A country of vast designs
Subtitle: James K. Polk and the conquest of the American continent
By: Robert Merry.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Simon & Schuster, Limited
Published: 2009
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
ISBN-13: 9780743297431; 9780743297448
Subjects: Polk, James K. -- 1795-1849; Presidents -- United States -- Biography; United States -- Politics and government -- 1845-1849; United States -- Territorial expansion -- History -- 19th century
Genres: Biography
Table of contents: title: Introduction : Ritual of democracy : the emergence of an expansionist president; title: Young Hickory : the making of a Jackson protégé; title: Tennessee and Washington : the rise and fall of a presidential loyalist; title: The 1844 election : searching for a means of political recovery; title: Texas : dawn of a new era; title: Baltimore : America's first political dark horse; title: Polk vs. Clay : answering the question, "Who is James K. Polk?"; title: The victor : preparing for the mantle of leadership; title: Taking charge : America's zest for grand ambitions; title: Annexation complete : diplomacy, intrigue, and the force of politics; title: The United States and Oregon : "The people here are worn out by delay"; title: The United States and Mexico : divergent new world cultures on a path to war; title: Britain and Mexico : playing with prospects of a dual war; title: The Twenty-ninth Congress : Polk takes command of the national agenda; title: End of a treaty : diplomacy and politics at war with each other; title: War : "Every consideration of duty and patriotism"; title: Vagaries of war : "And may there be no recreant soul to fail or falter now"; title: Presidential temperamen t: "I prefer to supervise the whole operations of the government"; title: Wilmot's proviso : transformation of the war debate; title: The war in the West : patriotism, duty, adventure, and glory; title: The new face of war : "We are yet to have a long and wearisome struggle"; title: The politics of rancor : constitutional usurpation vs. moral treason; title: Dilatory Congress : the challenge of presidential leadership; title: Veracruz and beyond : grappling with Mexico's military defiance; title: Scott and Trist : a clash of policy and temperament; title: Mexico City : the pivot of personality; title: The specter of conquest : "Have we conquered peace? Have we obtained a treaty?"; title: Treaty : from Trist to Polk to the Senate; title: Peace : California, New Mexico, and the Union; title: Final months : "Solemnly impressed with the emptiness of worldly honors"; title: Epilogue : Legacy : the price of presidential accomplishment