
He linked the Texas issue, popular in the South, with the Oregon question, attractive to the North. Democrats replied Polk was the candidate who stood for expansion.

The aged Jackson, correctly sensing that the people favored expansion, urged the choice of a candidate committed to the Nation’s “Manifest Destiny.” This view prevailed at the Democratic Convention, where Polk was nominated on the ninth ballot. Polk, however, publicly asserted that Texas should be “re-annexed” and all of Oregon “re-occupied.” 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. Until circumstances raised Polk’s ambitions, he was a leading contender for the Democratic nomination for Vice President in 1844. He served as Speaker between 18, leaving to become Governor of Tennessee. In the House of Representatives, Polk was a chief lieutenant of Jackson in his Bank war. As a young lawyer he entered politics, served in the Tennessee legislature, and became a friend of Andrew Jackson. Studious and industrious, Polk was graduated with honors in 1818 from the University of North Carolina. He was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1795. Polk was the last of the Jacksonians to sit in the White House, and the last strong President until the Civil War. Often referred to as the first “dark horse” President, James K. Get Involved Show submenu for “Get Involved””.The White House Show submenu for “The White House””.

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