James K. Polk

James K. Polk, the 11th President of the United States, was a distinguished American politician who served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1835 to 1839. His presidency, which lasted from 1845 to 1849, is best known for the expansion of the country’s territorial boundaries.

Under Polk’s leadership, the United States added Texas, Iowa, and Wisconsin to its territory. He also negotiated the expansion of the Oregon territory with Great Britain during his tenure. Although Polk has been criticized for leading the country into a war with Mexico that exacerbated sectional divides, his presidency set the stage for the United States to become a world power.