Polk called for expansion that included Texas, California, and the entire Oregon territory. The northern boundary of Oregon was the latitude line of 54 degrees, 40 minutes. "Fifty-four forty or fight!" was the popular slogan that led Polk to victory against all odds.
Unfortunately, there are clouds in my coffee...You're so vain. I bet you think think this song is about you.
Ahhh.. you're tag line. I knew about Polk's settlement of the continental USA's borders in a brief 4 year term. In many ways, James Polk was the most consequential President of the 19th century.
Polk worked himself to death during his 4 years literally. He last day in office was March 3rd 1849 and he died on June 15th, 1849.
Since you are interested in that timeframe, read "American Notes" by Charles Dickens. It's a nonfiction account of what he experienced when visiting the United States in 1841-42. John Tyler, Polk's predecessor, was president. The slave trade in Washington DC was still going on, which Dickens' abhorred on which he commented. The prison systems and insane asylums were points of interest to him. But the disgusting habit by Americans of spitting everywhere was a gross behavior of which I was not aware. EVEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE, visitors waiting to see the POTUS would spit on the fine carpets and polished wood floors, often within feet of a spittoon! Dickens' painted John Tyler as a pathetic figure who was little respected and who's legitimacy was questioned after the death of William Harry Harrison.
What does this have to do with John Tyler?!?!
It was the most exiting thing to watch in the playoffs last season.
