James K. Polk Overview

James K. Polk

The reputation and legacy of President James Knox Polk generates mixed opinions. To some, he was one of the nation's strongest commander-in-chiefs — transforming the United States into a continental power and increasing its reputation and prestige overseas. To others, Polk was a narrow-minded, aggressive expansionist who bullied a neighboring nation and provoked a war. The study of Polk's four-year administration provides a unique look at how a government works during times of crisis and conflict.

Bluffs and Boundaries

A Conversation With Sam W. Haynes

James K. Polk and the U.S. Mexican War

A Conversation With David M. Pletcher

James K. Polk (1845-1849)

By Robert W. Johanssen