James K. Polk Dbq

James K Polk was the 11th president, he was elected in 1844. He fit into modern political climate very well. He ran one term then retired, he was the youngest president to be in office at the time. He had the shortest retirement. James Knox Polk was born on November 2, 1795 in Mecklenburg county, North

Carolina. Polk is the son of Jane and Samuel Polk, he had 9 siblings 5 brothers and 4 sister. For the beginning of his schooling he was homeschooled, because he was a sickly child due to a time he was traveling. He took admission at church close to his house he then transferred to

Murfreesboro, this is where they noticed he was a bright student. He went off to graduate with honors from The University of North Carolina in 1818. After

This is where he became friends with Andrew Jackson. In

1820 he was accepted by the bar and had a successful practice as a debtor. When he left legislature he moved to the United States House of Representatives, he serves from 1825 though

1839, he decided to leave to become governor of Tennessee. Andrew Jackson convinced Polk to run for President, because he thought Martin Buren had committed political suicide by announcing to annexation of Texas. ( Crystal Reference Encyclopedia) James had 15 slaves, he treated them horribly and most of his slaves were runaways, due to his treatments. Polk saw himself as a superior, as him being speaker of the house of representatives he had to deal with anti- slavery petitions.

“ A slave dreads the punishment of whipping more than he does imprisonment, and that description of punishment, and that description of punishment has, besides a beneficial effect upon his fellow-slaves”. (Byrnes)

On January 1st 1824 Polk married his wife Sarah Polk in Rutherford County, when she was 20 and he was 28. They met when he was on the tennessee legislator. They never had

In seven months the U.S army defected the biggest Mexican army, the first half they were lead by General Zachary Taylor, the second half they were lead by General Stephen

Watts Kearny. During the last part polk provided safe passages into mexico, the commander of the mexican forces was a man by the name of Antonio Lopez de santa anna he promised to make peace with them if he could have 30 million. As soon as he returned to mexico he started a new army, polk ended up transferring half of his army over to another part because of difficulties. James place of residence was north Carolina, he left office March 4th, 1849, then passed away 3 months later due to cholera. This making his wife a widow for 42 years, the longest first lady to be a widow. We later find out that Polk was happy to no longer be president he says he felt “exceedingly relieved” to be free from public duty. In 1893 Polk's body was transported from Polk's place to a tomb at the state capitol in Nashville. ( Byrnes)

James K Polk impacted the world by Reestablishment of the independent treasury system, lowering the tariff, the settlement of Oregon, and Acquisition of California. Many of the things he did are still used today.