Political and Judicial Activity Before the War

Political and Judicial Activity Before the War

• Election of 1844: James Polk (Democrat) vs. Henry Clay (Whig).
• Whig Platform:
  • Favored internal improvements (bridges, canals, harbors) to develop existing U.S. lands.
• Democratic Platform:
  • Advocated for expansionism, pushing the nation's borders outward.
  • Believed the government should leave newly added land in private hands.
• Contrasting Visions:
  • Whig-dominated New England: Bustling towns and factories.
  • Democratic South: Isolated plantations.
• Polk won the election.

The Polk Presidency

• Polk's Four Goals (pledged to serve only one term):
  • Restore government funds to the Treasury (away from