Primary sourceSpeech2 December 1845
James K. Polk's First State of the Union Address
James K. Polk · 2 December 1845
Polk's December 1845 annual message to Congress, asserting the Monroe Doctrine and pressing American claims to Texas and Oregon.
Polk's own first annual message to Congress, setting out his expansionist and foreign policy agenda.
About this source
What it is
This speech was delivered by President James K. Polk to the 29th Congress on 2 December 1845, with House Speaker John W. Davis and Vice President George M. Dallas in attendance.
Why it matters
Polk used this address to defend the annexation of Texas, press for American claims in the Oregon dispute with Britain, call for lower tariffs, and restate the Monroe Doctrine against European intervention in North America, a position later called the 'Polk Doctrine.' Together these themes reveal the expansionist and nationalist vision that shaped his presidency.
Look closer
- Why might Polk connect the Texas annexation to the defense of national sovereignty?
- What does his restatement of the Monroe Doctrine suggest about how he saw America's role in the hemisphere?
- What groups or perspectives are missing from a speech focused on national expansion?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of James K. Polk on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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