A Country of Vast Designs James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent

Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.

ISBN: 9780743297448 | 074329744X
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 11/2/2010

Buy Used

Usually Ships in 2-4 Business Days

$16.91
Buy New

In Stock Usually Ships in 24-48 Hours

$22.09

ROBERT MERRY'S BRILLIANT AND HIGHLY ACCLAIMED HISTORY OF A CRUCIAL EPOCH IN U.S. HISTORY.In a one-term presidency, James K. Polk completed the story of America's Manifest Destinyextending its territory across the continent by threatening England with war and manufacturing a controversial and unpopular two-year war with Mexico.

Introduction: Ritual of Democracy: The Emergence of an Expansionist President	p. 1
Young Hickory: The Making of a Jackson Protégé	p. 13
Tennessee and Washington: The Rise and Fall of a Presidential Loyalist	p. 31
The 1844 Election: Searching for a Means of Political Recovery	p. 49
Texas: Dawn of a New Era	p. 65
Baltimore: America's First Political Dark Horse	p. 81
Polk vs. Clay: Answering the Question, ôWho Is James K. Polk?ö	p. 96
The Victor: Preparing for the Mantle of Leadership	p. 112
Taking Charge: America's Zest for Grand Ambitions	p. 131
Annexation Complete: Diplomacy, Intrigue, and the Force of Politics	p. 145
The United States and Oregon: ôThe People Here Are Worn Out by Delayö	p. 161
The United States and Mexico: Divergent New World Cultures on a Path to War	p. 176
Britain and Mexico: Playing with Prospects of a Dual War	p. 190
The Twenty-ninth Congress: Polk Takes Command of the National Agenda	p. 205
End of a Treaty: Diplomacy and Politics at War with Each Other	p. 222
War: ôEvery Consideration of Duty and Patriotismö	p. 238
Vagaries of War: ôAnd May There Be No Recreant Soul to Fail or Falter Nowö	p. 253
Presidential Temperament: ôI Prefer to Supervise the Whole Operations of the Governmentö	p. 268
Wilmot's Proviso: Transformation of the War Debate	p. 278
The War in the West: Patriotism, Duty, Adventure, and Glory	p. 293
The New Face of War: ôWe Are Yet to Have a Long and Wearisome Struggleö	p. 307
The Politics of Rancor: Constitutional Usurpation vs. Moral Treason	p. 322
Dilatory Congress: The Challenge of Presidential Leadership	p. 335
Veracruz and Beyond: Grappling with Mexico's Military Defiance	p. 351
Scott and Trist: A Clash of Policy and Temperament	p. 366
Mexico City: The Pivot of Personality	p. 383
The Specter of Conquest: ôHave We Conquered Peace? Have We Obtained a Treaty?ö	p. 402
Treaty: From Trist to Polk to the Senate	p. 418
Peace: California, New Mexico, and the Union	p. 436
Final Months: ôSolemnly Impressed with the ... Emptiness of Worldly Honorsö	p. 452
Epilogue: Legacy: The Price of Presidential Accomplishment	p. 471
Notes	p. 479
Bibliography	p. 543
Acknowledgments	p. 551
Index	p. 553
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Please wait while the item is added to your bag...

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

A Country of Vast Designs James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials