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James Knox Polk: United States
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James Knox Polk is so little known to even the educated public that essayist James Thurber once suggested that a society be formed to invent and circulate amusing anecdotes about him. Yet Polk, who acquired roughly one-third of the territory that today comprises the United States, is consistently ranked by historians as one of the most effective U.S. presidents. Seigenthaler crisply summarizes the conventional case for Polk's (near) greatness. Coming into office, Polk listed four goals for his administration: reducing tariffs, acquiring California from Mexico and Oregon from the United Kingdom, and introducing the "independent subtreasury" system to take U.S. funds out of the coffers of private banks. He accomplished them all. As to why Polk is not better remembered, Seigenthaler notes that historians have generally sympathized with Whig critics of the Mexican War and that Polk's journals reveal an unsympathetic and small-minded personality.
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James Knox Polk was the 11th president of the United States and the first dark horse to become president. He won the nomination after President Martin Van Buren lost popularity. To learn more about him, follow these steps.
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Credit: "James Knox Polk, President of the United States / engraved by J. Sartain from the original picture painted by T. Sully, Junr." John Sartain (1808-1897). Mezzotint print, 1845. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-5770 DLC (b&w film copy neg.). Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
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The administration of James Knox Polk (1795-1849), eleventh president of the United States, saw America at war with Mexico. As a consequence, Polk added more territory to the United States than had any other president except Thomas Jefferson. James K....
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James Knox Polk (November 2, 1795–June 15, 1849) was the eleventh President of the United States, elected in 1844. Polk was governor of Tennessee and Speaker of the U.S. House. A Democrat, Polk was the surprise ("dark horse") candidate for president in 1844, defeating Whig Henry Clay by promising to annex Texas.
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James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States of America, serving from 1845 to 1849. He lived from 1795 to 1849.[1]He was elected in the 1844 Presidential Election as a Democrat and served as president from 1845-1849.
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