| Election of 1844 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 28 2010, 01:23 PM (359 Views) | |
| United States of America | Apr 28 2010, 01:23 PM Post #1 |
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An Empire for Liberty
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April 1, 1844 The presidential campaign of 1844 has gotten underway and this year's election promises to be unusual for a number of reasons. President John Tyler has repeatedly expressed his desire to seek reelection, despite the refusal of both the Whigs and the Democrats to nominate him as their candidate. Tyler has formed his own political party and is seeking to discredit the two expected nominees -- Martin Van Buren and Henry Clay -- by pushing the question of national expansion to the center stage of American politics, where he hopes it will trump the usual issues of banking, the tariff, and states' rights. Texas plays a critical part in Tyler's strategy. Beginning earlier this year a number of pamphlets were distributed throughout the country, extolling the benefits of annexation and the danger of letting Texas stand alone, including one authored by Senator Robert J. Walker of Mississippi. Supporters, particularly in the South, have cited the threat an abolitionist Texas under the hegemony of Great Britain would pose to the agrarian and social systems of America, contrasting this with the economic benefits of adding vast new cotton lands to the United States. Critics have pointed out the strong likelihood of war with Mexico and the expansion of slavery that annexation would bring. |
Embassy of the United States of America ![]() "For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory." - Zachary Taylor | |
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| United States of America | Apr 30 2010, 03:17 PM Post #2 |
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An Empire for Liberty
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May 30, 1844 The contentious Texas issue lay at the center of national politics as both Whigs and Democrats assembled this month in Baltimore for their national conventions. The Whigs met first on May 1 and unanimously selected Henry Clay their presidential candidate. Theodore Frelinghuysen, the evangelical statesman and New Jersey's senior senator, was nominated for vice president to offset any liabilities from Clay's colorful moral past, such as his history of dueling. The Democratic convention on May 27 proved far more fractious. Former President Martin Van Buren led the race with a slim majority of delegates on the first ballot, but his anti-annexation stance cost him critical support among Southern Democrats, who introduced the customary two-thirds rule to block the convention from nominating him by simple majority. The race then came down to Van Buren and Lewis Cass of Michigan, a staunch supporter of annexation. After eight ballots the convention was still unable to agree on a candidate. Many delegates became disgusted and threatened to walk out to support President Tyler's third party, whose convention was meeting across the street, if an acceptable candidate was not found. To avoid a mass defection -- which would likely split the national vote three ways and hand victory to Clay in the fall -- Democrats finally introduced a new name: James Knox Polk of Tennessee, former Speaker of the House. Polk had not been a serious contender for the presidency before now and the submission of his name came as a great surprise to many. Nevertheless, delegates flocked to him and easily put him over the two-thirds threshold. Upon learning of his nomination, Polk said, "It has been well observed that the office of President of the United States should neither be sought nor declined. I have never sought it, nor should I feel at liberty to decline it, if conferred upon me by the voluntary suffrages of my fellow citizens." The Democrats then adopted a platform consisting of the usual party dedication to strict constructionism and banking, but with a strong commitment to national expansion: "Resolved, That our title to the whole of the Territory of Oregon is clear and unquestionable; that no portion of the same ought to be ceded to England or any other power, and that the re-occupation of Oregon and the re-annexation of Texas at the earliest practicable period are great American measures, which this Convention recommends to the cordial support of the Democracy of the Union." In so doing the Democrats paired the Oregon question with Texas, deflecting charges of sectional bias and promoting a distinctly national expansionist vision. |
Embassy of the United States of America ![]() "For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory." - Zachary Taylor | |
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| United States of America | May 1 2010, 06:13 PM Post #3 |
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An Empire for Liberty
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June 20, 1844 After the nomination of "dark horse" candidate James Polk in May, Whig literature began disparaging him by asking "Just who is James K. Polk?" The former House Speaker and unsuccessful Tennessee gubernatorial candidate was not widely known outside Southern circles, but his candidacy received a large boost when Andrew Jackson wholeheartedly endorsed him earlier this month. "Old Hickory" advised "Young Hickory" to devote his energies to the acquisition of Texas, calling it a national imperative: "Obtain it the United States must, peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must." Cautioned by the defeat of the annexation bill in Congress, the Polk campaign has adopted a strategy of downplaying the slavery issue and citing the social and economic benefits expansion would bring. Annexation would expand the home market for American goods and provide new lands for settlers, Democrats say, benefiting Northeastern industry as well as Southern and Western farmers. The Whigs meanwhile continue to oppose annexation under any circumstances. In an open letter to the nation, Henry Clay reiterated his belief that admitting Texas would cause a war with Mexico, inflame sectional discord, and encourage an insatiable lust for more land. Clay instead argued that the United States should support emerging independent nations and diffuse its democratic ideals through peaceful means, jointly occupying the continent with a friendly Texas and a friendly British North America. By doing this Clay is trying to bring the focus of the campaign back to traditional economic issues, but his anti-annexation stance is growing more unpopular by the day. |
Embassy of the United States of America ![]() "For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory." - Zachary Taylor | |
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| United States of America | May 3 2010, 08:19 PM Post #4 |
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An Empire for Liberty
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July 27, 1844 In light of mounting support for annexation, Henry Clay has published a clarification on his position. In a public letter he said that he "should be glad to see" Texas annexed as long as it can be done "without dishonor, without war, with the common consent of the Union, and upon just and fair terms." Since these conditions cannot be met at this time, Clay's latest statement is not substantively different from his past opposition. Nevertheless, the implied waffling has prompted a backlash from a number of Northern antislavery leaders without perceptibly endearing him to Southerners. The Polk campaign is meanwhile employing a similar tactic on the tariff issue. In a heavily publicized address to a group of Pennsylvania industrial workers, James K. Polk declared that while he believed the national tariff should be for revenue only, he had no opposition in principle to "reasonable incidental protection to our home industry." It remains to be seen if this qualification will sway enough voters to give that key state to the Democrats this fall. |
Embassy of the United States of America ![]() "For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory." - Zachary Taylor | |
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| United States of America | May 4 2010, 08:39 PM Post #5 |
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An Empire for Liberty
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August 20, 1844 John Tyler has withdrawn his candidacy after months of failing to gain a sufficient following throughout the country. A personal appeal from Andrew Jackson as well as promises to former Tyler supporters that they could rejoin the Democratic Party hastened the end and helped unite the expansionist vote behind Polk. After announcing his withdrawal, the President himself gave his full endorsement to Polk. The race is now between the virtual unknown from Tennessee and "Harry of the West." |
Embassy of the United States of America ![]() "For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory." - Zachary Taylor | |
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| United States of America | May 8 2010, 09:09 PM Post #6 |
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An Empire for Liberty
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December 4, 1844 The election of 1844 was one of the closest in U.S. history. National expansion quickly emerged as the defining issue in the campaign, displacing traditional economic questions and propelling Democrat James K. Polk to the White House. Many Southerners rallied behind Polk in support of Texas annexation while Northerners were attracted to his tough stance on Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Whigs fared worse than expected due to a combination of Polk's tariff speeches in Pennsylvania and the Northeast, the immigrant vote (which went to Polk by a wide margin), and Henry Clay's muddled position on Texas, which encouraged Whig defections to the antislavery Liberty Party. In New York alone, Polk's margin of victory was less than 6,000 votes -- not even half the total number cast for abolitionist James G. Birney. Whigs did manage to retain a presence in the Southeast, winning North Carolina and Kentucky -- Henry Clay's home state -- but nonetheless losing all of the Deep South, Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri. The loss of Tennessee and New York alone gave Polk his decisive lead in the electoral college. The Democrats made strong gains in the Senate elections but saw their number of House seats reduced to 141. Even so, Mr. Polk will enter office next year with Democrats in firm control of Congress, making it very likely that the re-annexation of Texas and re-occupation of Oregon will be accomplished by 1846. Polk's supporters have hailed the Democratic victory as a mandate for Texas and a vindication of America's Manifest Destiny. Andrew Jackson, frail but still active, wrote to congratulate the President-elect upon hearing the news at his home in Tennessee: "I thank my God that the Republic is safe, and that he had permitted me to live to see it. I can say in the language of Simeon of old, 'Now let thy servant depart in peace.' " There are some indications that the Texas question may not even have to wait until Polk takes office; President Tyler, emboldened by the Democratic victory, has begun making plans to submit a new treaty of annexation to the U.S. Senate. Presidential Election James Knox Polk (Democrat): 49.8% of popular vote, 183 electoral votes Henry Clay (Whig): 47.8% of popular vote, 92 electoral votes James G. Birney (Liberty): 2.3% of popular vote, 0 electoral votes Senate Election Democratic Party: 32 seats (+7) Whig Party: 20 seats (-7) House Election Democratic Party: 141 seats (-9) Whig Party: 75 seats (+6) American Party: 6 seats (+6) Law and Order Party: 0 seats (-2) Independents: 0 seats (-2) Vacant: 1 seat |
Embassy of the United States of America ![]() "For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory." - Zachary Taylor | |
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| United States of America | May 12 2010, 08:06 PM Post #7 |
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An Empire for Liberty
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March 4, 1845 James Knox Polk was today inaugurated as the eleventh President of the United States. It was a rainy day in Washington and Polk looked upon a sea of umbrellas as he delivered his address in front of the East Portico of the Capitol. The President spoke in favor of states' rights and roundly condemned abolitionist extremists, warning against those "sectional jealousies and heartburnings" that would divide the Union. He also criticized the revival of a national bank as philosophically incompatible with American institutions. Texas and Oregon, so influential in the 1844 campaign, rounded out Polk's speech. "I regard the question of annexation as belonging exclusively to the United States and Texas," the President declared, obliquely referring to the machinations of Mexico and certain European powers that are seeking to prevent its union with America. Polk went on to add, "Our title to the country of the Oregon is 'clear and unquestionable,' and already are our people preparing to perfect that title by occupying it with their wives and children." After the inauguration, Polk and Vice President Dallas rode through the streets of Washington. Former First Lady Julia Tyler held a large celebration at the White House in honor of her outgoing husband, attended by some 3,000 people. At one point during the festivities, John Tyler made light of his unending frustrations and political setbacks of the past three years: "They cannot say now that I am a President without a party." |
Embassy of the United States of America ![]() "For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory." - Zachary Taylor | |
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| United States of America | May 12 2010, 08:08 PM Post #8 |
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An Empire for Liberty
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President Polk's address: Spoiler: click to toggle
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Embassy of the United States of America ![]() "For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory." - Zachary Taylor | |
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2:44 PM Jul 11