Dems --> James Knox Polk

•America’s first darkhorse candidate orSurprise candidate

• Dark Horse, but he was experienced. 4 years as Speaker of the House and 2 termsas governor of Tennessee

• A determined, industrious, ruthless, and intelligent politician

Whigs Henry Clay

•One of the most popular politicians in the country.

•Whigs gladly nominatedhim to for president

Manifest Destiny• The idea that countless Americans

sensed that the Almighty God had destined for them the right to control all of the continent and that the Americans would at the very least spread their uplifting and ennobling institutions from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

• During the Election of 1844, it played a vital part in the campaign.

Democratic Concerns

• 54°50’ and Reoccupation of Oregon

• Reannexation of Texas

• Democrats were swayed by Manifest Destiny

• Labeled Clay as a “corrupt bargainer”, a dissolute character, and a slave owner.

Whig Concerns• Slogans such as

– Hooray for Clay– Polk, Slavery, and Texas, or Clay Union,

and Liberty.

• Started lie that slaves from Tennessee were branded with J.K.P.

• Funny they both claimed the other was a slave owner when both owned slaves.

1844 Campaign Flag

Liberty Party James Birney

•Only gained 2% of the popular vote, butthey did well-enough in New York to guarantee a win for Polk by siphoning offvotes from Clay and the Whigs.

1844 Election Results

“Texas Coming In”

Texas (the beast): I fear I cannot carry you into the Presidential Chair.

Polk: Dear Texas, I knew you cannot—I wish I had rode some

other horse but it is too late to repent.

“JAMES K. POLK”by They Might Be Giants

In 1844, the Democrats were splitThe three nominees for the presidential candidateWere Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionistJames Buchanan, a moderateLewis Cass, a general and expansionistFrom Nashville came a dark horse riding upHe was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump!

“JAMES K. POLK”by They Might Be Giants

Austere, severe, he held few people dearHis oratory filled his foes with fearThe factions soon agreedHe's just the man we needTo bring about victoryFulfill our Manifest DestinyAnd annex the land the Mexicans commandAnd when the votes were cast the winner wasMister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump!

“JAMES K. POLK”by They Might Be Giants

In four short years he met his every goalHe seized the whole southwest from MexicoMade sure the tariffs fellAnd made the English sell the Oregon TerritoryHe built an independent treasuryHaving done all this he sought no second termBut precious few have mourned the passing ofMister James K. Polk, our eleventh president“Young Hickory,” Napoleon of the Stump!

1. Lower the tariff.

2. Resolve the Oregon boundarydispute.

3. Restore the independent treasury.

4. Acquire California. 5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=EMuxMKNtdEg (39.00)

Goals of Polk’s 4 Point Plan

Walker Tariff of 1846• Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury

got the tariff reduced from 32% to 25%.

• Many supporters of Clay and the New England and middle states complained it would ruin American manufacturing

• However, proved to be a good revenue producer.

• Polk also reestablished the independent Treasury in 1846. So goal 1 and 2 accomplished easily.