A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American ContinentPresident James K. Polk, often overlooked yet ever-consequential, comes to life in this “compelling, perceptive portrait” (The Wall Street Journal) biography of the 11th President of the United States, Andrew Jackson protégé, and champion of “manifest destiny.” In a one-term presidency, James K. Polk completed the story of America’s Manifest Destiny—extending its territory across the continent by threatening England with war and manufacturing a controversial and unpopular two-year war with Mexico. "A crucial architect of modern America, James K. Polk deserves to be elevated out of the mists of history" (Jon Meacham, author of American Lion). |
Contents
1 | |
13 | |
The Rise and Fall of | 31 |
Searching for a Means | 49 |
Dawn of a New Era | 65 |
Americas First Political Dark Horse | 81 |
Answering the Question Who | 96 |
Preparing for the Mantle of Leadership | 112 |
Transformation of the War Debate | 278 |
Patriotism Duty Adventure | 293 |
We Are Yet to Have a Long | 307 |
Constitutional Usurpation | 322 |
The Challenge of Presidential | 335 |
Grappling with Mexicos | 351 |
A Clash of Policy and Temperament | 366 |
The Pivot of Personality | 383 |
Americas Zest for Grand Ambitions | 131 |
Diplomacy Intrigue and | 145 |
The People Here | 161 |
Divergent | 176 |
Playing with Prospects of | 190 |
Polk Takes Command | 205 |
Diplomacy and Politics at | 222 |
Every Consideration of Duty and Patriotism | 238 |
And May There Be No Recreant | 253 |
I Prefer to Supervise | 268 |
Have We Conquered Peace? | 402 |
From Trist to Polk to the Senate | 418 |
California New Mexico and the Union | 436 |
Solemnly Impressed with | 452 |
Legacy The Price of Presidential | 471 |
Notes | 479 |
543 | |
Acknowledgments | 551 |
Other editions - View all
A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest ... Robert W. Merry No preview available - 2009 |
A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest ... Robert W. Merry No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
49th parallel action added American Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson Donelson annexation April army arrived Bancroft Benton bill Britain British Buchanan Buren cabinet Calhoun California called Cass Cave Johnson Clay’s compromise Congress congressional Continentalist convention country’s Daily Globe Daily Union debate December declared delegates Democratic Diary Donelson expressed February force Frémont Henry Clay House floor speech issue James Buchanan James K James Polk January John June Kearny lands later letter to JKP March Marcy McCormac Mexican Mexico City military National Intelligencer negotiate Nicholas Trist nomination o’clock Oregon party peace Pillow political Polk’s president presidential question Quoted in ibid Remini reprinted in Daily resolution Santa Anna Sarah Scott secretary sent session Silas Wright slavery Slidell southern Stockton tariff Tennessee territory Texas Texas annexation tion treaty Trist troops Tyler United Veracruz vote Walker Washington Whig White House Wilmot Wilmot Proviso York Zachary Taylor