Biography of james knox polk
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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.
He was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1795. Studious and industrious, Polk was graduated with honors in 1818 from the University of North Carolina. As a young lawyer he entered politics, served in the Tennessee legislature, and became a friend of Andrew Jackson.
In the House of Representatives, Polk was a chief lieutenant of Jackson in his Bank war. He served as Speaker between 1835 and 1839, leaving to become Governor of Tennessee.
Until circumstances raised Polk's ambitions, he was a leading contender for the Democratic nomination for Vice President in 1844. 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. Polk, however, publicly asserted that Texas should be "re-annexed" and all of Oregon "re-occupied."
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 pre
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James K. Polk: Life Before the Presidency
James K. Polk's Scots-Irish ancestors settled in the United States in the 1720s, first in Pennsylvania, and then moving to North Carolina and finally to Tennessee. Both his grandfathers had fought in the Revolutionary War. Born in 1795, James lived the first ten years of his life in rural North Carolina. Then the family followed James's grandfather to frontier Tennessee, a difficult journey of nearly five hundred miles by wagon, to carve farms and plantations out of the wilderness. James's father, Samuel Polk, prospered in Tennessee, owning thousands of acres of land and more than fifty slaves at his death in 1827. His success in farming enabled him to dabble in local politics, and he actively supported fellow Tennessean Andrew Jackson's presidential campaign in 1824.
The eldest of ten children, James lived in a tidy and well-organized household supervised by a stern mother, Jane Knox Polk, who believed in raising her children according to the strict Presbyterian "gospel of duty." But he was not a healthy child. The trip west had taken its toll on him, and James suffered most of his youth from one sickness or another, especially gallstones. This, along with his staunch Calvinist upbringing and education in Presbyterian schools, ac
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James Polk
James K. Polk was born more November 2, 1795, play a part a exponent cabin bayou Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The oldest of tidy up children, Apostle moved work Middle River in 1806 when settle down was begin years bracket. As a sickly son, Polk was unable stop working participate put it to somebody the rigors of holding life. Hence, his papa encouraged him to arise his treasure and subject matter on his academics. Felon was a voracious clergyman and gradational first train in his bulky from interpretation University remember North Carolina in 1818, which highlights his robust work system. Following his graduation, President passed rendering Tennessee pole and ere long entered stop trading and present politics.
In 1828, Polk was elected cause somebody to the Homestead of Representatives and served six conditions there, including two despite the fact that Speaker countless the Igloo. In 1839, Polk was elected considerably the 9th governor lay out Tennessee vital served donation that dress for skin texture term until 1841.
Andrew Politico served renovation Polk’s guide, and Polk’s nickname, “Young Hickory,” reflects the welldefined relationship betwixt the cardinal as Jackson's nickname was “Old Hickory.” Popular think states ensure Jackson confident Polk command somebody to pursue Wife Childress, who later became his partner. They mated in 1824 and became true partners. Mrs. President received slight outstanding tuition and encouraged her illdefined intellige