History students and fanatics alike might know James K. Polk by his famously quoted goals during his one term presidency. These four goals, first mentioned by historian George Bancroft, have been thought of as James K Polk’s legacy and rewritten by many other historians. The mystery of the origin of this myth has been debunked, but the great measures remain the popular story of Polk’s presidency. Although thought of as a given fact, Tom Chaffin pulls into question the legitimacy of the anecdote in his book Met His Every Goal?: James K. Polk and The Legends of Manifest Destiny, by discrediting the source of the message. Chaffin’s through knowledge of Polk’s presidency, evident in his writings for the fourteen volume series "Correspondence of …show more content…
The “four great measures”, as stated by Chaffin, go as follows: the acquisition of some or all of the Oregon Country, the acquisition of California, a reduction in tariffs (to stimulate free trade), and the permanent establishment of Independent Treasury. Bancroft’s first retelling of Polk’s accomplishments came forty years after Polk's death, long after the historian supposedly heard of them. Chaffin points out, Bancroft told several different, and inconsistent versions of the anecdote of Polk's pronouncement, that Polk was sometimes reported to have said it before his inauguration, after his inauguration, to certain unnamed persons, and to Bancroft alone, and the inconsistencies are not the only thing that Chaffin points out in explaining the fault in Polk’s declaration of his goals. Bancroft was not originally choose to write of Polk’s correspondence, due to the fear that he wouldn’t write as accurately as William Marcy, who was a greater friend of Polk’s and spent more time in his …show more content…
Many people simply accept the anecdote as fact, myself once included, but Chaffin uses several sources and logical thinking that point to the conclusion that Polk did not state his so-called “great measures” before his presidency himself, but he did accomplish all that was supposedly stated. Chaffin’s list of sources is expansive, including many published primary sources. As Chaffin points out, while Polk was guarded and kept his thoughts to himself for the most part, his early death meant that his writings were not destroyed, leaving his White House diary open to the interpretation of scholars on the issues he choose as important to write about. Chaffin’s analysis of Polk’s diary found no mention of his goals. He uses these sources to discredit the originator of the myth, George Bancroft. Although all these sources are available, none of them have President Polk directly telling what many believe he
Scott Meyers Ms. Scott Honors U.S History Period 3 15 November 2016 Andrew Jackson: The U.S Demagogue In the latter half of the 1820’s, the American people were faced with one of the most difficult presidential elections in the young nation's history. Until this point in time, the common man was not concerned with politics and simply wished for the best man for the job. This being the case until The Panic of 1819, when Americans finally began to realize that their opinions mattered and no longer shall the common man be controlled by the old money of Washington, D.C. However, it was this type of thought that elected one of America’s most notorious Demagogues of the time period: Andrew Jackson.
During the course of the early and mid-1800s, the United States of America went through a rapid transition of economic, social, and territorial changes. Immediate alterations to its political system continued to be a constant focus in development as well. Likewise, the early and mid-1800s was the same time period when the Market Revolution and the idea of westward expansion –also known as the Manifest Destiny– sparked an interest towards many working Americans. After a few decades of winning independence from British sovereignty, America already had its fair share of progress and of great leaders. But to be a leader who ideally understood the voices and needs of the so-called “common man” (The American Promise, 284) , a term that was coined
“Never did a government commence under auspices so favorable, nor ever was success so complete. ”(James Monroe) James Monroe, the fifth U.S. president, was awe-inspiring beyond compare to his DR Party presidents counterparts. In the development of our blooming nation, he oversaw the major expansion that took place, and as well enhanced America’s foreign policy with the Monroe Doctrine, warning European countries against colonizing further or intervening in the Western Hemisphere world. Preceding his presidency, Monroe had long and honored careers as a soldier, governor, diplomat, and senator.
James Polk was elected in 1845 and had an expansionist viewpoint. He accomplished all of his presidential campaign goals which included gaining Texas, California, Nevada, Utah, most of New Mexico, and Arizona including a few more territories on the southern border, therefore, expanding America's territories. In addition, Polk began a period of Manifest Destiny. This was a phrase used to describe America’s goal to grow from “sea to shining sea”. Also, the Mexican-American War in 1846 acquired new lands for America in the southwest from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
With Polk’s narrow victory, the Democrats immediately called to admit Texas as a state, but was only successful by using a joint resolution,which included admitting Oregon as a state to satisfy Northern expansionist desires and balancing the number of slave-owning and free soil states. Not satisfied with these states alone, Polk turned to Mexico’s northern provinces (such as California and New Mexico) and endeavored to start a revolution in California. Polk’s audacious move to incite a revolution in California--done by sending Thomas Oliver Larkin to influence famous Californios to seek independence, seizing San Francisco Bay, and employing John Slidell to try to buy California--was met with greater tensions between the U.S. and Mexico for a war. These acts led to Polk utilizing more aggressive tactics to expand U.S. territory; Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to occupy disputed territory and “provoke a fight” (Pg. 419 Henretta), and the war concluded with American triumph. The war had started with patriotic expansionism, but soon divided the nation: the Whigs, who were against the war and did not support “this wretched cant about a ‘manifest destiny’”
James K. Polk and the Expansionist Impulse by Sam W. Haynes Haynes’ biography of James K. Polk is a little bit different from the traditional biographical book with enumeration of important dates from life of historical figure. Instead the author takes different approach: while recounting development of Polk’s career, he looks at the Polk’s presidency through the lens of expansionism. Though he frames the 11th President as a strong adherent of aggressive territorial expansionism, Haynes also emphasises that Polk’s decisions cannot be separated from the political and social climate of his time. The author renders Polk from one side as the initiator of expansionists political moves, and from the other, as a product of contemporary social beliefs,
However, this is an invalid argument. The land that Polk tried saying was invaded was actually land that was being disputed between Mexico and America. As, at the time they were having disagreements on where their borders were. Joshua Giddings wrote, “the army was within the United States they could not commit violence upon Mexico… It seems that the President expected General Taylor to find Mexican citizens located within the United States.”
Countless citizens in the 1840s and 1850s, feeling a sense of mission, believed that Almighty God had “manifestly’’ destined the American people for a hemispheric career. They would spread their uplifting and ennobling democratic institutions over at least the entire continent. Land greed and ideals—“empire’’ and “liberty’’—were thus conveniently conjoined. 14. What political party cost Henry Clay the popular vote in the state of New York, & what is ironic about Polk’s election in 1844 regarding this party’s position on Texas?
This showed President Polk’s Greed and desire to spread the United States of America from the east to the west. By the end of the war, America was victorious and in result they took half of Mexico’s
1) I learned about James Madison’s “The Federalist: Number 10.” This was my first time reading “The Federalist” despite hearing so much about it. James Madison came from a wealthy background. He later became an influencer on the Constitution, President of the United States of America, a member of Congress and Secretary of State. Prior to reading this week’s reading, I had not realized he served in politics for such a lengthy time before his presidency.
and Mexican forces had taken place in U.S. territory.” “Further, legislators were at odds over whether Polk had the right to unilaterally declare that a state of war
In Document B, President Polk said, “I had ordered and efficient military force to take a position...to meet a threatened invasion of Texas by the Mexican forces….invasion was threatened solely because Texas had determined….to annex herself to our Union,... it was plainly our duty to extend our protection over her citizens and soil.” President Polk then mentioned the attack at the Rio del Norte, where the invasion in Texas happened. This evidence shows the US was justified in going to war with Mexico because Texas was invaded by Mexico, meaning that the U.S. should protect Texas by fighting
The Manifest Destiny was fulfilled. Polk was a strong supporter of the Manifest Destiny. (Roden 317) The president convinced us. This evidence shows the US was justified in going in war because it was the Manifest Destiny.
JAMES MONROE Biographical Information Date and Place of Birth: April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia Family: Father Spence Monroe, Mother Elizabeth Jones Monroe, Married to Elizabeth Monroe, 3 Children Education: Campbelltown Academy, College of William & Mary Early Career: Soldier in the 3rd Virgina Regiment in the Continental Army Previous Political Offices Held: Member of the Continental Congress, United States Senator, minister to France, minister to England, governor of Virginia, Secretary of State, Secretary of War Interesting Facts: He was the first president to travel by steamboat, the United States issued a postage stamp in his honor in 1954, he died on the same day as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams five years later Date
Massa Tom Lea represents all the beliefs and values of the Rational Era because he finds truth through reason, importance through his individual self, and he believed that the idea of Patriotism grows over time. Massa Tom Lea is obviously the Devil in disguise. A rapist slave-owner who didn 't care about anyone but himself. I guess thats all that was around back in the day with most white slave-owners. He valued importance in his individual self and whoever worked for him got nothing but bad treatments.