James Knox Polk Biography and Timeline

Election

Elected Member of House of Representatives

Role range: 1825-1825 – 1825-1839

Governor

Elected Governor of Tennessee

Role range: 1839-1841 – 1839-1841

Democrats Campaign For Treasury Restoration

Democrats favored reestablishing an independent Treasury as part of their approach to currency and banking questions.

Domestic Economic Program

Polk asks Congress to reduce tariff rates and restore the independent treasury system

Role range: 1845-1846 – 1845-1849

Annexation of Texas

Polk takes office supporting completion of Texas annexation

Role range: 1845-1845 – 1845-1849

President of USA

Inaugurated President of the USA, 11th President

Role range: 1845-1849 – 1845-1849

Annexation of Texas

Texas Constitutional Convention votes to accept the United States annexation proposal

Role range: 1845-1845 – 1845-1849

Cabinet Formation

Polk forms his cabinet after taking office as President of the United States

Role range: 1845-1845 – 1845-1849

Executive Administration

Polk begins a highly disciplined one term administration centered on defined policy goals

Role range: 1845-1849 – 1845-1849

Annexation of Texas

Texas Congress gives consent to the United States annexation proposal

Role range: 1845-1845 – 1845-1849

Annexation of Texas

Texas voters approve annexation, the annexation ordinance and the proposed state constitution

Role range: 1845-1845 – 1845-1849

Annexation of Texas

Texas is admitted to the Union as the 28th state

Role range: 1845-1845 – 1845-1849

Annexation of Texas

Polk signs the resolution admitting Texas to the Union as the 28th state

Role range: 1845-1845 – 1845-1849

Polk Requests Return To Subtreasury

President Polk urged Congress to restore a system that placed the government's money in its own custody.

Siege of Fort Texas

Mexican artillery opens bombardment against the United States fort opposite Matamoros

Role range: 1846-1846 – 1845-1849

Siege of Fort Texas

Mexican forces begin the siege of Fort Texas near the Rio Grande

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Siege of Fort Texas

United States defenders hold Fort Texas while General Taylor marches to relieve the garrison

Role range: 1846-1846 – 1845-1849

Siege of Fort Texas

Major Jacob Brown is mortally wounded during the Mexican bombardment of Fort Texas

Role range: 1846-1846 – 1845-1849

Independent Treasury Act

Polk signs the Independent Treasury Act restoring a federal treasury system separate from private banks

Role range: 1846-1846 – 1845-1849

Battle of San Pasqual

United States and Californio forces fight at San Pasqual in California

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Battle of Palo Alto

United States forces defeat Mexican forces at Palo Alto

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Battle of Resaca de la Palma

United States forces defeat Mexican forces at Resaca de la Palma

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Siege of Fort Texas

Fort Texas is secured by United States forces and later renamed Fort Brown in honor of Major Jacob Brown

Role range: 1846-1846 – 1845-1849

Siege of Fort Texas

Mexican forces lift the siege after United States victory at Resaca de la Palma

Role range: 1846-1846 – 1845-1849

Atlantic Pacific Transit

Treaty supports American use of Panama as an Atlantic to Pacific transit corridor

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Canal Diplomacy

Treaty becomes an early diplomatic foundation for later United States canal ambitions

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Canal Zone Precedent

Treaty establishes a precedent for later United States involvement in Panama transit policy

Role range: 1846-1903 – 1845-1849

Commercial Navigation Treaty

Treaty of peace amity navigation and commerce links United States trade policy to Panama transit

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Free Transit Clause

Treaty grants free transit over existing or future routes across the Isthmus of Panama

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Future Communications Route

Treaty language covers routes that may later be constructed across Panama

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Interoceanic Route

Polk administration treats the Panama route as a strategic interoceanic connection

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Isthmian Transit Rights

United States obtains rights of transit across the Isthmus of Panama

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Mallarino Bidlack Treaty

Polk administration secures treaty framework for United States transit across the Isthmus of Panama

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Military Protection Clause

Treaty is later interpreted as permitting United States protection of isthmian transit

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Neutrality Guarantee

United States agrees to guarantee the neutrality of the isthmian transit route

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

New Granada Sovereignty

United States recognizes and guarantees New Granadan sovereignty over the Isthmus of Panama

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

New Granada Treaty Rights

Treaty creates reciprocal rights and obligations between the United States and New Granada over Panama transit

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Pacific Access

Treaty strengthens United States access between Atlantic and Pacific routes

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Panama Canal

Mallarino Bidlack Treaty creates an early legal basis for future American canal policy in Panama

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Panama Railroad Precedent

Treaty helps prepare the legal environment for later United States-backed railroad transit across Panama

Role range: 1846-1855 – 1845-1849