What was one of the main goals of President James K. Polk during his presidency?

One of the main goals of President James K. Polk during his presidency was to take Oregon from England, which reflects his broader ambition of expanding the territory of the United States. Polk strongly believed in Manifest Destiny, the idea that Americans were destined to expand across the continent. During his administration, he negotiated with Britain to settle the Oregon boundary dispute, ultimately leading to the establishment of the U.S.-British border at the 49th parallel in 1846. This resolution allowed the United States to gain control of the Oregon Territory, fulfilling one of Polk's key campaign promises and demonstrating his commitment to westward expansion.

This focus on territorial expansion was a defining characteristic of Polk's presidency, overshadowing other domestic initiatives such as reducing taxes, which was not a primary concern of his administration, or promoting industrialization, which was more relevant to the Northern states at the time. Additionally, efforts to establish a national bank were not pursued under Polk, aligning instead with the prevailing Democratic opposition to the Bank of the United States.