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==Election of 1844==

==Election of 1844==

[[Image:Polk1844.jpg|thumb|200px|Democrats who rallied for Polk in the 1844 election marched behind these cloth banners.]]

[[Image:Polk1844.jpg|thumb|200px|Democrats who rallied for Polk in the 1844 election marched behind these cloth banners.]]

Polk initially hoped to be nominated for vice-president at the Democrat convention, in May 1844. The leading contender for the presidential nomination was former President [[Martin Van Buren]], who wanted to stop the expansion of slavery. Other candidates included [[James Buchanan]] (a moderate) and General [[Lewis Cass]] (an expansionist). The primary point of political contention involved the annexation of the Republic of Texas, which, after winning independence from Mexico in 1836, sought to join the United States. Van Buren opposed the annexation but in doing so lost the support of many Democrats, including former President [[Andrew Jackson]], who still had much influence.  

Polk initially hoped to be nominated for vice-president at the [[Democrat Convention]], in May 1844. The leading contender for the presidential nomination was former President [[Martin Van Buren]], who wanted to stop the expansion of slavery. Other candidates included [[James Buchanan]] (a moderate) and General [[Lewis Cass]] (an expansionist). The primary point of political contention involved the annexation of the Republic of Texas, which, after winning independence from Mexico in 1836, sought to join the United States. Van Buren opposed the annexation but in doing so lost the support of many Democrats, including former President [[Andrew Jackson]], who still had much influence.  

===1844 convention===

===1844 convention===