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==James K. Polk and War with Mexico==

==James K. Polk and War with Mexico==

The Democrats officially won back the presidency with James Polk, who was supported by the still-popular Jackson.  Polk was the hardest-working president ever, and even died from exhaustion soon after leaving office after serving only one term.  He was also the first "dark horse" candidate, which means that no one expected him even to win the nomination of his Democratic Party.  He was nominated to run for president only after the leading contenders were all rejected by the delegates to the national convention for the Democratic Party.  In fact, Polk had gone to the convention hoping at most to be the vice presidential candidate for Martin Van Buren, but former President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party favored Polk instead of renominating Van Buren.

The Democrats officially won back the presidency with James Polk, who was supported by the still-popular Jackson.  Polk was the hardest-working president ever, and even died from exhaustion soon after leaving office after serving only one term.  He was also the first "dark horse" candidate, which means that no one expected him even to win the nomination of his Democratic Party.  He was nominated to run for president only after the leading contenders were all rejected by the delegates to the Democratic National Convention.  In fact, Polk had gone to the convention hoping at most to be the vice presidential candidate for Martin Van Buren, but former President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party favored Polk instead of renominating Van Buren.

Polk's opponent in the presidential race was the Whig Party leader Henry Clay, who scoffed at how little-known Polk was.  Clay and his supporters began to ask rhetorically, "Who is Polk?"<ref>http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/presidents/polk/horse_1</ref>  Polk responded to the criticism by championing Manifest Destiny (and expansion of the nation's territory).  He supported annexing Texas (which would be a slave state) to acquire southern support and supporting adding Oregon as a free state to gain northern votes.  The issue of Texas had become so important to Americans, that Polk won on a platform of annexing Texas to the United States.  Polk won based on his pro-expansion position.   

Polk's opponent in the presidential race was the Whig Party leader Henry Clay, who scoffed at how little-known Polk was.  Clay and his supporters began to ask rhetorically, "Who is Polk?"<ref>http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/presidents/polk/horse_1</ref>  Polk responded to the criticism by championing Manifest Destiny (and expansion of the nation's territory).  He supported annexing Texas (which would be a slave state) to acquire southern support and supporting adding Oregon as a free state to gain northern votes.  The issue of Texas had become so important to Americans that Polk won on a platform of annexing Texas to the United States, and more generally on his pro-expansion position.   

Polk's presidency had these achievements:

Polk's presidency had these achievements: