Changes

===Foreign policy===

===Foreign policy===

Polk was committed to expansion—Democrats believed that opening up more farms for yeoman farmers was critical for the success of republican virtue. (See [[Manifest Destiny]].) To balance the interests of North and South he sought the Oregon territory (comprised of present-day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia), as well as Texas. He sought to purchase California, which Mexico had neglected.

Polk was committed to expansion—Democrats believed that opening up more farms for yeoman farmers was critical for the success of republican virtue. (See [[Manifest Destiny]].) To balance the interests of North and South he sought the Oregon territory (comprised of present-day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia), as well as Texas. He sought to purchase California, which Mexico had neglected.

====Texas====

====Texas====

President Tyler interpreted Polk's victory as a mandate for the annexation of Texas. Acting quickly because he feared British designs on Texas, Tyler urged Congress to pass a joint resolution admitting Texas to the Union as a state. Congress complied on February 28, 1845. Texas promptly accepted the offer and officially became a state on December 29, 1845.  The annexation angered Mexico, however, which had succumbed to heavy British pressure and had offered Texas its semi-independence on the condition that it should not attach itself to any other nation. Mexican politicians had repeatedly warned that annexation meant war.

President Tyler interpreted Polk's victory as a mandate for the annexation of Texas. Acting quickly because he feared British designs on Texas, Tyler urged Congress to pass a joint resolution admitting Texas to the Union as a state. Congress complied on February 28, 1845. Texas promptly accepted the offer and officially became a state on December 29, 1845.  The annexation angered Mexico, however, which had succumbed to heavy British pressure and had offered Texas its semi-independence on the condition that it should not attach itself to any other nation. Mexican politicians had repeatedly warned that annexation meant war.

Expansionists after the 1844 election shouted "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!" This slogan, often associated with Polk, was in fact the position of his rivals in the Democratic Party, who wanted Polk to be as uncompromising in acquiring the Oregon territory as he had been in annexing Texas. Polk wanted territory, not war, and compromised with the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Aberdeen. The [[Oregon Treaty]] of 1846 divided the Oregon Country along the 49th parallel, the original American proposal. Although there were many who still clamored for the whole of the territory, the treaty was approved by the Senate. By doing this, Polk angered many Midwestern Democrats by settling for the 49th parallel. Many of these Midwestern Democrats believed that Polk had always wanted the boundary at the 49th, and that he had fooled them into believing he wanted it at the 54th parallel. The portion of Oregon territory acquired by the United States would later form the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming.

Expansionists after the 1844 election shouted "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!" This slogan, often associated with Polk, was in fact the position of his rivals in the Democratic Party, who wanted Polk to be as uncompromising in acquiring the Oregon territory as he had been in annexing Texas. Polk wanted territory, not war, and compromised with the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Aberdeen. The [[Oregon Treaty]] of 1846 divided the Oregon Country along the 49th parallel, the original American proposal. Although there were many who still clamored for the whole of the territory, the treaty was approved by the Senate. By doing this, Polk angered many Midwestern Democrats by settling for the 49th parallel. Many of these Midwestern Democrats believed that Polk had always wanted the boundary at the 49th, and that he had fooled them into believing he wanted it at the 54th parallel. The portion of Oregon territory acquired by the United States would later form the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming.

====War with Mexico====

====War with Mexico====

{{Main|Mexican-American War}}

{{Main|Mexican-American War}}

==Post-presidency==

==Post-presidency==

Polk's time in the White House took its toll on his health. Full of enthusiasm and vigor when he entered office, Polk left exhausted by his years of public service. He lost weight and had deep lines on his face and dark circles under his eyes. He apparently contracted cholera in New Orleans, on a goodwill tour of the South. He died at his new home, Polk Place, in Nashville. His widow Sarah lived at Polk Place for over forty years after his passing, a retirement longer than that of any other [[First Lady]] of the United States. She died on August 14, 1891.

Polk's time in the White House took its toll on his health. Full of enthusiasm and vigor when he entered office, Polk left exhausted by his years of public service. He lost weight and had deep lines on his face and dark circles under his eyes. He apparently contracted cholera in New Orleans, on a goodwill tour of the South. He died at his new home, Polk Place, in Nashville. His widow Sarah lived at Polk Place for over forty years after his passing, a retirement longer than that of any other [[First Lady]] of the United States. She died on August 14, 1891.

== Bibliography==

== Bibliography==

* Smith, Justin H. ''The War with Mexico''  2 vol  (1919); Pulitzer Prize; 2:233-52; [http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=&mkt=en-us&scope=books&FORM=LIVSOP#q=Smith%2C%20Justin%20H.%20The%20War%20with%20Mexico%20&filter=all&start=1&t=Z_FmZjpeBxxaF_mVSZGsCw&sq=Smith%2C%20Justin%20H.%20The%20War%20with%20Mexico%20 online vol 1]; [http://books.google.com/books?id=0VNOyhWAyMAC&printsec=toc&dq=Smith,+Justin+Harvey.+The+War+with+Mexico&as_brr=1 online vol 2] Pulitzer Prize winner.

* Smith, Justin H. ''The War with Mexico''  2 vol  (1919); Pulitzer Prize; 2:233-52; [http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=&mkt=en-us&scope=books&FORM=LIVSOP#q=Smith%2C%20Justin%20H.%20The%20War%20with%20Mexico%20&filter=all&start=1&t=Z_FmZjpeBxxaF_mVSZGsCw&sq=Smith%2C%20Justin%20H.%20The%20War%20with%20Mexico%20 online vol 1]; [http://books.google.com/books?id=0VNOyhWAyMAC&printsec=toc&dq=Smith,+Justin+Harvey.+The+War+with+Mexico&as_brr=1 online vol 2] Pulitzer Prize winner.

 

==References==

====Notes====

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://fair-use.org/the-liberator/1849/06/22/the-death-of-president-polk Obituary of President Polk in abolitionist ''The Liberator'' (June 22, 1849)]

* [http://fair-use.org/the-liberator/1849/06/22/the-death-of-president-polk Obituary of President Polk in abolitionist ''The Liberator'' (June 22, 1849)]

*[http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/start.html Smithsonian's "Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48" with essay and lesson plans]

*[http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/start.html Smithsonian's "Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48" with essay and lesson plans]

 

* [https://librivox.org/author/11285 Works by James K. Polk - text and free audio] - [[LibriVox]]

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{{USPresidents}}

{{USPresidents}}