A Country of Vast Designs
James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
President James K. Polk, often overlooked yet ever-consequential, comes to life in this “compelling, perceptive” (The Wall Street Journal) biography of the 11th President of the United States, Andrew Jackson’s protégé, and champion of “manifest destiny.”
When James K. Polk was elected president in 1844, the United States was locked in a bitter diplomatic struggle with Britain over which country would inherit the rich lands of the Oregon Territory. Texas, not yet part of the Union, was beset by hostile pressures from a more powerful Mexico. The great lands west of Texas—including what would become California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico—belonged to Mexico. Four years later, when Polk relinquished power, the country had grown by half. Oregon belonged to the United States, as did Texas and all the lands to the west stretching to the Pacific. In bringing this about, Polk expended huge quantities of political capital through bold and often divisive decision making.
This is the dramatic narrative of that grand national ambition that went by the name of Manifest Destiny—the idea that it was America's fate to emerge as the greatest power of the Americas, with consolidated territory that stretched from sea to sea and with a capacity to project influence forcefully toward both Europe and Asia. This national dream and ambition turned out to be bigger than any man or any party or ideological outlook that took its place in the national debates of the time.
Told through the towering figures of that time—such as the outgoing president John Tyler and Polk's great mentor, Andrew Jackson—A Country of Vast Designs captures the enormity of this national dream and provides profound insight into this era in America's history.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Merry, president and editor-in-chief of Congressional Quarterly Inc., offers a wide-ranging, provocative analysis of the controversial presidency of James K. Polk. Using a broad spectrum of published and archival sources, Merry depicts Polk as an unabashed expansionist. His political career was devoted to extending American power across the continent. Polk saw the fulfillment of manifest destiny as transcending even the festering issue of slavery. Elected president in 1844, he pursued confrontational diplomacy with Britain, structured a war with Mexico and enlarged the U.S. by over a third, essentially to its present boundaries, in a single term of office. Polk's achievements were correspondingly controversial across the political spectrum. Merry uses congressional debates and newspaper quotations to depict the genesis of a fundamental, enduring debate on America's nature and role. Conceding Polk's "personal lapses and his least impressive traits." Merry makes a strong case that Polk's America embraced a sweeping vision of national destiny that he fulfilled. Merry's conclusion that history turns not on morality but on power, energy and will may be uncomfortable, but he successfully illustrates it. 16 pages of b&w photos; 1 map.
Customer Reviews
I Learned a Lot
Wow, I learned a lot about how we got most of the western lands in Polk's single term. I'd say he has to be one of the the five top presidents. The book will show us for what we were back then.
Country of Vast Design
This book illuminates President Polk and all the characters during a time do expansion. I feel better having read this book as an American.
Mr
Excellent book to see the political tenacity require to propel America's growth. The book provided a clear description of the times, vision, and struggles using relevant supporting information. A great look at a period of American history caught between the shadows cast by the birth of the nation and the Civil War. Polk got a lot done in one term.