James K. Polk
After winning the Election of 1844 against Henry Clay, James K. Polk became the eleventh President of the United States. "54° 40' or Fight" was his slogan. Polk was a strong supporter of Andrew Jackson, and he is known for leading America into the Mexican-American War. He expanded the country by claiming territories in the Southwest including California. Polk was a strong believer in "Manifest Destiny" which was the belief that America had a calling to expand westward. The expansion once again began the issue of free and slave states which was inadquately settled through the Compromise of 1850. |  |
