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→Presidency
==Presidency==
==Presidency==
[[Image:Polk4.jpg|right|thumb|270px|The Whig cartoonist expected Polk's policies to collapse like a house of cards, but they were all successful]]
[[Image:Polk4.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Polk's policies were successful, despite a Whig cartoonist expecting them to collapse like a house of cards.]]
When he took office on March 4, 1845, Polk, at 49, became the youngest man to assume the presidency. According to a story told decades later by [[George Bancroft]], Polk set four clearly defined goals for his administration: the re-establishment of the [[Independent Treasury System]], the reduction of tariffs, acquisition of some or all the Oregon boundary dispute, and the purchase of [[California]] from Mexico. Resolved to serve only one term, he accomplished all these objectives in just four years. By linking new lands in Oregon (with no slavery) and Texas (with slavery) he hoped to satisfy both North and South.
When he took office on March 4, 1845, Polk, at 49, became the youngest man to assume the presidency. According to a story told decades later by [[George Bancroft]], Polk set four clearly defined goals for his administration: the re-establishment of the [[Independent Treasury System]], the reduction of tariffs, acquisition of some or all the Oregon boundary dispute, and the purchase of [[California]] from Mexico. Resolved to serve only one term, he accomplished all these objectives in just four years. By linking new lands in Oregon (with no slavery) and Texas (with slavery) he hoped to satisfy both North and South.
====Cuba====
====Cuba====
In the summer of 1848, Polk authorized his ambassador to Spain to negotiate the purchase of [[Cuba]] and offer Spain up to $100 million, an astounding sum of money at the time for one territory. Cuba was close to the United States and had slavery, so the idea appealed to Southerners but was unwelcome in the North. The Spanish government rejected Polk's overtures.
In the summer of 1848, Polk authorized his ambassador to Spain to negotiate the purchase of [[Cuba]] and offer Spain up to $100 million, an astounding sum of money at the time for one territory. Cuba was close to the United States and had slavery, so the idea appealed to Southerners but was unwelcome in the North. The Spanish government rejected Polk's overtures.
==Post-presidency==
==Post-presidency==