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'''James Knox Polk''' was the 11th [[President of the United States of America]]. He lived from 1795 to 1849.<ref name="EncyclopediaPresidents">Encyclopedia of Presidents James K. Polk by Dee Lillegard, Children's Press, 1988.</ref>He was elected in the [[United States presidential election, 1844|1844 Presidential Election]] as a Democrat and served as president from 1845-1849.<ref>http://www.trivia-library.com/a/11th-us-president-james-k-polk.htm</ref>
'''James Knox Polk''' was the 11th [[President of the United States of America]]. He lived from 1795 to 1849.<ref name="EncyclopediaPresidents">Encyclopedia of Presidents James K. Polk by Dee Lillegard, Children's Press, 1988.</ref>He was elected in the [[United States presidential election, 1844|1844 Presidential Election]] as a Democrat and served as president from 1845-1849.<ref>http://www.trivia-library.com/a/11th-us-president-james-k-polk.htm</ref>
Polk launched an invasion of [[Mexico]] to prevent an imminent Mexican attack on [[Texas]]. The Whig Congressman [[Abraham Lincoln]] said that the area of Texas that American soldiers entered was in dispute, and was later criticized for his "Spot Resolution" that said that the Mexican War was started on the wrong spot.
As President, Polk had four goals; One, acquire [[New Mexico]] and [[California]] from Mexico; Two, acquire all of of part of the Oregon Territory; Three, lower tariffs; and four, establish and Independent Treasury.
Polk declined to run for a second term. He shortly afterwards retired at Polk Place, [[Nashville]] where he died on June 15, 1849<ref>http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/jkpolk.html</ref>. He was the first President to be outlived by his mother.<ref name = "EncyclopediaPresidents"/>
===Goals===
In 1846, Polk launched an invasion of [[Mexico]] in response to Mexican soldiers ambushing an American scouting party. The Whig Congressman [[Abraham Lincoln]] said that the area of Texas that American soldiers entered was in dispute, and was later criticized for his "Spot Resolution" that said that the Mexican War was started on the wrong spot. After two years of fighting, and capturing [[Mexico City]], Mexico signed a treaty in which they sold New Mexico and California to the United States.
In 1846, faced with the possiblity of war on two fronts, Polk made a treaty with Great Britain in which the Oregan Territory was to be split in half, with the United States getting the southern half.
Polk's Tarriff Act of 1846 lowered tarriffs from 35 to 25%. It was to remain unchanged until 1857.
In 1846, Polk's Independent Treasury Bill passed Congress. The act would remain in place until 1913.
Having completed all of his goals, Polk declined to run for a second term as he said before he was elected. He shortly afterwards retired at Polk Place, [[Nashville]] where he died on June 15, 1849<ref>http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/jkpolk.html</ref>. He was the first President to be outlived by his mother.<ref name = "EncyclopediaPresidents"/>
==Notes & References==
==Notes & References==