Things You'll Need:
- Internet
- Books about the presidents
- Books about American history
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Step 1
Search government and history websites and books to learn about the best-known aspect of James K. Polk--his status as an expansionist president who greatly increased the size of the western United States.
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Step 2
Study his biographies to learn how he became known as "Young Hickory" after Andrew Jackson, his mentor. Explore his service as a Tennessee state legislator, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and the governor of Tennessee. Understand that he was a colonel in the Tennessee militia.
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Step 3
Look for information on how he declared war on Mexico in order to acquire California. Also look at how he revived the independent treasury system promoted by Van Buren.
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Step 4
Study important legislation passed during Polk's presidency such as the Walker Tariff, which greatly reduced tariff rates, and the Oregon Treaty with Great Britain that resolved the Oregon border dispute.
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Step 5
Examine other significant events in Polk's presidency such as the two-year war with Mexico, after which the land now composed of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming was ceded to the United States. Learn about the annexation of Iowa, Texas and Wisconsin. Also worthy of study is the Seneca Falls Convention which dealt with women's voting rights.
