A President Who Kept His Promises

Slave Master/ President James Polk
1795-1849



James K. Polk usually ranks as one of the nation's "better" presidents because he is probably the only POTUS to keep all five of his campaign promises! I would just rate him as one of the rankest presidents ever... 

His promises were (followed by my historical commentary):

1. To annex (grant statehood) Texas.
2. To "acquire" the Southwestern Territories and California.

This was a great excuse to instigate a premeditated war with Mexico to take the southwestern territories from them...Texas agreed to annexation and joined the United States in 1845, he ordered U.S. troops into territory long contested (the Nueces and Rio Grande Rivers border dispute) between Mexico and Texas. When shots were fired between the troops, Polk immediately declared, "American blood has been shed on American Soil!" and quickly declared war.  The ultimate result was the forced Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stripping Mexico of over a 1/3 of her territory.

At the same time, Polk secretly sent agents to declare "California Revolution"...as a means to secure an alliance (and eventual statehood) with California against Mexico.

He also secretly planned to appoint federal judges who were sympathetic to the expansion of slavery and Popular Sovereignty.

"It is our Manifest Destiny to steal your land from you." 

The victory over Mexico gave Polk (a rich southern slaveholder) the opportunity to pressure the North on the expansion of slavery and the right to Popular Sovereignty in the Southwest (increasing Southern political power). 

3. To annex (grant statehood) Oregon.

The agreement to split Oregon Territory at the 49th parallel with Great Britain was done quickly (to avoid a war with GB) to help us prepare for our plan to provoke Mexico into a premeditated war.

4. To establish an independent Treasury Department.

This gave the federal government exclusive management of government funds and required that all payments be made in gold or silver, or in paper backed by gold or silver.

5. To serve only 1 term.

Thankfully, he kept this promise!