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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.
James K. Polk - 11th President, Expansionist, Manifest Destiny: Not yet 50 years of age, Polk was the youngest successful presidential candidate up to that time. He entered the presidency full of eagerness and with an expressed zeal to put his aims into effect.
Apr 2, 2014 · James Polk was the 11th president of the United States, known for his territorial expansion of the nation chiefly through the Mexican-American War.
Polk came into the presidency with a focused political agenda and a clear set of convictions. He left office the most successful President since George Washington in the accomplishment of his goals.
James K. Polk, (born Nov. 2, 1795, Mecklenburg county, N.C., U.S.—died June 15, 1849, Nashville, Tenn.), 11th president of the U.S. (1845–49). He was a friend and supporter of Andrew Jackson, who helped Polk win election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1825.
James Polk was shaped by his upbringing on the western frontier and his constant interactions with enslaved people. These experiences framed his attitudes toward slavery and westward expansion, as well as his evolution as a slave owner.
Scholarly essays, speeches, photos, and other resources on James Polk, the 11th US president (1845-1849), including information about the annexation of Texas, the Mexican War, and Manifest Destiny.
