James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States. He was elected President of the United States and Henry Clay who represented the Whig party and who had previously lost to Andrew Jackson, a Federalist. .
Polk lived from 1795-1849. He married Sara Childress and graduated from University of North Carolina in 1818. Before becoming President of the United States, Polk had many accomplishments in his life. At age 27, he became the Tennessee State Representative. Following that, he became the Speaker of the House for the U.S. Congress and served for 14 years. The delegates of the 1844 Democratic Convention thought he would make a good president. .
James Polk served only one term as President. It lasted from 1845-1849. He won with 107 electoral votes. At the time, James Polk was the youngest man to serve as president. He was the first "dark horse" in presidential politics. His Vice President was George M. Dallas. .
James Polk's main plan for improving the country as the President was to expand America's western region. Polk declared war on Mexico on May 13, 1846. This war lasted two years. The outcome of this war was the addition of New Mexico and California to the United States. During Polk's term, the United States acquired over 800,000 square miles of western territory. .
James Polk accomplished a lot of other things during his term. He issued the first postage stamp. He started the Naval Academy as well. In addition to that, he also designed the Washington Monument. .
James K. Polk died of cholera three months after his presidential term ended in 1849. He died an accomplished man. Following his death, thousands of Americans rushed out west to California in search of gold. Without James Polk's accomplishments, the prosperity of the Gold Rush and Western Expansion may never have come to pass. .
