James Knox Polk Biography and Timeline — Page 2

Panama Transit Guarantee

United States guarantee becomes a key legal background to later Panama Canal diplomacy

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Route Neutrality

United States guarantee of neutrality makes Panama transit a matter of American foreign policy

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Strategic Transit Policy

Polk administration advances a strategic policy of protected isthmian communication

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Transit Route Protection

Treaty gives the United States a diplomatic interest in protecting transit across Panama

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Rio Grande Dispute

Orders General Zachary Taylor to move troops toward the Rio Grande in the disputed border region

Role range: 1846-1846 – 1845-1849

Oregon Joint Occupation Notice

Polk directs formal notice ending joint occupation arrangements for Oregon

Role range: 1818-1846 – 1845-1849

Thornton Affair

Mexican forces clash with a United States patrol north of the Rio Grande

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Declaration of War

Polk signs proclamation announcing that a state of war exists with Mexico

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Oregon Treaty

Oregon Treaty establishes the 49th Parallel boundary between British and American claims in the Pacific Northwest

Role range: 1818-1846 – 1845-1849

Walker Tariff

Polk signs the Walker Tariff lowering tariff rates and reshaping federal revenue policy

Role range: 1846-1846 – 1845-1849

Capture of Santa Fe

United States forces under Stephen W. Kearny occupy Santa Fe without major resistance

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Battle of Monterrey

United States forces begin the Battle of Monterrey in northern Mexico

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Capture of Monterrey

Mexican forces surrender Monterrey to the United States after several days of fighting

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Battle of El Brazito

United States forces defeat Mexican forces during the New Mexico campaign

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Polk Orders Rio Grande Deployment

President Polk ordered Zachary Taylor to advance into the disputed area near the Rio Grande, escalating tensions with Mexico.

Polk Appeals To Congress On War

Polk asked Congress to recognize a state of war following reports of armed clashes along the disputed border.

Polk Seeks Diplomatic Oregon Settlement

President Polk accepted negotiations that avoided war over competing American and British claims to Oregon.

Oregon Boundary Set At Forty Ninth Parallel

The 1846 treaty extended the forty ninth parallel boundary westward while preserving Vancouver Island for Britain.

Oregon Treaty Receives Senate Approval

The United States Senate consented to the Oregon settlement following consultation by the Polk administration.

Polk Signs Restored Treasury Act

Polk signed the Independent Treasury Act of 6 August 1846 which reestablished the federal subtreasury system.

New Law Requires Increasing Specie Payments

The restored system provided for a phased transition toward receiving and paying public funds in gold and silver coin.

Battle of Rio San Gabriel

United States forces defeat Californio forces near the San Gabriel River

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Battle of Molino del Rey

United States forces attack Mexican positions at Molino del Rey

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Battle of La Mesa

United States forces defeat Californio forces near Los Angeles

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Siege of Veracruz

United States forces begin the amphibious siege of Veracruz

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Battle of Buena Vista

United States forces under Zachary Taylor fight Mexican forces under Santa Anna

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Capture of Veracruz

Mexican forces surrender Veracruz to the United States

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Battle of Cerro Gordo

United States forces defeat Santa Anna's army at Cerro Gordo

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Battle of Churubusco

United States forces defeat Mexican defenders at Churubusco

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Battle of Contreras

United States forces defeat Mexican forces near Mexico City

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Battle of Chapultepec

United States forces storm Chapultepec Castle outside Mexico City

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Capture of Mexico City

United States forces enter and occupy Mexico City

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Recalls Nicholas Trist after failed peace negotiations with Mexico

Role range: 1847-1848 – 1845-1849

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Authorizes Nicholas Trist to negotiate peace terms with Mexico

Role range: 1847-1848 – 1845-1849

Independent Treasury Endures Wartime Finance

The restored subtreasury system operated during the Mexican American War as the government faced substantial military expenditures.

Mexican Cession

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo transfers territory including much of present-day Arizona to the United States

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Mexican Cession

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo transfers Upper California to the United States

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Mexican Cession

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo transfers New Mexico to the United States

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed by American and Mexican negotiators

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed ending the Mexican-American War

Role range: 1846-1848 – 1845-1849