Environment: Polk was a strong advocate of the expansion of the U.S and had set his sights on a number of locations some of which were extremely controversial. Areas such as Texas, California, and the most controversial Oregon were all part of Polk's hopes to acquire land. The Oregon area was heavily locked on by Polk and was expressed through the series of steps and compromises he made to try and secure the land was his. The problem he faced with trying to gain Oregon was Great Britain and James K. Polk made a number of attempts to try and satisfy the Britains as well as achieve his purpose too. Steps like trying to present a solid idea of the land they wanted with the 54'50, to the later proposed idea of the settling along the 49th parallel, Polk was making the moves necessary to complete the deal. Although Polk may have ended by acquiring land that originally wasn't on his mind and signing a treaty on 1846, he ultimately made the valiant effort to increase the land in his power.
Economic Transformations and Globalization: In another attempt to try and gain land came forth this opportunity for a large money transaction between Mexico and the U.S Polk had the idea to offer Mexico a large sum of $20,000,000 in return for New Mexico and California. Offering a large sum of money like that was a bold and very prominent economic proposal and was viewed in both positive and negative manners. Some felt that the offered amount was too large and would affect the economy severely, while other felt it was a reasonable amount. In the end the deal was made in the year 1848, but surprisingly at a lower price for what they had originally proposed, Mexico had now agreed to a cost of $15,000,000. With this lessened price President Polk took the lands and was extremely successful in bringing in a vast amount of land.
Slavery and it's Legacies in North America: President Polk was definitely one for slavery, having not only slaves for himself, but fighting to keep it alive in other areas of the country. Polk took to the opposite of statements like the Wilmont Proviso and making amends to the Missouri Compromise in order tommeetvthe standards he believed were correct. On a more personal note, President Polk had been a slave owner himself for a majority of his life. It was clear that Polk was not ashamed of the practice and very publicly used slaves to work plantations that he personally owned.
War and Diplomacy: Alongside the attempts to purchase the lands of California and New Mexico was the Mexican - American War. After sending a representative to Mexico to try and propose the deal and then later being sent back rejected, Polk took to an offensive. Viewing the actions of Mexico as an act and reasonable cause for War, that is exactly what Polk planned to do. In addition Polk later received news that Mexico had killed American soldiers on American land he no longer had sympathy and the government agreed. Polk soon organized troops and generals for war looking to get revenge on the Mexicans.
Politics and Citizenship: The Rivers and Harbors Bill was a proposal to improve the rivers and harbors for the sole purpose of improving economy and the condition of the nation. Polk vetoed the bill which upset many of its advocates who believed the bill would have proved to be a very beneficial bill. Although Polk argued that the bill wasn't broad enough in the sense that it would only focus on those locations that had their own harbors or access to water leaving many others isolated. To avoid any location from being improved and another left to suffer and then later being accused of unfairness or corruption Polk left the bill unenforced. In this sense Polk believed the bill was unfair and stuck to his decision of vetoing it.
American Identity and Culture: With the acquiring of new land also came the negative aspects as well. This newly obtained land soon created a very heated conflict over the proper use of the land in terms of slavery. The North and the South were the two opposing sides each fighting for what they believed would be more sensible and beneficial.
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