James Knox Polk Dbq

The presidency of James Knox Polk was a memorable one. He was known as America’s first dark horse candidate, and later he was called the only strong commander in chief between Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln (Greenstein 14). Yet, many historians still write him off but he was by no means insignificant. Now, he may have not been as charismatic as Roosevelt or Reagan but charisma does not mean greatness. Polk was without questions one of the most ambitious and successful presidents in history. In four short years, his one term as president (1845-1849), the things that Polk accomplished was nonetheless astonishing. Polk bears the responsibility for reshaping the boundaries of the United States continentally through negotiation, war and policy
This created a hot debate over the war itself and the spread of slavery. In 1846 a congressman introduced an amendment to a spending bill, Wilmot Proviso. The bill asserted that slavery wouldn’t be allowed to exist in the territory acquired from Mexico (Dusinberre 148). Polk found the entire bill to be “foolish and mischievous”, believing that there was no connection between peace with Mexico and slavery (Nevins 138). Polk claimed to have no interest in extending slavery but it was noted that he was an avid slave owner and many even considered racist. He even bought and sold slaves while in the White House and took measures to keep it a secret (Nevins
Polk’s inaugural address had declared, “Ours was meant to be a plain and frugal government” (Greenstein 19). He was unwavering in changing protective tariffs. He had stated his opposition to them all throughout his campaign and in 1846 passed the Walker Tariff. Whigs and Democrats had been feuding over tariff policy for decades. The Whigs wanted more protection while the Democrats favored lower rates. While Polk had been opposed to protective tariffs, he understood some tariffs might provide protection for certain good by making imports unaffordable, but the issue at what point does the rate become protective is what Polk addressed. His solution was the antiprotectionist tariff of 1846, called the Walker Tariff after its Secretary of Treasury Robert Walker; whom was commissioned by Polk to study the tariff issue. While some Whigs fought to defeat the bill before congress, there were many more who respected the tariff issue. On the other all, all but a few northerners also opposed it. This called for a tie-breaking vote in Senate that fell on Polk’s winning side. Polk had quickly signed into the law the Walker tariff (Nau 144). This lowered rates to a new standard. Instead of each item being taxed separately, flat rates for items would be issued according to grouping (Nau 145). This proved well worth the fight, as it gave America its first standardized tariff. Even