River. Polk decided to place the threat of war on the bargaining table in order to ensure the purchase by placing General Zachary Taylor and 4,000 soldiers between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande River. The Mexicans, however, would not even meet with Slidell and refused the offer from the United States. They did something that Polk did not see coming; they did nothing; this put Polk at a deadlock that he could not overcome. Eventually the Mexicans would break and kill several American soldiers giving Polk the option to Declare War on Mexico May 12, 1846. This would result in the United States winning the war and forcing the purchase of the desired territories for $15 million from Mexico. Conclusion By then end of presidency he accomplished everything that he set out to do to Polk’s reshape the country. Though Polk may not be one of the most popular presidents in U.S. history he is definitely one of the most successful in regards to passing policy and achieving territorial expansion. However, at the end of presidency there was still one more promise to be Polk’s kept. When Polk was elected president he promised that he would serve one term due to the fact that he felt it was fluke he won; he also wanted to avoid alienation of the two candidates that probably should have won. friends and enemies in Congress both agreed that he was a Polk’s force to be reckoned with and to be respected. Historically speaking, he deserves much more credit and attention than history has awarded him. Bibliography Bergeron, Paul H. Polk and Economic Presidential Studies Quarterly “President Legislation.” 15, no. 40 (Fall 1985): 782-795.
River. Polk decided to place the threat of war on the bargaining table in order to ensure the purchase by placing General Zachary Taylor and 4,000 soldiers between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande River. The Mexicans, however, would not even meet with Slidell and refused the offer from the United States. They did something that Polk did not see coming; they did nothing; this put Polk at a deadlock that he could not overcome. Eventually the Mexicans would break and kill several American soldiers giving Polk the option to Declare War on Mexico May 12, 1846. This would result in the United States winning the war and forcing the purchase of the desired territories for $15 million from Mexico. Conclusion By then end of Polk’s presidency he accomplished everything that he set out to do to reshape the country. Though Polk may not be one of the most popular presidents in U.S. history he is definitely one of the most successful in regards to passing policy and achieving territorial expansion. However, at the end of Polk’s presidency there was still one more promise to be kept. When Polk was elected president he promised that he would serve one term due to the fact that he felt it was fluke he won; he also wanted to avoid alienation of the two candidates that probably should have won. Polk’s friends and enemies in Congress both agreed that he was a force to be reckoned with and to be respected. Historically speaking, he deserves much more credit and attention than history has awarded him. Bibliography Bergeron, Paul H. “President Polk and Economic Legislation.” Presidential Studies Quarterly 15, no. 40 (Fall 1985): 782-795.