* In 1844, the Democratic Party was enduring an identity crisis. The front-runner for the party’s presidential nomination was former President Martin Van Buren, but Southern Democrats were displeased that he opposed Texas annexation. Other candidates included moderate Michigander Lewis Cass and the pro-slavery secretary of state, John C. Calhoun. Whig nominee Henry Clay observed the Democratic Party was in an extreme state of “utter disorder, confusion and decomposition.” With sectionalism threatening the party’s stability, its factions struck a compromise and put forth an unexpected nominee: former Speaker of the House James K. Polk. A big advantage for the dark horse candidate was that he had the support of fellow Tennessean Andrew Jackson. Jackson was disillusioned with his former vice president Van Buren because of his Texas stance and endorsed the expansionist Polk. The Whigs dismissed Polk as a nobody, as indicated by their oft-repeated phrase, “Who is James K. Polk?” Yet multiple factors, including Clay’s conflicting messages about Texas and slavery, tipped the election in Polk’s favor.

* One of the reasons Polk appealed to the various Democratic factions was because he vowed to serve just one presidential term. Once “Young Hickory” won and took office, he set out to achieve all his goals within his four year window. Among these was U.S. expansion to the Pacific coast, which he aimed to do in part by settling a border dispute with Great Britain over Oregon. At the time, both American and British citizens could settle in the area. The intention was to incorporate Oregon as a free territory, an aspect of the 1844 party platform that was included to placate anti-slavery members. Polk ran for president under the slogan “Fifty-four forty or fight!” and asserted that the United States would declare war if Britain did not cede all of its land extending up to the 54th parallel. As president, Polk pushed for a compromise instead of a declaration of war. Secretary of State James Buchanan and British Ambassador Richard Pakenham composed a treaty, and it was passed by the U.S. Senate in June 1846. Though the boundary was established at the 49th parallel, hundreds of miles south of the 54°40′ latitude line, the U.S. still gained 360,000 square miles of land.

* To solidify America’s hold on the Pacific Coast, Polk also had the goal of acquiring California from Mexico. In 1845, while Texans were deliberating on the annexation deal signed by former President John Tyler, Polk instructed the military to seize San Francisco and other ports in case war broke out. In an effort to entice Mexico to turn over California, Polk’s administration offered to assume responsibility for reimbursement of all American citizens’ claims against the Mexican government, along with a $25 million land payment. When these tactics failed, the president ordered General Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande, which Texans claimed was the border with Mexico. Mexicans, who insisted the true boundary was farther north at the Nueces River, attacked the Americans. On May 13, 1846, Congress declared war on its southern neighbor. The president orchestrated the movements of American forces and ordered them to occupy additional California ports, as well as the Mexican province of New Mexico. When the conflict ended in 1848, the U.S.-Mexico border was confirmed at the Rio Grande, and the U.S. acquired land that eventually became part of six states. Polk had succeeded in his quest for territorial expansion. With all his goals achieved, including lowering tariffs and reestablishing the Independent Treasury, he left office in 1849 after one term, as promised.