During James Polk's election campaign, he called for an expansion of the U.S. that included, Texas, California and the entire Oregon territory all the way up to the 54th parallel. The actual northern boundary of the Oregon territory was 54 degrees, 40 minutes, far into Canada. The campaign slogan "FIFTY-FOUR FORTY OR FIGHT!" was a popular slogan that led Polk to victory.
In Polk's first annual address to congress, December 1845, he laid out his arguments against the British proposition of compromise at the 49th parallel. President Polk argued that "Oregon is a part of the North American continent, to which, it is confidently affirmed, the title of the United States is the best now in existence." He attacked Britain's compromise as attempt to "check our advancement". America could not stand by and allow the powers of Europe to interfere with our destiny.
"The rapid extension of our settlements over our territories heretofore unoccupied, the addition of new States to our Confederacy, the expansion of free principles, and our rising greatness as a nation are attracting the attention of the powers of Europe, and lately the doctrine has been broached in some of them of a 'balance of power' on this continent to check our advancement. The United States, sincerely desirous of preserving relations of good understanding with all nations, can not in silence permit any European interference on the North American continent, and should any such interference be attempted will be ready to resist it at any and all hazards."Negotiations began several months earlier in the summer of 1845, President Polk took a bold position to support the 54° 40' line. But, in June 1846 the Senate preoccupied with war against Mexico, quickly settled and approved the Oregon Treaty at the 49th parallel.
http://
http://
http://www.ushistory.org/
http://f.tqn.com/y/
http://www.familytree.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment