Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: American Presidency: James K. Polk
Brief biographical sketch of America's eleventh president includes background information on the era in which he served and linked-to objects from the Smithsonian's collections that help define the man and his presidency.
PBS
James Knox Polk 1795 1849
This brief summary covers major aspects of Polk's presidency, including his support of Andrew Jackson's policies.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: James Polk
This biography highlights James Polk's life and presidency.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Conflict of Cultures: President Polk and the Taking of the West
Lesson and activity on conflict of cultures in which students study U.S. overtaking lands of Mexico and California and form policy on property rights and citizenship of conquered cultures. Activity guidelines, questions for discussion...
American Presidency Project
American Presidency Project: State of the Union Addresses and Messages
This site compiles all of the State of the Union addresses and messages by all the presidents in U.S. history (except William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield).
270 To Win
270towin: 1844 Presidential Election
Provides detailed electoral facts for the presidential election of 1844 won by James K. Polk who ran on a platform that embraced American territorial expansionism. It was also the last presidential election to be held on different days...
Sacramento Bee
The Sacramento Bee: Polk Is Caught in the Rush
This site discusses James K. Polk's place in the gold rush of California in the 1840's.
Library of Congress
Loc: Biographical Directory of the u.s. Congress: James Polk
The U.S. Congress site from the Biographical Directory contains a brief summary of the life of James Polk complete with a picture.
American Presidency Project
American Presidency Project: Election of 1844
Online resource that provides detailed data for the presidential election of 1844 won by Democratic candidate, James K. Polk.
Digital History
Digital History: War With Mexico [Pdf]
Read about the reasons President James Polk presented to Congress as justification for a declaration of war against Mexico. Find Polk's war message and the rebuttal by Congressman Davis.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: The Election of 1844
Read about the election of 1844 and the views of the two candidates, James Polk and Henry Clay.
Curated OER
James Polk
Biographical site about former president James K. Polk. Read on to learn about his presidency and view a picture of him.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk (April 10, 1806 - June 14, 1864) was a Confederate general who was once a planter in Maury County, Tennessee, and a second cousin of President James K. Polk.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Sarah Childress Polk
The wife of James K. Polk. She was First Lady of the United States from March 4, 1845 to March 3, 1849.
Other
Dmwv: The u.s. Mexican War: 1846 1848
Dedicated to the memory of U.S. veterans who fought in the U.S.-Mexican War, this website provides documents, images, maps, and FAQs.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: History by Era: The Age of Jackson
[Free Registration/Login Required] Read about the growth of the United States in population, economy, territory during the Age of Jackson. Named after the dynamic president, Andrew Jackson, the age encompassed much more than Jackson's...
Library of Congress
Loc: "I Do Solemnly Swear"
An online exhibit of historically pertinent items dealing with the inauguration of a number of US Presidents.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Westward Expansion and Reform
Part of a longer time line describing the history of the American West, this section covers the period 1829 to 1859 with hyperlinks to stories and people of this time period.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Manifest Destiny
This Khan Academy resource provides notes for American History. "Manifest Destiny" is explained on this resource, along with the implications associated with expansion of the North American continent.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1844 1877: Manifest Destiny
In the mid-nineteenth century, newspaper editor John O'Sullivan coined the term 'manifest destiny' to describe the belief that God intended for the United States to occupy North America from Atlantic to Pacific.
Other
The Gold Rush: Fever
This resource provides information about the Gold Rush, and fever that took place during westward expansion.
Other
North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State: Famous North Carolinians
Find links to biographical sketches of famous persons from North Carolina.
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Manifest Destiny
Provides interesting facts and important information about the idea of Manifest Destiny and details of Westward Expansion in the United States over a fifty-year time span in the 1800s.
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Learn interesting facts about the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the American Mexican War (1846-1848).