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PRESIDENT JAMES K. POLK AND THE
MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR OF 1846:
When Tennessean James K. Polk was elected to the
Presidency in 1844, he followed through on his campaign promise to annex the Independent Republic of Texas into the United States. Although officially recognized
by England and France as well as the U.S., Mexico disputed Texas sovereignty
and immediately withdrew her representatives from Washington, D.C. President
Polk dispatched General Zachary Taylor to advance the American Army to the
Rio Grande across from the City of Matamoros. Polk , however, was a master at
the art of intrigue and always hedged his bets with emissaries trying to
negotiate peaceful settlements. His forays into Mexican-held California and New Mexico laid the groundwork for American
expansion to the coast of the Pacific. In the midst of the brewing problems
in Mexico, he led a successful diplomatic
assault on Great Britain's claims to Oregon territory and purchased the
property to prevent the British from laying claim to the California territories, which he desperately
wanted in order to establish a "Golden Gate" trade with the emerging
Asian nations. The Mexican Government, however, recognized the expansionist
policies and refused to see Polk’s envoy sent to negotiate a peaceful settlement. The
action prompted Mexico to take an aggressive stand against the American
soldiers on the Rio Grande.What would follow would affect not only Texas and
the United States, but would forever change the way
people looked at the state of Tennessee.
After Thomas Jefferson, James K. Polk increased the size of the United States more than any other president
through the acquisition of California and New Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American
War. He also claimed Oregon Territory after a treaty with England. He was a key figure in Manifest
Destiny. He was also an extremely effective leader during the the
Mexican-American War. He is considered to be the best one-term president.
TENNESSEE THE VOLUNTEER STATE:
Tennessee acquired the nickname, "The Volunteer State", due to the high number of
volunteers from Tennessee during the Mexican-American War
of 1846. During the ante-bellum years, the hard hand of war never touched the
Volunteer State, but Tennesseans did take their
fighting ways to some unlikely places. Many participated in the Seminole Wars
in Florida in 1817-1819 and again in 1830s.
Some followed Davy Crockett to a romantic death at the Alamo in 1836. But the most prominent
combat arena for Tennessee volunteers was Mexico. In 1846, the United States under President James K. Polk
went to war with Mexico over territorial disputes that
stemmed in part from American notions of Manifest Destiny. When Governor
Aaron V. Brown asked for 2,500 men to fill his state's quota for national
recruits, more than 30,000 volunteers answered the call, an outpouring that
earned Tennessee its proud nickname. In all, Tennessee organized six regiments for
service in the Mexican War: five infantry and one cavalry.
When Governor Aaron Brown issued the proclamation from Nashville for 2,600 volunteers, there was a
reason for the outpouring of volunteers. With fellow Tennessean Sam Houston
in trouble and the legendary exploits of David Crockett and other native
Tennesseans who had given their lives for Texas Independence still fresh in
their minds, Tennesseans had developed a strong dislike for the Mexican
government and jumped at the opportunity to go to war against them. Many
complained they couldn't even purchase a place in the units. While the Tennessee volunteer Cavalry headed towards
the Rio Grande, the other volunteers were sent
to the staging area in New Orleans. Their sheer numbers and their
native skills as riflemen made them the most sought after volunteers in New Orleans.
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