The Presidency in

the 1840s

(1841-1849)

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

# 9 William Henry # 9 William Henry Harrison (1841)Harrison (1841)

““Old Tippecanoe” Old Tippecanoe” hounded by Whig hounded by Whig spoilsmenspoilsmen

Sec. State Webster & Sec. State Webster & Sen. Clay expected to Sen. Clay expected to control the control the governmentgovernment

died of pneumonia died of pneumonia four weeks into officefour weeks into office

# 10 John Tyler # 10 John Tyler (1841-45)(1841-45)

a Virginia gentleman of the a Virginia gentleman of the old schoolold school

stubbornly attached to stubbornly attached to principle over politicsprinciple over politics

a Jeffersonian states’ righter a Jeffersonian states’ righter on the ticket to appeal to on the ticket to appeal to SouthernersSoutherners

asserted the powers of the asserted the powers of the presidency, cementing the presidency, cementing the VP in order of successionVP in order of succession

a converted Democrat at a converted Democrat at odds with Clay & the Whigsodds with Clay & the Whigs

Tyler – a president Tyler – a president without a partywithout a party

vetoed Clay’s new “Fiscal vetoed Clay’s new “Fiscal Bank” and later “Fiscal Bank” and later “Fiscal Corporation” Corporation”

vetoed Whig Tariff before vetoed Whig Tariff before signing a new one at 1832 signing a new one at 1832 levels (1842)levels (1842)

burned in effigy and called burned in effigy and called “His Accidency”“His Accidency”

formally expelled from Whig formally expelled from Whig party and threatened with party and threatened with impeachmentimpeachment

entire cabinet (except entire cabinet (except Webster) resignedWebster) resigned

Election of 1844, artist unknown

A team of Polk supporters offers a campaign handbill to the seated voter. Passions were so high and party organization was so extensive that door-to-door politicking became the norm.

(Courtesy of Nathan Liverant and Son) Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Election of 1844Election of 1844Henry Clay (Whig)Henry Clay (Whig)

charged Polk as being a charged Polk as being a slaveowner and Clay as slaveowner and Clay as carrying the banner of libertycarrying the banner of liberty

Clay proposed annexation of Clay proposed annexation of Texas to southerners but Texas to southerners but promoted delay to promoted delay to NorthernersNortherners

James K. Polk (Democrat)James K. Polk (Democrat) 4-year Speakers of the House 4-year Speakers of the House

and former TN governorand former TN governor condemned Clay the “corrupt condemned Clay the “corrupt

bargainer”bargainer”

Polk and Dallas FlagThis campaign banner celebrating the candidacy of James K. Polk and George M. Dallas on the Democratic ticket carries a subtle message conveying the party's platform. Surrounding Polk's picture are twenty-five stars, one for each state in the Union. Outside the corner box, a twenty-sixth star stands for Texas, which Polk promised to annex. (Collection of David J. and Janet L. Frent) Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

James K. Polk by George Peter Alexander Healy, 1846

(James K. Polk Memorial Association, Columbia, Tennessee)

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

#11 James K. Polk #11 James K. Polk (1845-49)(1845-49)

lowered Tariff of 1842 lowered Tariff of 1842 from 35% to 25% over from 35% to 25% over complaints of Whigscomplaints of Whigs

won the Oregon won the Oregon Territory from the Territory from the British at the 49British at the 49thth parallelparallel

Mexican War wins Mexican War wins territory that will territory that will become states of UT, become states of UT, NV, CO, CA, NM, & AZNV, CO, CA, NM, & AZ