James K. Polk was inspired by Andrew Jackson's Jacksonian principles of equal rights, limited government, and Manifest Destiny. As president, Polk felt tremendous pressure to single-handedly enact Jacksonian ideals due to mistrusting Congress. He fulfilled his campaign promises by acquiring the Oregon territory and New Mexico, reestablishing the Independent Treasury System, and lowering the tariff. Though the presidency brought Polk much stress, he was glad to have nearly completed his term and resume his private life.

1. H I S V I E W O N T H E P R E S I D E N C Y
JAMES K. POLK

2. What made Polk known
was that he fulfilled all
of the promises he
made before becoming
president (more details
in next presentation). He
was great friends with
Andrew Jackson and a
lot of the ideas that
Jackson implemented
during his presidency
inspired Polk.

3. JACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VgofAOLbdg
• Advocated equal rights and limited government
• Very tied closely with slavery and the subjugation of Native Americans (Polk, in
fact, owned slaves).
• Described as a market revolution as well because during that time
improvements in technology and transportation were made, contributing to
the fall of the older artisan economy and promoting expansion and a
manufacturing economy.
• Jacksonians gave little weight to education, believing that “everyone” had
the rights to be successful (white males primarily)
• Opposed banks for their monopolies

4. One thing Polk took to
heart from his
predecessors was that
everyone was supposed
to have equal rights.
Jacksonians generally
supported white males,
but Polk demonstrates a
strong sense of
responsibility, one that he
brings to the presidency.
POLK’S VIEWS
TOWARDS
PREDECESSORS

5. AS PRESIDENT
• Polk states this about the members of
Congress: “There is more selfishness and
less principle among members of
Congress than I had any conception of,
before I became President of the U.S.”
• Polk, in order to carry out the Jacksonian
principles of Manifest Destiny and equal
rights, he would have to carry the entire
burden on his own without depending
on help from Congress at various times.
• This explains why Polk views the
presidency as a position of great
pressure and heavy responsibilities.

6. AFTER PRESIDENCY
• Polk expanded the landmass of the United States
by more than 1.2 million sq. miles. More than any
other president, by acquiring the Oregon territory
and New Mexico.
• Reestablished the Independent Treasury Stystem
• Lowered the tariff
• “With me, it is exceptionally true that the Presidency
is no bed of roses”

7. CONCLUSION
• Polk was a man of strong moral
sense and took it upon himself to
follow through with the ideas of
Jacksonian in his own way.
• Tremendous pressure followed Poll
as he did not trust Congress,
prompting him to do all
negotiations himself.
• He stood by his responsibilities and
after close to the end of his
presidency he states: “I am heartily
rejoiced that my term is so near its
close. I will soon cease to be a
servant and will become a
sovereign.”

8. WORK CITED
• Boundless. "Jacksonian Democrats: 1824–1860." Boundless.com.
Boundless Learning, 10 June 2015. Web. 25 June 2015.
• New World Encyclopedia Contributors. "James K. Polk."
Http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/James_K._Polk. New
World Encyclopedia, 4 Apr. 2008. Web. 24 June 2015.
• Staff, HIstory.com. "Jacksonian Democracy." Jacksonian Democracy.
A+E Networks, 2012. Web. 25 June 2015.
• PBS Contributors. "President James K. Polk."
Http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/biographies/james_polk.ht
ml. PBS, 3 Nov. 2009. Web. 24 June 2015.