Meta tags:

Headings (most frequently used words):

james, polk, president, pages, saturday, october, 13, 2012, primary, sources, doi, translate, presidents, notables,

Text of the page (most frequently used words):
the (740), and (234), was (173), his (130), that (109), polk (88), party (83), #president (67), for (65), with (61), march (56), john (49), states (48), had (48), james (46), united (40), which (36), congress (35), republican (32), were (32), democratic (31), war (31), house (30), but (27), from (26), george (24), william (24), january (24), new (23), 000 (23), would (23), this (22), tennessee (22), not (22), who (21), all (21), bill (20), territory (20), thomas (19), samuel (19), upon (19), great (18), been (18), texas (18), one (17), office (17), country (17), mexico (17), adams (16), henry (16), north (16), first (16), state (16), june (16), during (16), candidate (16), their (15), have (15), november (15), him (15), its (15), oregon (15), slavery (15), american (15), taylor (14), hancock (14), july (14), may (14), when (14), public (14), made (14), 1849 (13), senate (13), harrison (13), presidents (13), our (13), they (13), general (13), after (13), van (12), america (12), jefferson (12), johnson (12), whig (12), 1781 (12), administration (12), while (12), annexation (12), also (12), could (12), washington (11), political (11), between (11), jackson (11), buren (11), 1776 (11), secretary (11), two (11), april (11), december (11), only (11), should (11), government (11), under (10), andrew (10), presidency (10), huntington (10), act (10), 1774 (10), september (10), 1841 (10), union (10), mexican (10), latter (10), letter (10), clay (10), question (10), session (10), passed (10), other (9), randolph (9), roosevelt (9), term (9), quincy (9), wilson (9), richard (9), tyler (9), constitution (9), elected (9), 1777 (9), continental (9), york (9), treaty (9), without (9), national (9), august (9), october (9), 1783 (9), 1845 (9), county (9), until (9), than (9), being (9), power (9), any (9), same (9), message (9), industry (9), democrats (9), lee (8), sarah (8), zachary (8), vice (8), over (8), members (8), time (8), bush (8), cleveland (8), arthur (8), carolina (8), historic (8), 1789 (8), leading (8), february (8), 1844 (8), nashville (8), 1839 (8), again (8), those (8), california (8), what (8), still (8), nation (8), policy (8), within (8), years (8), secure (8), vote (8), majority (8), treasury (8), election (8), robert (7), monroe (7), never (7), both (7), franklin (7), hall (7), are (7), speaker (7), 1881 (7), once (7), life (7), held (7), member (7), most (7), will (7), votes (7), britain (7), protection (7), these (7), himself (7), few (7), although (7), representatives (7), signed (7), received (7), opposition (7), revenue (7), tariff (7), nomination (7), defeat (7), convention (7), whigs (7), declared (7), governor (7), nominated (7), committee (7), elizabeth (6), madison (6), became (6), presidential (6), law (6), grover (6), benjamin (6), abraham (6), lincoln (6), buchanan (6), martin (6), 1787 (6), peyton (6), more (6), south (6), here (6), colonies (6), many (6), you (6), philadelphia (6), city (6), 1850 (6), 1825 (6), congressional (6), bar (6), popular (6), opinion (6), into (6), man (6), knox (6), then (6), career (6), boundary (6), rio (6), 1848 (6), part (6), having (6), views (6), thus (6), slave (6), free (6), there (6), friends (6), second (6), compromise (6), 1846 (6), river (6), sent (6), however (6), domestic (6), northern (6), brought (6), klos (5), martha (5), jay (5), david (5), claim (5), carter (5), davis (5), pierce (5), mckean (5), middleton (5), pennsylvania (5), declaration (5), rights (5), primary (5), home (5), federal (5), 1788 (5), 1784 (5), 1775 (5), 1889 (5), scott (5), 1865 (5), 1819 (5), deceased (5), maury (5), admitted (5), columbia (5), legislature (5), appointed (5), dated (5), grande (5), believed (5), action (5), regarding (5), become (5), body (5), southern (5), said (5), them (5), favor (5), walker (5), introduced (5), portion (5), duties (5), contest (5), people (5), own (5), either (5), now (5), bank (5), opposed (5), ticket (5), francis (4), eleanor (4), livingston (4), day (4), out (4), name (4), obama (4), clinton (4), reagan (4), ford (4), nixon (4), kennedy (4), eisenhower (4), truman (4), hoover (4), coolidge (4), harding (4), woodrow (4), taft (4), mckinley (4), garfield (4), hayes (4), grant (4), fillmore (4), griffin (4), clair (4), gorham (4), mifflin (4), boudinot (4), hanson (4), laurens (4), four (4), 1820 (4), lewis (4), chief (4), civil (4), assembled (4), address (4), article (4), click (4), present (4), can (4), dec (4), nov (4), 1778 (4), sept (4), baltimore (4), 2009 (4), 2001 (4), 1993 (4), 1989 (4), 1981 (4), 1974 (4), 1969 (4), 1963 (4), 1961 (4), 1953 (4), 1945 (4), 1933 (4), 1929 (4), 1923 (4), 1921 (4), 1913 (4), 1909 (4), 1901 (4), aged (4), 1877 (4), 1869 (4), 1853 (4), jane (4), 1842 (4), 1817 (4), 1782 (4), 1797 (4), age (4), 1747 (4), born (4), university (4), year (4), opinions (4), found (4), greatest (4), high (4), dallas (4), character (4), though (4), cabinet (4), has (4), parties (4), men (4), say (4), even (4), efforts (4), did (4), executive (4), too (4), soon (4), among (4), conferred (4), system (4), secured (4), result (4), ceded (4), view (4), compelled (4), attention (4), line (4), taking (4), finally (4), decision (4), enter (4), health (4), much (4), weeks (4), return (4), whose (4), some (4), questions (4), nearly (4), appropriating (4), purpose (4), previous (4), against (4), such (4), conclusion (4), internal (4), last (4), met (4), whole (4), ground (4), position (4), issue (4), 1833 (4), followed (4), support (4), occupied (4), campaign (4), republic (4), early (4), son (4), canvass (4), about (4), area (4), jones (4), strong (4), entered (4), father (4), stan (3), mason (3), alexander (3), notables (3), julia (3), abigail (3), atchison (3), make (3), because (3), date (3), pro (3), today (3), donald (3), trump (3), barack (3), ronald (3), gerald (3), lyndon (3), dwight (3), harry (3), herbert (3), calvin (3), warren (3), theodore (3), chester (3), rutherford (3), ulysses (3), millard (3), federalist (3), cyrus (3), nathaniel (3), chairman (3), elias (3), less (3), mary (3), virginia (3), morris (3), independence (3), 1812 (3), fort (3), battle (3), orleans (3), coin (3), sources (3), share (3), source (3), your (3), non (3), next (3), fortune (3), 1790 (3), 1785 (3), prospect (3), court (3), 1977 (3), betty (3), 1897 (3), 1861 (3), 1857 (3), 1829 (3), 1809 (3), 1801 (3), ladies (3), 1818 (3), 1830 (3), dorothy (3), 1738 (3), powers (3), independent (3), died (3), 1843 (3), 1847 (3), student (3), judgment (3), private (3), rather (3), friend (3), official (3), history (3), industrious (3), late (3), bancroft (3), divided (3), consistent (3), equal (3), grounds (3), charge (3), extreme (3), ever (3), succeeded (3), cession (3), adoption (3), since (3), negotiation (3), citizens (3), way (3), panama (3), commercial (3), relations (3), reached (3), good (3), spain (3), military (3), section (3), platform (3), carry (3), authorities (3), argument (3), settlement (3), offer (3), entire (3), might (3), called (3), agitation (3), taken (3), virtually (3), attached (3), wilmot (3), proviso (3), amendment (3), acted (3), pacific (3), territorial (3), referred (3), wisdom (3), different (3), improvements (3), including (3), money (3), known (3), leaving (3), through (3), providing (3), honored (3), give (3), branches (3), entitled (3), former (3), speech (3), certain (3), asked (3), acquired (3), 1827 (3), disputed (3), twelve (3), months (3), further (3), negotiations (3), resulted (3), parallel (3), whether (3), proposed (3), generally (3), supported (3), shall (3), troops (3), concerned (3), foreign (3), nueces (3), beyond (3), measures (3), district (3), debate (3), navy (3), several (3), distinguished (3), afterward (3), involve (3), inaugural (3), subject (3), opponent (3), electoral (3), provided (3), obtained (3), 1840 (3), politics (3), col (3), took (3), surplus (3), success (3), used (3), every (3), frequently (3), mother (3), placed (3), mountains (2), edward (2), walter (2), aaron (2), napoleon (2), bell (2), woman (2), suffrage (2), ross (2), dolley (2), catherine (2), confederate (2), acting (2), claimed (2), scientists (2), refused (2), ended (2), therefore (2), went (2), stanley (2), hospitality (2), joseph (2), earl (2), declined (2), johnston (2), republics (2), stone (2), printed (2), aug (2), chase (2), charles (2), maryland (2), read (2), stockton (2), island (2), williams (2), commander (2), world (2), necessity (2), papers (2), movement (2), events (2), taxation (2), ordinance (2), doctrine (2), articles (2), confederation (2), exhibits (2), community (2), length (2), chosen (2), naomi (2), 202 (2), 239 (2), exhibit (2), event (2), clients (2), 500 (2), how (2), 1800 (2), tavern (2), college (2), lancaster (2), anna (2), edith (2), ellen (2), 1886 (2), frances (2), folsom (2), caroline (2), 1862 (2), means (2), hannah (2), call (2), 1756 (2), 1794 (2), 1745 (2), 1893 (2), 1837 (2), 1885 (2), 1786 (2), 1779 (2), brother (2), 1815 (2), graduated (2), began (2), minister (2), holding (2), till (2), major (2), patient (2), clear (2), formed (2), moved (2), left (2), white (2), habits (2), sincere (2), reputation (2), eulogy (2), punctual (2), moral (2), see (2), mind (2), doctrines (2), thoroughly (2), enemies (2), solid (2), viewed (2), results (2), perhaps (2), insisted (2), produce (2), study (2), acknowledge (2), successful (2), gallant (2), southwestern (2), carried (2), upper (2), added (2), domain (2), wealth (2), yet (2), proved (2), valuable (2), commerce (2), right (2), across (2), treaties (2), established (2), favorable (2), terms (2), undoubtedly (2), conviction (2), faith (2), unwisely (2), desirable (2), point (2), seeing (2), valley (2), acquisition (2), close (2), elevated (2), demanded (2), indeed (2), advocated (2), force (2), toward (2), officer (2), equally (2), offered (2), accepted (2), rejected (2), suggestion (2), strength (2), probably (2), affected (2), bring (2), termination (2), judge (2), forty (2), issues (2), impossible (2), lived (2), abolitionists (2), hitherto (2), days (2), opponents (2), prominent (2), floor (2), 39th (2), purchase (2), organize (2), missouri (2), lost (2), peace (2), series (2), victories (2), governments (2), provision (2), concerning (2), territories (2), organization (2), appropriation (2), off (2), dictate (2), example (2), before (2), satisfactory (2), houses (2), unusual (2), sections (2), amounting (2), objectionable (2), measure (2), veto (2), boldly (2), thought (2), clearness (2), cogency (2), far (2), put (2), accordance (2), prepared (2), discussion (2), defeated (2), where (2), course (2), hand (2), ability (2), principles (2), govern (2), boldness (2), import (2), farmer (2), engaged (2), pursuits (2), exclusive (2), increasing (2), committed (2), reduction (2), imports (2), gave (2), stand (2), england (2), seemed (2), notice (2), demand (2), summarized (2), her (2), 49th (2), statement (2), army (2), calling (2), spot (2), nevertheless (2), asking (2), settled (2), effect (2), passage (2), neither (2), nor (2), except (2), accordingly (2), fact (2), hostilities (2), begun (2), following (2), anti (2), recommended (2), informed (2), ordered (2), western (2), doubtful (2), came (2), nothing (2), face (2), attacked (2), arista (2), half (2), number (2), marcy (2), cave (2), attorney (2), long (2), named (2), senator (2), best (2), duty (2), author (2), third (2), delegates (2), cass (2), others (2), solemn (2), debt (2), young (2), favored (2), least (2), west (2), immediate (2), title (2), choice (2), meeting (2), future (2), unable (2), colonel (2), none (2), know (2), probable (2), greatly (2), autograph (2), pages (2), single (2), constitutional (2), governorship (2), lead (2), testimony (2), leader (2), uniformly (2), extended (2), caused (2), circumstances (2), autumn (2), report (2), removal (2), approved (2), lands (2), establish (2), sessions (2), period (2), degree (2), attracted (2), achieved (2), head (2), wants (2), duck (2), resided (2), seat (2), times (2), illustration (2), regarded (2), practice (2), honor (2), attained (2), often (2), eleventh (2), mecklenburg (2), 1795 (2), occupation (2), slidell (2), damage (2), claims (2), knew (2), victory (2), expansion (2), controversy (2), goals (2), banking (2), due (2), rose (2), dark (2), horse (2), served (2), family (2), copyright, picture, window, theme, powered, blogger, istoric, himalaya, egyptian, mummy, andy, warhol, sitting, bull, haym, salomon, rockefeller, edmund, peirpoint, wolfgang, mozart, clement, moore, ferdinand, magellan, macdonald, vladimir, lenin, hamilton, alva, edison, disney, gottlieb, daimler, clemens, champlain, carver, alphonse, capone, burr, boone, daniel, bonaparte, karl, benz, graham, ludwig, beethoven, benedict, arnold, audubon, sojourner, truth, betsy, ward, howe, clara, barton, susan, anthony, assertion, sworn, sunday, tempore, succession, organized, 1791, existence, schism, sake, expediency, incorrectly, refer, utilized, please, visit, biden, ramsay, translate, wet, ink, transfer, katherine, goddard, timothy, matlack, engrossed, dunlap, walton, lyman, button, gwinnett, georgia, rutledge, lynch, heyward, penn, hooper, hewes, wythe, nelson, lightfoot, braxton, paca, carroll, carrollton, caesar, rodney, delaware, smith, rush, morton, clymer, witherspoon, hopkinson, hart, clark, jersey, philip, floyd, stephen, hopkins, ellery, rhode, oliver, wolcott, roger, sherman, connecticut, treat, paine, elbridge, gerry, massachusetts, whipple, thornton, matthew, bartlett, josiah, hampshire, thomson, doi, vietnam, underground, railroad, stamp, jumonville, glen, pitt, duquesne, yorktown, nations, charter, paris, 176, mayflower, compact, thanksgiving, proclamations, representation, northwest, gettysburg, emancipation, proclamation, association, subscribe, posts, atom, pinterest, facebook, blogthis, email, comments, posted, complete, list, links, biographies, commanders, chiefs, dollar, paulson, website, www, rimary, available, display, costs, range, depending, loan, rarity, artifacts, principals, yavneh, fax, 0037, 727, 771, inquiries, profit, corporation, hosted, jazz, museum, louisiana, historical, center, book, professional, contacting, include, companies, associations, profits, colleges, universities, conventions, advertising, agencies, exhibitor, benefited, displays, designed, entertain, educate, target, audience, learn, join, roster, satisfied, clientele, contact, capitol, buildings, jan, french, arms, trenton, annapolis, nassau, princeton, town, fite, feb, carpenter, oct, capitals, michelle, lavaughn, robinson, laura, lane, welch, hillary, diane, rodham, barbara, nancy, rosalynn, ann, thelma, pat, ryan, claudia, alta, lady, bird, jacqueline, bouvier, mamie, geneva, doud, bess, lou, grace, goodhue, florence, mabel, king, 1915, bolling, galt, 1914, axson, helen, louise, herron, kermit, carow, ida, saxton, 1892, 1880, herndon, lucretia, rudolph, lucy, ware, webb, boggs, dent, eliza, mccardle, varina, todd, lifelong, bachelor, margaret, letitia, 1828, rachel, louisa, wayles, 1751, 1807, christina, stuart, 1743, phoebe, bayard, 1744, rebecca, 1796, anne, gaskins, pinkard, 1736, 1808, 1726, contee, armitage, 1802, 1731, 1770, ball, 1741, 1761, century, chart, comparing, 20017, 2017, 1973, evolution, edited, 1887, appletons, encyclopedia, hawkins, lawyer, practise, naples, commissioned, thinker, steadfast, easily, labored, faithfully, entrance, disseminate, educated, commended, themselves, upright, blameless, simple, abstemiousness, happiness, pleasures, circle, gay, round, amusements, frank, courteous, affable, demeanor, strangers, generous, benevolent, esteem, citizen, quite, words, associate, nicholson, jenkins, buffalo, lucien, temperate, unsocial, accessible, austerity, devotional, bigoted, surviving, revised, communication, senior, editor, 1888, says, special, qualities, perception, distinctly, representative, sought, convict, inconsistency, fanciful, firm, standpoint, certainly, centre, overruling, guiding, secretaries, unity, harmony, contemporary, cyclopaedia, whatever, motives, brilliant, loyally, upheld, abundantly, supplied, sinews, seconded, competent, officers, field, addition, direct, expenses, provinces, meant, increased, compute, dazzling, advantages, recommendation, warehousing, aid, 35th, grenada, ratified, isthmus, postal, secondary, germanic, reciprocal, growing, markets, sincerity, geographical, annexed, mississippi, mart, endangered, proximity, hostile, control, waters, red, rivet, expressly, embodied, recreant, trust, attempted, antagonistic, involved, carrying, detail, leave, largely, representations, promises, trusted, pay, famous, order, orande, suggested, successor, obligatory, british, hastily, applauded, possibly, ease, reiterated, retired, intention, robust, seriously, impaired, unavoidable, cares, habit, devoting, execution, details, permanent, fell, prey, disease, slightly, ordinary, hours, sufficed, attack, fatal, impartiality, death, evidently, utopia, reason, why, continue, live, come, deprecated, safety, commonwealth, lay, respecting, compromises, furnished, modus, vivendi, propagandist, consequently, contrary, exclusion, final, retirement, fought, conflict, feature, constantly, waged, appended, concur, motion, extend, sectional, 104, 30th, establishing, supreme, organizing, consider, permitting, objected, strike, approving, abiding, confidence, sober, reflection, sound, patriotism, follow, gone, settle, dangerous, equitable, respect, prove, portions, rider, signalized, struggle, advocates, large, lavish, expenditure, harbor, improvement, precisely, vetoed, authority, examined, reference, corruptions, expended, particular, parts, assistance, undaunted, making, appropriations, 600, feared, pocket, spite, denunciations, assailed, politicians, press, thoroughness, investigation, breadth, excels, purely, based, plan, unusually, able, adopted, 114, ayes, nays, tied, saved, occasion, memorable, spirit, ran, crowded, chamber, hung, lips, announced, reasons, misfortune, offend, suffrages, prefer, deepest, obscurity, unwounded, conscience, glare, eminence, spotted, sense, delinquency, courted, criticism, kane, ambiguously, worded, identical, annual, explained, precision, proclaimed, features, investigated, exposed, urged, substitute, valorem, specific, minimum, apply, just, various, planter, toils, yearly, fields, labor, protected, manufacturer, navigator, mechanic, joint, labors, classes, constitute, aggregate, justly, recipients, afforded, burdens, important, violated, candidates, supposed, well, defined, pledged, standard, raleigh, discriminating, adhesion, alarmed, losing, unless, rally, concession, another, abandoned, amenable, rebuke, uttered, deserve, statesman, place, disturb, amity, imminent, 1803, france, coast, unsettled, 54º, latitude, maintained, jointly, countries, arrangement, terminable, reoccupation, popularly, rallying, cry, accomplished, urge, promise, directed, requisite, ensued, yield, unoccupied, subscribed, threw, responsibility, deciding, majesty, decided, alternative, fifty, fight, protested, untrue, alleging, provoked, retaliatory, ordering, designate, whereon, outrage, voted, dispute, extension, behalf, applying, newly, involuntary, servitude, exist, crime, whereof, duly, convicted, resolutions, receipt, news, shed, blood, soil, formal, recognizing, prosecution, preamble, follows, whereas, exists, condemned, sub, matter, interfere, occupy, exercised, jurisdiction, later, extending, elicit, willingness, negotiate, forward, obedience, advanced, camp, corpus, christi, badly, beaten, palo, alto, resaca, palma, drove, nominating, post, master, selecting, singularly, fortunate, comprised, represented, fresh, experience, finances, confided, portfolio, literature, appointment, postmaster, perpetuate, sacred, preserve, assign, limits, achievements, minds, hands, glorious, treason, mankind, society, atrocity, lift, destroy, overthrow, noblest, structure, human, protects, fellow, stop, progress, anarchy, despotism, inaugurated, recounting, blessings, strongly, contrast, hesitating, phrases, contained, necessary, numbered, inflexibly, messrs, names, presented, conciliation, alacrity, unanimity, acceptance, exciting, electors, 175, 165, cast, discharge, reelection, divergence, prevailed, bad, assuming, ten, millions, dollars, increase, advocating, concurred, objection, residing, agreed, very, desired, consent, obtain, crisis, uncertain, tones, understood, addressed, cincinnati, expression, sentiments, reply, anxious, prayer, danger, she, dependency, colony, sabine, away, hesitation, declaring, proof, fair, constituted, regard, indisputable, kentucky, pointed, concluded, destined, change, platforms, topography, itself, penned, paraph, acumen, demonstrated, eventually, win, indicated, proper, take, rashly, advice, discreet, prudent, yourself, things, avoided, show, choose, done, burn, think, nominate, thinly, attended, breakup, fully, unanimously, stronger, myself, freely, pretensions, zeal, notorious, thousands, staunchest, induced, express, let, chance, save, leaf, ally, laughlin, upcoming, gubernatorial, oath, touched, incorporate, creation, asserted, discussed, topics, especially, bearing, foregone, whirlwind, swept, overcome, usual, energy, earnestness, opposing, succeed, cutting, down, possibility, must, persisted, incalculable, mischief, reformers, disheartened, disasters, defeats, primarily, defection, hugh, evident, strongest, slightest, prize, cheerfully, consented, allow

Text of the page (random words):
with honors for two years he studied law in nashville tennessee and was admitted to the bar in 1820 he developed a lucrative law practice in the columbia tennessee and entered politics polk rose steadily within the ranks of the democratic party in tennessee he served in the tennessee legislature and was an avid supporter of president andrew jackson his marriage to socially prominent sarah childress on january 1 1824 provided his career with a strong boost james and sarah had no children from 1825 to 1839 polk served in the united states house of representatives he became speaker of the house during the last four years of his congressional term and presided over many turbulent sessions and was the object of a great deal of harassment from personal enemies he left the house to become governor of tennessee in 1839 due to the increasing strength of the whig party within the state his political career was frustrated for the next several years he suffered defeat in 1841 and again in 1843 in his quest for re election democrats however still regarded him as a likely candidate for the vice presidency in 1844 on a ticket expected to be headed by former president martin van buren due to changing circumstances however polk s ambitions rose and on the ninth ballot at the democratic convention polk was nominated for president thereby becoming the first dark horse candidate so unknown was polk outside tennessee and the nation s capital the whigs in an effort to further their cause during the campaign would ask who is james k polk running on a platform that called for the re occupation of oregon and the re annexation of texas polk secured a narrow victory in the general election he received 38 000 votes more than his whig opponent henry clay and received 170 electoral votes to clay s 105 polk became the first president to commit himself to a single term and was resolved to govern independently his goals were to secure a lower duty on imports to separate the federal government and the us treasury from the banking industry and to acquire texas california and oregon for the united states prior to his inauguration in march of 1845 one of his objectives was attained president john tyler had signed the bill providing for the annexation of texas if the greatness of a presidency is judged by the magnitude by which they fulfill their goals the presidential administration of james polk was great indeed while winning congressional support for the measures he favored he effectively used his power of the veto to block those to which he opposed the wisdom and morality of his major policies were questioned by many receiving much dissension from within his own party polk nevertheless enacted his domestic program the walker tariff of 1846 which was named for secretary of the treasury robert j walker provided for a substantial reduction of import duties while this pleased the southern democrats it met bitter resistance from the pennsylvania protectionists polk s foreign policy created much controversy the independent treasury act of the same year displeased the pro banking element of the party the expansive territorial acquisitions of his administration were achieved at great cost the political bitterness that resulted helped pave the way to the american civil war president polk informed europe that he would enforce the monroe doctrine and that he would not permit intervention in the western hemisphere by non american powers as a result of his stand on oregon during the election campaign polk knew that he was risking war with great britain however neither polk nor great britain wanted war after lengthy negotiations a treaty was signed in 1846 securing the american claim to the area along the 49th parallel except for the southern tip of vancouver island intent on also acquiring california which belonged to mexico polk was prepared in early may 1846 to make war on mexico polk sent an envoy john slidell to offer mexico up to 20 000 000 plus settlement of damage claims owed to americans in return for california and the new mexico country mexican leaders knew that they could not cede half their country and still stay in power thus slidell was not received to strengthen his position polk sent general zachary taylor to the disputed area on the rio grande the mexican troops fired on the american soldiers in may 1846 congress declared war and supported the military operations despite northern opposition alexander h stephens and some southerners joined with abraham lincoln and northern whigs to condemn what they believed were dishonest methods used by polk inprovoking the hostilities relations between president polk and his leading generals zachary taylor and winfield scott were affected by bickering and political intrigue repeated victories were won by american forces and finally they occupied mexico city in 1848 mexico ceded new mexico and california in return for 15 000 000 and american assumption of the damage claims president polk had succeeded in adding a vast area to the united states with this military victory but questions were raised about the nation s honor the country was divided over the issue of the expansion of slavery while the mexican war was popular in the southern states opponents of slavery viewed it as a way of bringing additional slave states to the union efforts to bar slavery as a result of the mexican cession once again brought forth controversy and lead to the civil war it also brought about division within the democratic party whig candidate zachary taylor defeated the democratic party candidate lewis cass in the presidential election of 1848 james polk had fulfilled all of his campaign pledges all this hard work took a great toll and undermined his health polk died on june 15 1849 in nashville tennessee three months after leaving office polk james knox eleventh president of the united states born in mecklenburg county north carolina 2 november 1795 died in nashville tennessee 15 june 1849 he was a son of samuel polk whose father ezekiel was a brother of colonel thomas q v grandson of robert polk or pollock who was born in ireland and emigrated to the united states his mother was jane daughter of james knox a resident of iredell county north carolina and a captain in the war of the revolution his father samuel a farmer removed in the autumn of 1806 to the rich valley of duck river a tributary of the tennessee and made a new home in a section that was erected the following year into the county of maury besides cultivating the tract of land he had put chased samuel at intervals followed the occupation of a surveyor acquired a fortune equal to his wants and lived until 1827 his son james was brought up on the farm and not only assisted in its management but frequently accompanied his father in his surveying expeditions during which they were often absent for weeks he was inclined to study often busied himself with his father s mathematical circulations and was fond of reading he was sent to school and had succeeded in mastering the english branches when ill health compelled his removal he was then placed with a merchant but having a strong dislike to commercial pursuits he obtained permission to return home after a few weeks trial and in july 1813 was given in charge of a private tutor in 1815 he entered the sophomore class at the university of north carolina of which institution his cousin william q v was a trustee as a student young polk was correct punctual and industrious at his graduation in 1818 he was officially acknowledged to be the best scholar in both the classics and mathematics and delivered the latin salutatory in 1847 the university conferred upon him the degree of ll d in 1819 he entered the law office of felix grundy who was then at the head of the tennessee bar while pursuing his legal studies he attracted the attention of andrew jackson who soon afterward was appointed governor of the territory of florida an intimacy was thus begun between the two men that in after years greatly influenced the course of at least one of them in 1820 mr polk was admitted to the bar and established himself at columbia the county seat of maury county here he attained such immediate success as falls to the lot of few his career at the bar only ending with his election to the governorship in 1839 at times he practiced alone while at others he was associated successively with several of the leading practitioners of the state among the latter may be mentioned aaron v brown and gideon j millow brought up as a jeffersonian and early taking an interest in politics mr polk was frequently heard in public as an exponent of the views of his party so popular was his style of oratory that his services soon came to be in great demand and he was not long in earning the title of the napoleon of the stump he was however an argumentative rather than a rhetorical speaker and convinced his hearers by plainness of statement and aptness of illustration ignoring the ad captandum effects usually resorted to in political harangues his first public employment was that of chief clerk to the tennessee house of representatives and in 1823 he canvassed the district to secure his own election to that body during his two years in the legislature he was regarded as one of its most promising members his ability and shrewdness in debate his business tact combined with his firmness and industry secured for him a high reputation while a member of the general assembly he obtained the passage of a law to prevent the then common practice of duelling and although he resided in a community where that mode of settling disputes was generally approved he was never concerned in an affair of honor either as principal or as second in august 1825 he was elected to congress from the duck river district in which he resided by a flattering majority and re elected at every succeeding election until 1839 when he withdrew from the contest to become a candidate for governor on taking his seat as a member of the 19th congress he found himself with one or two exceptions the youngest member of that body the same habits of laborious application that had previously characterized him were now displayed on the floor of the house and in the committee room he was prominently connected with every leading question and upon all he struck what proved to be the keynote for the action of his party during the whole period of president jackson s administration he was one of its leading supporters and at times on certain issues of paramount importance its chief reliance his maiden speech was made in defense of the proposed amendment to the constitution giving the choice of president and vice president directly to the people it was distinguished by clearness and force copiousness of research wealth of illustration and cogency of argument and at once placed its author in the front rank of congressional debaters during the same session mr polk attracted attention by his vigorous opposition to the appropriation for the panama mission president adams had appointed commissioners to attend a congress proposed to be held at panama by delegates appointed by different spanish american states which although they had virtually achieved their independence were still at war with the mother country mr polk and those who thought with him contended that such action on the part of this government would tend to involve us m a war with spain and establish an unfortunate precedent for the future in december 1827 he was placed on the committee on foreign affairs and some time afterward was also appointed chairman of the select committee to which was referred that portion of the message of president adams calling the attention of congress to the probable accumulation of a surplus in the treasury after the anticipated extinguishments of the national debt as the head of the latter committee he made a report denying the constitutional power of congress to collect from the people for distribution a surplus beyond the wants of the government and maintaining that the revenue should be reduced to the requirements of the public service early in 1833 as a member of the ways and means committee he made a minority report unfavorable to the bank of the united states which aroused a storm of opposition a meeting of the friends of the bank being held at nashville during the entire contest between the bank and president jackson caused by the removal of the deposits in october 1833 mr polk now chairman of the committee supported the executive his speech in opening the debate summarized the material facts and arguments on the democratic side of the question george mcduffle leader of the opposition bore testimony in his concluding remarks to the boldness and manliness with which mr polk had assumed the only position that could be judiciously taken mr polk was elected speaker of the house of representatives in december 1835 and held that office till 1839 he gave to the administration of martin van buren the same unhesitating support he had accorded to that of president jackson and though taking no part in the discussions he approved of the leading measures recommended by the former including the cession of the public lands to the states the preemption law and the proposal to establish an independent treasury and exerted his influence to secure their adoption he was the speaker during five sessions and it was his fortune to preside over the house at a period when party feelings were excited to an unusual degree notwithstanding the fact that during the first session more appeals were taken from his decisions than were ever known before he was uniformly sustained by the house and frequently by leading members of the whig party although he was opposed to the doctrines of the anti slavery reformers we have the testimony of their leader in the house john quincy adams to the effect that speaker polk uniformly extended to him every kindness and courtesy imaginable on leaving congress mr polk became the candidate of the democrats of tennessee for governor they had become disheartened by a series of disasters and defeats caused primarily by the defection of john bell and judge hugh l white under these circumstances it was evident that no one but the strongest man in the party could enter the canvass with the slightest prospect of success and it was doubtful whether even he could carry off the prize on being asked mr polk at once cheerfully consented to allow his name to be used he was nominated in the autumn of 1838 but owing to his congressional duties was unable fairly to enter upon the canvass until the spring of 1839 his opponent was newton cannon also a democrat who then held the office the contest was spirited and mr polk was elected by over 2 500 majority on 14 october he took the oath of office in his inaugural address he touched upon the relations of the state and federal governments declared that the latter had no constitutional power to incorpor...