General Information:
Major "Events" of his Presidency:
- James K. Polk had been the eleventh President of the nation with George Dallas as his Vice President for his only term.
- Term as President lasted from 1845 to 1849.
- Served as the 17th speaker for the House of Representatives and as the Governor of Tennessee.
Major "Events" of his Presidency:
- The opening of the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
- An increase in Irish Immigrants due to the Potato Famine sweeping Ireland.
- Texas is admitted into the Union as a slave state.
- The United States Congress declares war on Mexico after a dispute between military forces at Rio Grande.
- The signing of the Oregon Treaty which grants the U.S. title to the Oregon Territory.
- The Congressional signing of the Tariff of 1846, or the "Walker Tariff," which created a set rate for tariffs.
- The signing into law of the Independent Treasury which was a system for retaining government funds.
- the Congressional establishment of the Smithsonian Institution.
- Iowa and Wisconsin are admitted into the Union as free states.
- The signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which called for the end of the Mexican War and the establishment of the Rio Grande border for Texas.
- The migration of many to California for what is known as the California Gold Rush.