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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 to win even 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.

The Democrats officially won back the presidency with James Polk, who was supported by the still-popular, but retired Andrew Jackson.  Polk was the hardest-working president ever, and even died from exhaustion soon after leaving office despite serving only one term.  He was also the first "dark horse" candidate, which means that no one expected to win even 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 the 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, and more generally 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 even made a campaign slogan of the rhetorical question, "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 both annexing Texas (which would become a slave state) to acquire southern support and 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:

President Polk wanted all the land for the United States.  In July 1845, he sent the commander of the U.S. Army in Texas, Zachary Taylor, to take his troops into the disputed land between the Nueces and Rio Grande rivers. In November, Polk sent Congressman John Slidell to Mexico in order to purchase the disputed area, and acquire (what is now) New Mexico and California.  This effort, known as the Slidell mission, had failed by May 1846.

President Polk wanted all the land for the United States.  In July 1845, he sent the commander of the U.S. Army in Texas, Zachary Taylor, to take his troops into the disputed land between the Nueces and Rio Grande rivers. In November, Polk sent Congressman John Slidell to Mexico in order to purchase the disputed area, and acquire (what is now) New Mexico and California.  This effort, known as the Slidell mission, had failed by May 1846.

Following the failure of Slidell's mission in May 1846, Polk tried a different approach:  find a reason to declare a war.  Polk told Congress that Mexico had attacked Taylor's army on American (Texas) soil, shedding American blood there.  Congress reacted by giving Polk the declaration of war Polk sought, on May 13, 1846.  Ever since it has been disputed where the American blood was actually shed.  Was it on undisputed American soil, meaning that Mexico was wrong, or on Mexican soil, meaning that Americans were the aggressor?  The official account of the United States Department of State blames ... the United States:<ref>http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/dwe/16336.htm</ref>

Following the failure of Slidell's mission in May 1846, Polk tried a different approach:  find a reason to declare a war.  Polk told Congress that Mexico had attacked Taylor's army on American (Texas) soil, shedding American blood there.  Congress reacted by giving Polk the declaration of war Polk sought, on May 13, 1846.  Ever since then it has been disputed where the American blood was actually shed, making this one of the big mysteries of American history.  Was the first conflict on undisputed American soil, meaning that Mexico was wrong, or on Mexican soil, meaning that Americans were the aggressor?  The official account of the United States Department of State blames ... the United States:<ref>http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/dwe/16336.htm</ref>

:The President neglected to inform Congress, however, that the Mexicans had used force only after Taylor's troops had positioned themselves on the banks of the Rio Grande River, which was effectively Mexican territory.  

:The President neglected to inform Congress, however, that the Mexicans had used force only after Taylor's troops had positioned themselves on the banks of the Rio Grande River, which was effectively Mexican territory.  

But that account is debatable, and may simply reflect a modern spin.  President Polk was not otherwise known to be a liar.  However, a congressman at the time, Abraham Lincoln, was a Whig (and thus opposed to Polk), and he also questioned whether the blood had really been shed on American soil.  In December 1847, Lincoln introduced the "Spot Resolutions" into Congress to challenge the "spot" claimed by Polk to start the war.  The Whigs opposed the war for its two-year duration; so did leading intellectuals in Massachusetts like Henry David Thoreau.

But that account is debatable, and may simply reflect a modern tendency by the United States to apologize for everything.  Truth be told, President Polk was not otherwise known to be a liar.  However, a congressman at the time, Abraham Lincoln, was a Whig (and thus opposed to Polk), and he also questioned whether the blood had really been shed on American soil.  In December 1847, Lincoln introduced the "Spot Resolutions" into Congress to challenge the "spot" claimed by Polk to start the war.  The Whigs opposed the war throughout its two-year duration; so did leading intellectuals in Massachusetts like Henry David Thoreau.

'''Mystery:  Where was the American blood shed that started the Mexican War, on American or Mexican soil?'''

'''Mystery:  Where was the American blood shed that started the Mexican War, on American or Mexican soil?'''

'''Debate:  Is it ever justified for a President to lie to Congress to accomplish a goal sought by Americans?'''

'''Debate:  Is it ever justified for a President to lie to Congress to accomplish a goal sought by Americans?'''

The U.S. Army pushed into Mexico to win this war.  In September 1847, the United States captured Mexico City.  Then Nicholas Trist, chief clerk of the Department of State and Polk's emissary to negotiate a peace treaty, began discussions with the Mexican Government just as Slidell had done the prior year.  President Polk grew angry with Trist, however, for offering terms of peace that Polk thought were too generous to Mexico.  Meanwhile, Trist had become a close friend of General Winfield Scott, who was a member of the opposite Whig Party and thought to be planning to run against Polk for the presidency. Worse, the war caused the Democrats (who wanted to expand slavery) to demand for complete annexation of Mexico.   

To win the Mexican War, the U.S. Army pushed far into Mexico territory.  In September 1847, the United States captured Mexico City.  Then Nicholas Trist, chief clerk of the Department of State and Polk's emissary to negotiate a peace treaty, began discussions with the Mexican Government just as Slidell had done the prior year.  President Polk grew angry with Trist, however, for offering terms of peace that Polk thought were too generous to Mexico.  Meanwhile, Trist had become a close friend of General Winfield Scott, who was a member of the opposite Whig Party and thought to be planning to run against Polk for the presidency. Worse, the war caused the Democrats (who wanted to expand slavery) to demand for complete annexation of Mexico.   

Polk essentially fired Trist in October, demanding that he return to Washington, D.C.  Trist ignored this "recall order" and entered into the  Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, signing it with Mexico in Mexico City on February 2, 1848.  This Treaty provided that:  

Polk essentially fired Trist in October, demanding that he return to Washington, D.C.  Trist ignored this "recall order" and entered into the  Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, signing it with Mexico in Mexico City on February 2, 1848.  This Treaty provided that:  

*the United States government would pay off up to $3.25 million worth of debts owed by Mexico to U.S. citizens, relieving Mexico of those obligations

*the United States government would pay off up to $3.25 million worth of debts owed by Mexico to U.S. citizens, relieving Mexico of those obligations

Polk was unhappy with the terms of this Treaty.  He wanted even more Mexican territory.  But he felt he had little choice other than submit this Treaty to the U.S. Senate for ratification, which it did on March 10, 1848 by a margin of 38 to 14.  The 2/3rd minimum required for ratification was 2/3rd of 52, or 35.  The Treaty was ratified by a margin of only 4 votes.

Polk was unhappy with the terms of this Treaty.  He wanted even more Mexican territory.  But he felt he had no choice other than submit this Treaty to the U.S. Senate for ratification, which it did on March 10, 1848 by a margin of 38 to 14.  The 2/3rd minimum required for ratification was 2/3rd of 52, or 35.  The Treaty was ratified by a margin of only 4 votes.

Soon after the war began in 1846, Congressman David Wilmot introduced a rider (Aug. 1846) to an appropriations bill stipulating that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist" in any territory acquired from this war. Southern senators (especially South Carolina Senator John Calhoun) blocked this "Wilmot Proviso," but its concept was so powerful that it captured the abolitionist sentiment all the way until (and through) the Civil War.  The Wilmot Proviso had an influence on politics much as the call to stop abortion (and overturn ''Roe v. Wade'') does today.

Soon after the war began in 1846, Congressman David Wilmot introduced a rider (Aug. 1846) to an appropriations bill stipulating that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist" in any territory acquired from this war. Southern senators (especially South Carolina Senator John Calhoun) blocked this "Wilmot Proviso," but its concept was so powerful that it inspired the abolitionists all the way until (and through) the Civil War, much as the pro-life movement inspires people today.  The Wilmot Proviso to stop slavery became as influential as the movement to overturn ''Roe v. Wade'' (abortion) is today.

In addition to all of Polk's accomplishments in adding territory, he also had a habit if seeing every single visitor who came to the White House!  Still a young man, Polk died shortly after leaving office of an exhaustion-induced illness.

In addition to all of Polk's accomplishments in adding territory, he also had a habit if seeing every single visitor, no matter who he was, who came to the White House! No wonder it exhausted him. Still a young man, Polk died shortly after leaving office of an exhaustion-induced illness.

==Taylor, Fillmore and the Compromise of 1850==

==Taylor, Fillmore and the Compromise of 1850==