Chapter 8: James K. Polk and the 1844 Election

Chapter Summary:

     This chapter revolves around the chaos in the Democratic party after the "Peacemaker" explosion in February of 1844, and the successive Democratic national convention in Baltimore to nominate a new presidential candidate. The Peacemaker explosion, which killed the secretary of state and the navy, brought to light the issues of the annexation of Texas and the settlement of the Oregon boundary. These issues caused a movement between the South and West against the Northern democracy, as well as doubt among the supporters of Van Buren, which could clear the way for a Southern candidate. Van Buren, a leader of the Democratic party, announced his intent to oppose the immediate annexation of Texas, effectively beginning the demise of his political career in the Democrat party. James K. Polk, who printed a letter favoring an immediate annexation of Texas, emerged as a new face whom "Northern Democrats could support if Van Buren should be cast aside." Only by uniting on a single candidate who favored the annexation of Texas "could the party be saved." Thus marked the split within the Democratic party, where Polk, a long time supporter of Van Buren, surpassed his old generation to bring about a new one. As the convention began, the Democratic party became more and more "distracted, divided, and leaderless," and Polk emerged as a unifying force for the party. Polk's supporters knew that the only way to fix the Democrats was to introduce a single, pro-annexation candidate, but there were so many other presidential hopefuls in the running that the introduction of a two-thirds vote dead-locked the convention - the votes of seven inconclusive ballots were divided between the declining Van Buren, and Cass. Polk's allies took advantage of the standstill and introduced his name for the presidency, working behind the scenes to get the delegations one by one to vote unanimously for Polk, even the stubborn Van Buren supporters. The entire convention eventually rallied behind Polk, a completely surprising nomination that threw everyone off. According to the ecstatic delegates, "the clouds that had hung over the convention had dissipated and the 'star of democracy' shone forth bright and clear for Polk." 

Chapter Reflection:

     This chapter was extremely confusing to me, as the narrator kept introducing new people and new parties, none of whom I knew or understood. Without extensive background knowledge, I had no idea what parties had which feelings towards certain events, and I was lost as to exactly why the party was divided in the first place. I can understand why Polk was elected somewhat, he was like a "beacon of hope" of sorts who emerged out of the blue and provided a much needed unifying figure among the chaos and resignation of the party. However, I would like to know more about why Van Buren's administration and supporters rapidly declined, as well as how Polk's friends specifically convinced all of the delegates to vote unanimously for him