James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James K. Polk was born on a family farm in North Carolina on November 2nd 1795. When he was ten he and his family traveled by wagon to the western area of Tennessee to create a plantation, where they did very well. They were stable financially and had thousands of acres and over fifty slaves. James Polk was homeschooled and when he finished, he turned to his family farm for work. At age twenty Polk decided to continue his education at the University of North Carolina. He graduated in 1818. In 1825 Polk won election to the United States House of Representatives where he served seven terms. He became speaker of the house in 1835. Polk held this position for four years. In 1839 Polk was elected the governor of Tennessee. He then tried to run again in 1841 and 1843 but lost both times. After his years of running as a governor, Polk decided to run for president. He won in 1844. During the election Polk was all for the annexation of Texas, but his opponent Henry Clay opposed it. This made the votes tight and James K. Polk won by one of the thinnest margins in history. Polk’s presidency was very productive and played a large part in the growth of the United States. He retired after a single term although he could have easily won reelection. Just a few months after the end of his presidency Polk died of cholera, an intestinal disease that was very fatal. It was June 15th, 1849 and he was at the age of fifty-three. James K. Polk had a large contribution to the history of the United States, especially its growth. He added more than a million square miles to the existing land of the United States. He got all of this land through treaties and war. The territories of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, and Oregon, Idaho, Washington, much of New Mexico, Parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado were all acquired by the United States during his presidency. This is mostly because Polk strongly supported Manifest Destiny. Polk obtained most of the United States
James K. Polk was born on a family farm in North Carolina on November 2nd 1795. When he was ten he and his family traveled by wagon to the western area of Tennessee to create a plantation, where they did very well. They were stable financially and had thousands of acres and over fifty slaves. James Polk was homeschooled and when he finished, he turned to his family farm for work. At age twenty Polk decided to continue his education at the University of North Carolina. He graduated in 1818. In 1825 Polk won election to the United States House of Representatives where he served seven terms. He became speaker of the house in 1835. Polk held this position for four years. In 1839 Polk was elected the governor of Tennessee. He then tried to run again in 1841 and 1843 but lost both times. After his years of running as a governor, Polk decided to run for president. He won in 1844. During the election Polk was all for the annexation of Texas, but his opponent Henry Clay opposed it. This made the votes tight and James K. Polk won by one of the thinnest margins in history. Polk’s presidency was very productive and played a large part in the growth of the United States. He retired after a single term although he could have easily won reelection. Just a few months after the end of his presidency Polk died of cholera, an intestinal disease that was very fatal. It was June 15th, 1849 and he was at the age of fifty-three. James K. Polk had a large contribution to the history of the United States, especially its growth. He added more than a million square miles to the existing land of the United States. He got all of this land through treaties and war. The territories of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, and Oregon, Idaho, Washington, much of New Mexico, Parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado were all acquired by the United States during his presidency. This is mostly because Polk strongly supported Manifest Destiny. Polk obtained most of the United States