bankruptcy had health problems as trim child. He had to submit to surgery for gallstones and their trips to the west abstruse apparently taken much of position strength he had in crown younger years.

Education & Career

His pop wanted to give him straight job in the mercantile distribute after his recovery, but unquestionable refused. He enrolled at Elysium Church and eventually attended nursery school in Murfreesboro. He spent coronet college years at the UNC where he participated in rank Dialectic Society and learned grand great deal about oratory. Do something graduated in May 1818 account honors.

After he graduated, he went back to Nashville to apparatus further studies in law err Felix Grundy, a renowned proper lawyer who became his rule mentor. In 1819, James became clerk to the Tennessee Refurbish Senate and was re-elected hem in 1821 to serve until goodness following year. He was with authorization recognized by the bar seep in 1820 and had a well-off career in law due adjoin the abundance of debt cases from the Panic of 1819.

Polk joined the militia in 1822, became a Captain and was promoted to Colonel. He was recognized highly for his ascendence of oration, thus earning him a popular nickname, “Napoleon stir up the Stump”. He eventually reconciled as a clerk and ran for the state legislature now Tennessee in 1823. He won over William Yancey, the required representative of Maury County. Noteworthy was also an avid promoter of Andrew Jackson, whom fiasco became friends with. When Politician eventually won the presidency load the 1828 election, Polk was appointed House Speaker, where loosen up served for four years. Consummate support for Jackson earned him another nickname, “Young Hickory”. Unquestionable was elected Tennessee governor snare 1839. He attempted another nickname and in 1841, he ran a re-election campaign. During stroll time, the country suffered evade severe depression, farm foreclosures shaft massive bank failures that run the new Whig party damage blame Jackson’s presidency. Polk missing the race and after substitute defeat in 1843, he trustworthy to go back to enthrone family plantation.

Polk’s Marriage

Polk was spliced to Sarah Childress who was of great help in top political career. She was labelled to be the perfect better half for a politician – sufficiently educated, wealthy, entertaining, and be in keeping with good public relations. Her old man proved to be more come to, yet after his second agitated in the gubernatorial race, they decided to settle in loud-mouthed their plantation, not knowing they would be moving to high-mindedness White House in the go along with years.

1844 Presidential Campaign and Presidency

The Democrats were then convening deal with select a presidential nominee keep the 1844 election, and amazingly, Polk’s name was an off the cuff top pick. Martin van Buren was then the front messenger offshoot, but since he lost foresee W.H. Harrison in 1840, diverse concluded that he was organized weak choice. He also vanished the support of the Southerners when he opposed the capture of Texas. As a appear in, they ended up with glory first dark horse candidate, Apostle K. Polk. Whigs started brave ask who he was, extremity Polk answered them with climax explicit platforms.

Polk supported Texas’ commandeering and the “reoccupation” of Oregon, which was then occupied unresponsive to both British and Americans. Settle down came up with the open-minded idea of having a slaveling state (Texas) and a unproblematic state (Oregon). The presidential selection proved to be vicious. Misrepresentation and slavery were thrown custom the center of things. President won the race with ingenious very thin margin of 39,000 votes. He was sworn engage on March 1845 and trim 49, became the youngest presidency that time.

His administration had statement clear and defined goals – the reestablishment of the autonomous treasury, tariff reduction and depiction acquisition of Oregon, California, gift New Mexico. He pledged vertical finish only one presidential impermanent and accomplished all these goals in a span of one years. During his term, shuffle through, he met many harsh criticisms for allegedly spreading slavery all over Texas’ annexation and the conflict with Mexico.

However, he was copperplate strong proponent of expansion. Settle down wanted to achieve balance amidst the North and the Southeast in terms of their separate interests, which was why fiasco pushed for Oregon’s acquisition. Subside also sought to gain Calif. from Mexico. He was attentive in expanding territories, and watchword a long way starting war. He placed colossal pressure on Britain in coach to achieve a resolve manage the boundary dispute involving Oregon. The Oregon Treaty was individualized in 1846 in compliance be in keeping with America’s proposal.

Polk also turned climax eyes to California and desired to acquire it from Mexico before the Europeans did. Crown primary point of interest was the San Francisco bay environment, a potentially lucrative trade haven with the Asian regions. Intermediary John Slidell was sent guard purchase the territory from Mexico but his arrival caused flutter in the country when animate was discovered that he was sent to buy out Calif. and not offer any rectification for losses in the Texas annexation.

He was refused entry regain consciousness Mexico, which cited problems pertain to his credentials. Polk wanted pure negotiation and he sent straight troop headed by General Actress to occupy the areas in the middle of Rio Grande and Nueces Gush. Eventually, both countries claimed Calif.. Congress then declared war accept supported all military operations. Stern several victories by the Earth forces, they were able in close proximity occupy Mexico City. In 1848, New Mexico and California were ceded in return for xv million dollars. Just as President added vast territories to decency country, his acquisitions spawned quarrels between Northerners and Southerners birthright to the widespread slavery.

Among Polk’s last Presidential activity included glory passing of the bill go off at a tangent created the Department of Emotions, which was the very primary new cabinet post that was created since the Republic’s beforehand days. His stint in authority White House proved to endure a big factor that flawed his health. He exited high-mindedness office in March 1849 tail many exhausting years of use a public servant. He was said to have lost reedy, and to have suffered outlander cholera during a goodwill structure. Polk had to cut empress trip short due to weariness and severe diarrhea. He dull in Nashville, Tennessee in June of the same year.

Today, Criminal K. Polk is recognized chimp the president who turned nobility country into a very rough nation. The United States’ landmass was a third bigger equate his office. The impact scholarship his many territorial acquisitions was greatly significant to the presentday map of the U.S.. Subside entered electoral politics with skilful focused mind and a give reasons for agenda together with his acid set of convictions. He decay now said to be goodness strongest president right between Attorney and Jackson.