James K. Polk (1795-1849)

James K. Polk (1795-1849), was President when the United States achieved its greatest territorial growth. During his presidency, the American flag was raised over most of the area now forming nine Western States, and Texas became a member of the Union. Polk successfully directed the Mexican War, which won much of this territory. He carried out every item of his political program. Of all American Presidents, only George Washington had such a clear record of success.

Polk's era was the "Fabulous 40's." The country seethed with excitement, energy, and prosperity. Covered wagons were beating out the Oregon Trail across the prairies and mountains to the Pacific Coast. The telegraph, a new wonder, carried news of
Polk's nomination. The discovery of gold in California started one of the greatest movements of people in American history. On their way west, the "forty-niners" sang such songs as "Be Kind to the Loved
Ones at Home" and Stephen Foster's "Oh! Susanna." Such authors and poets as Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Lowell, Whittier, and Poe produced the "Golden Age of American letters."

The national scene had its unpleasant side, too. Reformers called attention to the hardships of children working in factories and to the poverty of immigrants. Slavery rested uneasily in the thoughts of many Americans.

A lack of concern by Polk for these social problems made reformers dislike him. They regarded him as a tool of the slaveowners. Their unfriendly writings outlived Polk's reputation for success. This explains why, for a time, history held Polk in low regard.

Although Polk was a close friend and follower of Andrew Jackson, he lacked Jackson's personal attraction. He was cold, silent, narrow, and ungenerous. He did not seek a second term, and few people regretted it.

The nomination of Polk by the Democratic party surprised the nation. But he defeated the Whig candidate, the famous Henry Clay, because he understood the desire of Americans to see the United States become more powerful. Like most Americans of his day, Polk believed it was the "manifest destiny" of the United States to expand across North America. In this sense he appears to deserve the tribute of George Bancroft, the great historian who served as his Secretary of the Navy. Bancroft called Polk "prudent, farsighted ... one of the very foremost of our public men, and one of the very best and most honest and most successful Presidents the country ever had."