James K. Polk

James K. Polk
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11th President of the United States
Term of office March 4, 1845 - March 4, 1849
Political party	Democratic
Vice President	George M. Dallas
Preceded by	John Tyler
Succeeded by	Zachary Taylor
Born	November 3, 1795 Pineville, North Carolina
Died	June 15, 1849 Nashville, Tennessee
Spouse	Sarah Childress Polk
Religion	Methodist

James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States of America. He lived from 1795 to 1849.He was elected in the 1844 Presidential Election as a Democrat and served as president from 1845-1849.

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.

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. He was the first President to be outlived by his mother.