did James K. Polk keep the 5 promises he made during and after his election?
James K. Polk, the 11th President of the United States, made several promises during and after his election in 1844. While it is subjective to determine whether he completely fulfilled them, it is generally acknowledged that Polk made significant efforts to accomplish his goals. Here are the five key promises and an evaluation of Polk's actions:
1. Acquisition of Oregon: Polk promised to secure American control over the Oregon Territory, which was jointly administered with Britain. While he did not achieve his initial goal of acquiring the entire territory up to the 54°40′ parallel, he negotiated a compromise with Britain known as the Oregon Treaty in 1846. This resulted in the United States gaining control over the southern half of the territory up to the 49th parallel.
2. Acquisition of California and New Mexico: Polk aimed to acquire California from Mexico and establish American control over the Western coast. Through his administration's aggressive policies and the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), Polk successfully obtained California, as well as present-day Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Texas.
3. Lowering tariff rates: Polk campaigned for a reduction in tariff rates to stimulate trade and relieve economic burdens. Once in office, he worked towards achieving this goal and signed the Walker Tariff of 1846, which reduced tariffs on certain goods. Although it did not fully realize his ambitions, it was a step toward tariff reform.
4. Restoration of the Independent Treasury System: During his campaign, Polk pledged to restore the Independent Treasury System, which sought to separate the federal government's finances from the country's banking system. Polk successfully fulfilled this promise and signed the Independent Treasury Act in 1846, which established a system to manage the government's funds.
5. Single-term presidency: When running for office, Polk declared that he would serve only one term. He kept this promise and did not seek re-election in 1848, stepping down after completing his term.
Overall, while there might be varying assessments on the degree of fulfillment, James K. Polk made considerable progress towards achieving the promises he made during and after his election.