James K. Polk was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1848. He was a Democrat whose main goals as president were to establish the United States border with Canada along the 49th parallel, acquire California and the Southwest from Mexico, and establish an independent treasury system. Polk achieved all four of these major objectives during his single term as president, earning him the nickname of "Napoleon of the Stump."

1. James K. PolkJames K. Polk
“Napoleon of the Stump”“Napoleon of the Stump”
1111thth
presidentpresident
DemocratDemocrat
1845-18481845-1848
"No President who performs
his duties faithfully and
conscientiously can have any
leisure."
1st
photo taken of a
sitting President!

2. 1844 election1844 election

3. 33rdrd
time is the charm?time is the charm?
• Hooray for Clay!
• “I’d rather be right
than be president”

4. 4 point plan4 point plan

5. Walker Tariff-1846Walker Tariff-1846
• Robert
Walker-Sec
of Treasury
• Brings it
back down
to 25%

6. Oregon FeverOregon Fever
• 54 40 or fight!

7. Treaty with Great Britain-1846Treaty with Great Britain-1846

8. Independent TreasuryIndependent Treasury

9. Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny

10. CaliforniaCalifornia

11. Texas border disputeTexas border dispute

12. War beginsWar begins
• “Mexico has passed the boundary of the
U.S., has invaded our territory and shed
American blood upon American soil.”
11
Americans
killed in
border
dispute

13. ““Spot Resolutions”Spot Resolutions”
• Whether that spot is or is not within a
settlement of people, which settlement has
existed ever since long before the Texas
revolution, and until its inhabitants fled
before the approach of the United States
army.
• Young Whig Congressman from Illinois

14. Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln

15. Old Rough and ReadyOld Rough and Ready

16. Old Fuss and FeathersOld Fuss and Feathers

17. Kearney and FremontKearney and Fremont

18. Treaty of Guadalupe HidalgoTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

19. Is this ok?Is this ok?

20. Department of the InteriorDepartment of the Interior

21. Declaration of SentimentsDeclaration of Sentiments

22. Polk RetiresPolk Retires

23. ““Young Hickory”Young Hickory”
1795-18491795-1849
Dies 103 days after
leaving presidency

24. They might be GiantsThey might be Giants
James K Polk

25. Washington Monument begins-1848Washington Monument begins-1848
• Not finished until
1884 (restarted in
1876)
555 feet tall