美国总统10 詹姆斯·诺克斯·波尔克.docx

美国总统10詹姆斯诺克斯波尔克JamesK.Polk:DarkHorseVOALearningEnglishpresentsAmerica'sPresidents.JamesKnoxPolkmovedintotheWhiteHouseastheIlthpresidentoftheUnitedStatesin1845.1846portraitofJamesK.PolkbyGeorgePeterAlexanderHealyFewhadpredictedthatPolkwouldbecomepresident.Evenhewassurprised.Polkhadcometohisparty'spresidentialnominatingconventionnearlyayearearlierwithlowexpectations.Butthetoppoliticians,includingformerpresidentMartinVanBuren,failedtowinamajorityofvotes.Conventiondelegatestriedagainandagaintoagreeonacandidate.Eventually,Polkwasnominated.Asmallnumberofdelegatessupportedhim.Thenthedelegatesvotedagain.Thistime,Polkreceivedall266votes.HebecamethefirstdarkhorsecandidateinU.S.historytobenominatedbyamajorparty.Inotherwords,hewassomeonenoonethoughtwouldwin.Buthedid.EarlylifePolkwasborninthesoutheasternstateofNorthCarolina.Whenhewasachild,hisfamilymovedwest,toTennessee.Atthetime,Tennesseehadfewwhitesettlers.Someconsidereditthewilderness.Polk'sfamilydidwellthere.Hisfatherbecamewealthy,buyinglandandenslavedpeople.HismotherJanezwhofollowedstrict,Christianreligiousteachings,gaveher10childrenagoodeducation.Jameswastheoldest.Hewenttocollege,thenstudiedlaw.Whenhewas25,hemarriedanintelligentandwealthyyoungwomannamedSarahChildress.Thetwoneverhadchildren.ButtheyworkedtogethertolaunchPolk'spoliticalcareer.Intime,PolkwaselectedtotheTennesseeHouseofRepresentatives,thenthenationalHouseofRepresentatives.There,hedevelopedacloserelationshipwithPresidentAndrewJackson.SinceJacksonwascalled"OldHickory/'Polkbecameknownas"YoungHickory."WhenPolkleftCongressandreturnedtoTennesseetobecomegovernor,hesupportedJackson,sbankingreforms.ButsoontheU.S.economycollapsed.Tennesseevotersfailedtore-electPolkasgovernor-notonce,buttwice.SoPolkreturnedtohisplantationsandwaitedforachancetore-enternationalpolitics.In1844zPolktraveledtothecityofBaltimoretoattendtheDemocraticParty'snationalconvention.Hethoughthecouldperhapswinthenominationforvicepresident.Instead,hebecametheDemocrats'candidateforpresident.Severalmonthslater,henarrowlydefeatedtheopposingparty'scandidateinthenationalelection.WhyPolkwonHistorianRobertMerrywroteabookaboutPolk'spresidency.MerrysaysonereasonPolkwontheelectionwastheissueofTexas.PolkwantedtomakeTexasastate.HethoughttheUnitedStatescouldtakepossessionoftheareapeacefully.Theotherleadingcandidatesdidnot.Merrysaystheothercandidateswereright-theUnitedStateseventuallywenttowarwithMexico.ButPolkspokefortheAmericanpeople.ManifestDestinydescribedtheideathattheUnitesStates'expansiontothePacificwasadestinythatcouldbeclearlyseenandthatcouldnotbechanged.Inthe1840szmanyAmericanslikedtheideaofexpandingthecountry.Theybelievedin"manifestdestiny"theideathatGodwantedAmericatoexpandwest,allthewaytothePacificOcean,andtakecontrolofthecontinent.Asaresult,manyvoterssupportedPolkandhispromisetoaddTexastotheUnitedStates.Polktookanotherunusualpositioninthe1844election.Hesaidifhewonthepresidency,hewouldserveonlyonetermthatis,fouryears.(Severalpreviouspresidentshadservedtwoterms.)Polktoldvoterspresidentsmightabusetheirpoweriftheyheldofficetoolong.Oneterm,hesaidzwouldbeenoughforhim.ButRobertMerrysaystherewasmoretoPolk'sone-termpromise.Itwasapoliticalbet.Polkthoughtifhesaidhewouldserveaspresidentforonlyoneterm,otherpartyleadersmighthelphimwin.Then,thosepoliticianscouldtryagaintowinthepresidencyinfouryears,insteadofwaitingeight.Hewasprobablyright.IfPolkhadnotmadethecampaignpromise,Merrysays,YoungHickorywouldnothavewon.PresidencyDuringthefirstdaysofhisadministration,JamesK.Polkfamouslylistedthefourthingsheplannedtodoaspresident.Hewantedtoreducetaxesonimports.Hewishedtoestablishanindependenttreasury.HehopedtosettlethedisputewithBritainovertheOregonborder.AndhewantedtogetCaliforniafortheUnitedStates.1.essthanfouryearslater,Polkhadrealizedeachitemonhislist.HeisrememberedforgreatlyexpandingthesizeoftheUnitedStates.HesuccessfullynegotiatedwithBritainforU.S.controloverterritoryinthewestuptothe49thparallel.TheagreementgavetheU.S.thecurrentstatesofOregon,Idaho,andWashington.BelowthosestateslayCalifornia.AnAmericangovernmentministeroncedescribedCaliforniaastherichest,themostbeautiful,andthehealthiestcountryintheworld.TheofficialsaidtheportofSanFranciscowasbigenoughtoholdallthenaviesoftheworld.HesaidsomedaySanFranciscowouldcontrolthetradeofallthePacificOcean.Therewasonlyoneproblem,fromthepointofviewoftheU.S.government.CaliforniawaspartofMexico.Atfirst,U.S.officialsattemptedtobuyCaliforniafromMexico.ButMexicanOffiCialSrefusedeventotalkaboutsellingCaliforniatotheUnitedStates.ShortlyaftertheU.S.CongressapprovedstatehoodforTexasinearly1845zMexicobrokerelationswiththeU.S.alltogether.Thefollowingyear,MexicantroopscrossedtheRioGrandeandclashedwithAmericansoldiers.Inanswer,PresidentPolkaskedCongresstodeclarewar.Hedidnotthinktheconflictwouldlastlong.HebelievedtheU.S.declarationwouldquicklyforceMexicotosellhimtheterritoryhewanted.Polkwaswrong.HistorianRobertMerrysaysthewarwithMexicolastedlo