James K. Polk: The 11th President of the United States of America

Basically, A Real Bastard.

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James K. Polk, 11th President of the United States. Born November 2, 1795. This will become relevant later.

James K. Polk was born on November 2, 1795¹, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and rose to national prominence during a period of intense political division and territorial ambition in the United States. He would go on to become the eleventh president of the United States, a figure whose legacy remains controversial.

History would eventually look back on him as a real bastard of a man. More than a century after his presidency, Polk would be immortalized in song as the subject of a very factual track by They Might Be Giants. The song appears as the tenth track on Factory Showroom, though an earlier, fan-favorite version was released years prior on an out-of-print EP (and is the personal preferred version of this biography’s author).²

The Election of 1844

In 1844, the Democratic Party was split over the issue of territorial expansion. The leading contenders for the party’s presidential nomination included Martin Van Buren, a former president and abolitionist³; James Buchanan, a seasoned diplomat perceived as a political moderate; and Lewis Cass, a military officer and outspoken advocate of westward expansion.

From Nashville emerged a relatively unknown candidate: James K. Polk. Though not considered a front-runner, Polk’s strong alignment with the doctrine of Manifest Destiny and his appeal to Southern and expansionist interests secured him the Democratic nomination. His surprise ascent earned him the nickname “Napoleon of the Stump,” a reference to his reputation as a forceful and effective speaker.

Presidency and Expansion

Polk assumed office in 1845 with a clear and aggressive agenda. Known for his austere demeanor and limited personal warmth, he governed with singular focus. His administration committed itself to territorial expansion, lower tariffs, and financial reform.

During his four-year term, Polk oversaw the annexation of Texas and pursued conflict with Mexico, resulting in the Mexican-American War. The war concluded with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, through which the United States acquired vast territories in the Southwest.

Polk also resolved longstanding disputes with Great Britain forcing them to sell the Oregon Territory, securing U.S. claims to lands south of the 49th parallel⁴. In domestic policy, he reduced tariffs and built an independent treasury system⁵, separating federal funds from private banks.

Final Years and Legacy

Having fulfilled the major objectives he set for himself upon entering office, Polk declined to seek a second term. He left the presidency in 1849 and died shortly thereafter, on June 15 of that same year.

Though his accomplishments permanently reshaped the geographic boundaries of the United States, Polk remains a controversial figure. His expansionist policies accelerated national growth while deepening divisions over slavery and the use of military force.

James K. Polk was the eleventh president of the United States. Often overlooked. Rarely celebrated. Undeniably consequential.

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1. 181 years before I was born on November 2, 1979.

2. From the now out of print 1990 EP, “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

3. Martin Van Buren was not an abolitionist in the modern sense. He was a Free Soiler, opposing the expansion of slavery into new territories rather than calling for its immediate abolition.

4. The Oregon Territory was not “purchased” from Great Britain. It was divided between the United States and the United Kingdom by the Oregon Treaty of 1846.

5. Polk did not build an independent treasury from scratch; he restored the Independent Treasury system, which had previously existed before being dismantled by earlier administrations.