The Presidents of the USA

Fast Facts

James K. Polk

1845-1849

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James Knox Polk

birthplace

Pineville, NC

birthday

November 2

Life

1795-1849

age

OFC:49 , d. 54

party

Democratic

presidency highlights

Mexican-American War & acquisition of a vast territory

nickname:

Young Hickory

vice-president:

George Dallas

previous office

Governor of Tennessee

key background fact:

He was the Democratic party's first dark-horse (unknown nominee)

occupation

Lawyer, Plantation Owner

military service

Colonel of Tennessee militia, served in 1821

children

—

wife:

Sarah Childress (1824)

height

5' 8'' / 1.73 m

higher education

University of North Carolina

religion

Presbyterian

quote

"With me it is exceptionally true that the Presidency is no bed of roses."

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actions & events

1846 A large crack in the Liberty Bell.
1848 California Gold rush

economy

1846 Walker Tariff. Taxes reduced and fixed

foreign affairs

1846 Agreement with Britain over Oregon. Both got a part
1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mexico gave up the entire Southwest

military activity

1846 American-Mexican war.
Mexico city captured in 1848.

unique facts

First president to serve a nation from coast to coast.
Held the first annual White House Thanksgiving dinner.
The only president to have served as House Speaker.

interesting

He died from exhaustion and hard work soon after he left office. According to another theory, he contracted cholera.

military activity

1846 American-Mexican war.
Mexico city captured in 1848.

Legacy

Polk added more territory than had any other president except Thomas Jefferson and made U.S. a coast-to-coast nation. He was one of the greatest presidents.

American-Mexican War