President James Knox Polk

1
President James Knox Polk

• Champion of Expansion

2
Election of 1844

• Whig Party-
• Clay is overwhelming choice for party
• Careful to avoid mention of Texas annexation due
  to controversy in Congress.

3
Election of 1844 (contd)

• Democrats have trouble selecting candidate
• Van Buren had lost favor and support for
  re-election
• James K. Polk- Dark Horse Candidate gets 2/3 of
  nomination
• Virtual Unknown in the North

4
Polks Platform

• Strong believer in Westward Expansion
• Wants to get Texas, California, and Oregon
• Reduce Tariffs
• Reduce power of National Bank

5
Polk victory due North Split

• Third party, Liberty party, splits some of the
  vote in New York which gives Polk the state and
  victory with electoral votes over Clay.
• Clay, again, on the outside looking in wondering
  Who is Polk???

6
Polk achieves objectives

• Won support of North by including the need to get
  Oregon (Treaty of Oregon- 1846) and Fifty-four
  forty or Fight!- Why will this work?
• Use of Political power once again for personal
  gain!!