James. K. Polk
James K. Polk House I chose the James K. Polk home just due to the fact it was one of closest locations to us. James was the 11th President of the United States. He was born on November 2, 1795 and passed away on June 15, 1849. James was often referred to as the first “dark horse” President. “James K. Polk was the last of the Jacksonians to sit in the White House, and the last strong President until the Civil War.” (whitehouse.gov)
James was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1795. Polk graduated with honors in 1818 from the University of North Carolina where he studied to become a young lawyer and entered politics in 1823. He was admitted to the bar in 1820 and opened a law practice in Columbia.He served in the Tennessee legislature where he met Andrew Jackson. They became friends not too long after. In the House of Representatives, Polk was a chief lieutenant of Jackson in his Bank war. He served as Speaker of the House between 1835 and 1839. He eventually left and became Governor of Tennessee. (whitehouse.gov)
“James was a leading contender for the Democratic nomination for Vice President in 1844. Both Martin Van Buren, who had been expected to win the Democratic nomination for President, and Henry Clay, who was to be the Whig nominee, tried to take the expansionist issue out of the campaign by declaring themselves opposed to the annexation of Texas.” With the other candidates saying this Polk disagreed and wanted it to be re-annexed. More people who wanted this expansion were more in his favor; therefore Polk gained more votes from this expansion idea. He was known for using “Manifest Destiny” to his advantage. “Even before he could take office, Congress passed a joint resolution offering annexation to Texas. In so doing they bequeathed Polk the possibility of war with Mexico, which soon severed diplomatic relations.” Polk was nominated on the ninth ballot due to this. He stood for expansion when the other candidates were against it.
James was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1795. Polk graduated with honors in 1818 from the University of North Carolina where he studied to become a young lawyer and entered politics in 1823. He was admitted to the bar in 1820 and opened a law practice in Columbia.He served in the Tennessee legislature where he met Andrew Jackson. They became friends not too long after. In the House of Representatives, Polk was a chief lieutenant of Jackson in his Bank war. He served as Speaker of the House between 1835 and 1839. He eventually left and became Governor of Tennessee. (whitehouse.gov)
“James was a leading contender for the Democratic nomination for Vice President in 1844. Both Martin Van Buren, who had been expected to win the Democratic nomination for President, and Henry Clay, who was to be the Whig nominee, tried to take the expansionist issue out of the campaign by declaring themselves opposed to the annexation of Texas.” With the other candidates saying this Polk disagreed and wanted it to be re-annexed. More people who wanted this expansion were more in his favor; therefore Polk gained more votes from this expansion idea. He was known for using “Manifest Destiny” to his advantage. “Even before he could take office, Congress passed a joint resolution offering annexation to Texas. In so doing they bequeathed Polk the possibility of war with Mexico, which soon severed diplomatic relations.” Polk was nominated on the ninth ballot due to this. He stood for expansion when the other candidates were against it.